|
||
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Resources
|
||||
Narrative tips |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
Home | About | In your school | Other resources | Contact | Learner log-in
A resource for people passionate about helping students write well, compiled by Karen Haag
In our state, fourth graders are tested on their knowledge of the genre. What I’ve found is that if students only write without response on whatever they want to write about, they do not do well on the test. If students write to address prompts over and over again, they do not perform well on our test either.
What’s needed is a balance between teaching, trying, critiquing, and reflecting about self-selected topics as well as on-demand writing.
In narrative writing, students tell stories that move through time so logically that readers can visualize what’s happening. The best writers create a mood and weave a theme, or inner story, into their writing. By studying other authors including their classmates’ writing, they develop a personal style.
Narrative writing is used throughout the grades. Authors use stories to prove their points in persuasive and argument writing. Often, they start research papers with intriguing stories to pull the reader into the topic. In that case, students write short, narrative bits and transition them into the transactional writing in a way that seems natural and entertaining.
For our state assessment, I teach test writing as a genre. We look at how to read a prompt, think, select an appropriate, entertaining topic quickly, sketch a plan, write bit-by-bit, rereading and revising as needed. The students and I analyze the papers according to our state rubric. I then teach a week of test writing leading up to one of our benchmark exams and use the test to see if the students learned what I taught. Or, I give the test and assess what they need to know. I teach test writing for a week or two after the benchmark assessment. We write test writing about 10% of the time. I use all the rest of our writing workshop time to teach units on other genres.
On this page, you can download some of my favorite narrative-writing lessons.
Materials to download
A collection of lessons and homework assignments to help students begin to realize that each of them is truly a writer. Topics include:
- Introducing a very important tool for writers, the Daybook.
- Partners can help you grow as a writer.
- Ways to find topics.
In this lesson, students explore how each individual writes: how we are alike, and how we are different. The focus is especially on what works to make writing easier. In addition, students discover many topics for narrative stories.
Children are natural story-tellers. These lessons quickly engage not only the students but their families and friends in finding great stories to use for their writing. Topics include:
- Telling stories to your family.
- Telling stories to friends (and becoming good responders, too!)
- Freewriting – Like exploring those boxes in your attic.
Some children love details but have no idea how they fit together. Others can sketch out a story that is as dry as an outline. These lessons help students to:
- Discover the importance of having a story plan, and how to make one.
- Explore the power of descriptive words.
- Find places in their stories to S-T-R-E-T-C-H their details.
Authors do not end stories with THE END. They spend time thinking of an ending to match the story. In this lesson, students name different kinds of endings authors use. They also discuss, not the last paragraph, but the last line: the "clincher."
Some writers actually wait until they are almost through to write their story leads, because they are so important. These lessons help students see why. In these lessons, students:
- Compare clincher endings to leads.
- Cast their vote for the best leads, and discuss why some were winners.
- Study the teacher's own writing and revisions.
This simple form provides students and teacher with a clear check list for reviewing each piece of personal or imaginative narrative writing. The form also can serve as a guide as students write.
Bring out details
The lesson plans available here to download will help your students explore such key writing steps as organizing, adding details, crafting strong leads and endings.
The best writers create a mood and weave a theme, or inner story, into their writing. By studying other authors including their classmates’ writing, they develop a personal style.