WRITING A NARRITIVE
Choose one of these topics for a narrative of your own. Then, use the chart to plan your narrative. (You can make changes later, but this is an important starting point.)
a dull trip that became an adventure due to a wrong turn
how a pair of enemies joined forces to help someone
a family heirloom that brought each generation good fortune
how a student visiting a nursing home unexpectedly met a hero
PURPOSE
AUDIENCE
CHARACTERS
SETTING
PROBLEM
THEME write an introduction to your story in which you reveal the main characters, the setting, and the problem on which you will build the plot. Then reread your introduction and determine whether your verbs are active or passive. If you have overused the passive voice, change some sentences to make the connection between subject and verb clearer.
Continue the narrative you started in the previous lesson. Decide what actions happen first, next, and last; then determine which sorts of verbs best describe those actions. Include dialogue if you wish.
As you write, try to use examples of several moods from this lesson. For example, consider whether you want a sentence to state a fact or ask a question. Decide whether a piece of dialogue might give a command or express a wish. Notice how different forms of verbs have different effects on your meaning and tone.
Are the main characters and setting described well enough?
Do the characters act in consistent and believable ways?
Is the conflict, or the main problem of the story, set up clearly enough? Is it resolved in some way?
Are the main events of the story included? Are there any irrelevant events that need to be removed?
Do the events of the story follow logically from each other?
Did I use the correct word choice?
Are my sentences grammatically correct?
Have I written any run-on sentences or fragments?
Have I spelled all my words correctly?
Did I use the correct capitalization and punctuation?
Use a word processing program to make a neat final copy of your narrative. Number the pages if you wish.
Imagine how an artist might illustrate your narrative.
Copy and paste some relevant illustrations onto a blank page following your narrative.
Title: The Unexpected Hero
Introduction:
In a small town tucked away in the mountains, a young student named Emily was on her way to visit a nursing home for a school project. As she entered the facility, she had no idea that this visit would lead her to an unexpected encounter with a hero.
Characters: Emily (student), Hero (elderly resident), Nursing home staff
Setting: A nursing home in a small mountain town
Problem: Emily is nervous about visiting the nursing home and unsure of how to interact with the residents.
As Emily walked through the corridors of the nursing home, she couldn't shake the feeling of nervousness in her stomach. She had always been shy around strangers, and the thought of talking to elderly residents was particularly daunting for her. However, she knew this project was important, so she took a deep breath and knocked on the door of the first room on her list.
Inside, she found an elderly man sitting in a chair, staring out the window. The man turned to her with a twinkle in his eye and a warm smile. "Hello, young lady. My name is Henry," he said.
Emily introduced herself and explained the purpose of her visit. To her surprise, Henry began to tell her stories of his time as a young soldier in the war. He spoke of bravery and sacrifice, of loyalty and friendship. Emily was captivated by his tales, and for the first time, she felt a connection with someone she had just met.
As the afternoon passed, Emily and Henry shared laughter and tears, bonding over their shared love of history and adventure. By the end of the visit, Emily knew that she had met a true hero, not just in the war stories Henry had shared, but in the kindness and wisdom he had shown her that day.
As she left the nursing home, Emily felt grateful for the unexpected encounter that had changed her perspective on heroes. She knew that no matter where life took her, she would always remember the day she met Henry, the unexpected hero who had touched her heart in ways she never could have imagined.