Summary

1.

Narrative is writing that tells about events and usually involves people. Narrative has many uses and comes in many forms, but when we tell a story, we are usually talking about "someone doing something somewhere for some reason."

2.

Narrative involves conflict and suspense: It is a chronological arrangment of actions leading up to a high point and having some significance or point.

3.

Setting serves as the backdrop for the action.

4.

Narrative reveals the characters' thoughts and feelings and usually uses dialogue.

5.

Well-organized narrative paragraphs require a topic sentence to direct the reader and a concluding sentence to finish on a strong note. Time and space connectors are essential.

6.

Showing and telling are both used to develop stories. Of the two, showing requires the most energy from the writer but has the most power.

7.

Specific word choices and sensory details help build memorable scenes.

8.

Figures of speech like metaphor and simile add clarity and color to your writing.

9.

Your writing is never complete until it has gone through several revisions and careful editing.

2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of The McGraw-Hill Companies.