What is a Narrative?

What  are narratives and why are they important?

"Humans, of all creatures, have the gift of story, and the wisdom it brings."
     --Walter Dean Myers




Common Core Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.3

From the time that humans first developed the ability to communicate, the sharing of narratives, or stories, has been an important way to impart the wisdom necessary to help us survive and thrive.

Prompt for Writing

     Narratives leave the reader with new wisdom about life. The sharing of narratives also helps us to develop empathy for each other. You will write a type of autobiographical narrative known as a personal narrative.  A personal narrative is a true story about an important time in someone's life or a major event that has special meaning to the author.  In your personal narrative, be sure to explain how the events occurred and use narrative techniques to bring the setting, characters and action to life for the reader. Effective techniques might include:

     Dialogue;
     Suspense;
     Specific action;
     Sensory detail.

      Your personal narrative should be 250-400 words in length. You will share this writing on your blog for other students to enjoy and appreciate.

Good writers read and carefully analyze the writing of others. They notice what they like specifically about the writing and think of how they might use that same technique in their own writing.
1. Listen to the teacher read aloud "Cake Laughs."
2.  Open the Model Personal Narratives in your Language Arts folder. Highlight three lines that you like from each narrative.

3.  Review the Narrative Technique chart in your folder. Copy and paste examples of each technique from any of the three models you have read.