Operating Definitions and Guidelines for Writing - Methods of Development
Narration

1. What is narration?
The method of development in which the writer tells a story to support a point.

Essential Features

a. Context--the writer makes clear what happened, when, where, and to whom

1.) There is a plot that involves escalating conflict between characters, between a person and her-/himself, or between people and nature or some other force.
2.) The conflict sets up an imbalance, a tension that a reader wants resolved, and that finally is.
3.) The setting places the events in a definite time period and particular location
4.) The events happen to a combination of round characters, the best of whom perform in ways that are unpredictable, yet ultimately consistent with their own individual personalities and motivations, and lesser personages.

b. Point of view--the writer takes a consistent point of view in relation to the action, writing either as a participant (first person -- using "I") or as a spectator (third person -- using "he," "she," "it," "they").

c. Selection of detail--the writer focuses only on the actions and details that further the story and promote the point, minimizing or eliminating others.

1.) Expression of feelings
2.) Dialogue--direct quotes of what the characters say to each other

d. Organization--the writer organizes the events of the story in a chronological order using time transitions.

e. Purpose—there's a reason for telling the story. One way to find it is to complete the statement, "The moral of the story is..."

2. Why do writers use narration?

a. To entertain
b. To report
c. To instruct

Ultimate goal: to tell an entertaining story yet also bring readers to a clear understanding of a larger issue.

3. How can readers and writers tell narration from the other MODs? They can ask:

a. Does something happen between people and people or people and outside forces? What happens?

b. Where is the tension?

c. How is the conflict resolved?

d. Do characters dialogue with each other? Are there direct quotations?

e. What kinds of feelings are brought out?

f. What is "the moral of the story?"

The more of these items which appear, the more likely it is narration.

4. How does one write essays with it?

a. Determine an audience and purpose in telling the story--a broad instructive point it may make about human nature or the ways of the world. Who needs to have this information in order to have a more satisfying life?
    • Determining the audience and purpose helps the writer select details and events.
    • It also keeps him/her from wasting time developing a pointless essay.
b.Context—Establish the setting of the essay, the world in which the action takes place, in the first paragraph or two.
    • Give the characters real names and include a capsule portrait of each--a one or two sentences or phrases that captures the personalities of the main ones.
    • State where the events take place using place names that could be found in an atlas, and/or describing items such that Spielberg's set dresser wouldn't have much trouble knowing what to get or where to put them.
    • Use time indicators: breakfast, afternoon tea, midnight, sunrise, almost noon, first, then, next. . .

c. Keep a consistent point of view throughout the essay, writing either in the first or third person throughout. Eliminate any "you" or "your" that creeps into a sentence by revising it.

d. Select details and events that serve a worthwhile purpose, but not so much that there is an excess of information that is ultimately boring.

e. Organization: Give the information needed in the order that the reader needs it. Whether the story goes straight from the beginning to the end or uses a flashback or frame technique, keep the reader in mind. If words like "I forgot to mention earlier...," creep in to the text, write another draft in which the information appears where the reader needs it. An outline can help.

f. For the most part, past tense is the most effective verb tense to use because it is the easiest for most readers to comprehend. Keep the verb tense consistent.

g. Use time transitions (listed above) as needed but not obtrusively.

5. Thesis pattern: When {EVENT}, I learned {LESSON}.

6. How can one practice recognizing narratives?

In outside reading (not English or reading textbooks),

  • Practice looking for writing which tells one story
  • Look for a conflict that causes tension
  • Confirm that the paragraphs cause a tension to rise
  • Identify the characters who interact with one another as they work through a conflict
  • Monitor whether you feel a desire to know how it all turns out
  • Verify that the overall text teaches a lesson

If the tension rises as a result of the above then gets resolved, the text is probably a story.

An Example and Outline for Narration Writing

If assigned a narrative essay, start like this: think about one of the most important lessons that a person can learn from life. Recall how you came to learn it, list the major events, and develop them to write the story of how it happened for you. Organize it using this outline.

I. Introduction which

    • Establishes the setting, characters, and time period
    • Identifies the event and the lesson learned from it in the thesis sentence
    • Uses a college level strategy
II. Body
    • First major event
    • Second part of the story
    • Third part …
    • Climax, the high point in the narrative
    • Resolution in which the tension is resolved

III. Conclusion

To tell it with a flashback, include the current concern in the introduction, make the transition to the past, narrate the events in the body, return to the present in the conclusion, and explain the relationship of the past event to the present.