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Essay: Narrative Writing

  By English 10 Regents (2016-2017)
Art by Angelica Alzona, from the annual "Scary Stories" post on Jezebel. Click to read.

Art by Angelica Alzona, from the annual “Scary Stories” post on Jezebel. Click to read.

The Assignment

Create a complete narrative modeled on the 50-word or half-page ETA texts from last week’s flash-fiction reading. Then analyze the choices you made as the author through a separate, metacognitive essay. Specific instructions are below.

Note: You must write a story at least 50 words long, and it may be best to write a story that is at least a half-page in length. The less you write, the harder the required metacognition will become. If you want to write a six-word story, go ahead, but be sure to write a longer one for this assignment.

Step #1

Create an outline of the story before writing it.

Use this handout to help you focus your thinking. Use this handout, however, to produce the two-part thumbnail sketch of your story and its characters. Then use that sketch to write a short response for each of the following prompts:

  1. Describe the protagonist.
  2. Describe the setting(s).
  3. Describe everything (i.e., the people, places, objects, and concepts) with which the protagonist will interact.
  4. For each item in that list, determine where you will create a conflict, and describe the antagonist.
  5. Describe the nature of the conflict(s) using the language from this handout.
  6. Describe the resolution of your story’s central conflict.
  7. Explain the theme or moral you will explore through this story.

Step #2

Use your outline to write the story.

You should use Google Docs to do this, but you will have class time to write by hand, if you choose. You will also be able to share your work with your peers and teachers in order to get feedback. Here are the steps:

  1. Create a new document in Google Docs.
  2. Share it with any group members (your choice) and your teachers. You can wait for directions in class or read this guide.
  3. Type your story.
  4. When you are done, ask your group to work on the story with you; they will make suggestions by leaving comments on your work. You can wait for directions on leaving comments and having discussions, or you can read this guide.
  5. Edit and revise your work. Be sure to change the title of the document in Google Docs to your title.
  6. Repeat the previous two steps for each other member of the group, unless you are working alone.

Your narrative itself must convey all the elements indicated by the outline. Choose words and images that have strong connotations or that imply considerable detail in a small space.

Step #3

Finally, write a metacognitive response that explains your choices as an author and what each choice implies. 

This metacognition will cover the specifics of your story, what each implies, and how you made your authorial choices. Follow these steps:

  1. Identify several key details in your story. For example, identify a verb, adjective, adverb, noun, or sensory image; you might also identify paragraph breaks, punctuation, or dialogue.
  2. Write a short response in which you explain what element of narrative writing this detail creates and—more importantly—how it implies that element.
  3. Repeat for three or four other specific parts of your story. The more you choose, the better.

For #3, after you’ve isolated a specific detail (e.g., images that appeal to the senses) that creates meaning, be specific about what you did to imply that meaning. Don’t simply summarize your story, and don’t simply repeat what you wrote. Instead, analyze your story as if it was a stranger’s, or one of the ones we studied as a class.