Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Narrative Writing
What is Narrative Writing?
• Narrative writing tells a story.
• Narrative writing can be true and about real people and real events.
• Narrative writing can be realistic, with characters and events that could really happen.
• Narrative writing can include characters and events that could never happen in real life.
Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Narrative Writing Traits
• A single, focused topic with relevant, engaging details that develop the experiences or events
• A narrator or characters that bring the story to life
• Well-constructed, logical, and creative event sequences that guide the reader through the story
• An engaging beginning and an ending that reflect on the story’s events
• A variety of transition words that signal time or setting changes
Narrative Writing
Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Narrative Writing Traits
• Precise, descriptive words and phrases
• A voice, mood, and tone that is appropriate for the purpose and audience
• Dialogue that, if used, is realistic and helps develop the characters and story
• A variety of sentence structures and sentence beginnings• Sentences that flow together smoothly
• No or few errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics
Narrative Writing
Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Narrative Writing
Narrative writing has a beginning, a middle, and an ending. The story is often told in chronological order.
• The beginning captures the reader’s attention.
• The middle includes events in sequence.
• The ending, or conclusion, wraps up the story.
Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Narrative Writing
When writing a narrative, writers often use the following elements of storytelling:
• Characters are the people in the story.
• Setting is when and where the story takes place.
• Plot is what happens in the story.
• Problem is what the characters must overcome.
• Resolution is how the problem is fixed.
• Point of view is the position from which a story is told.
Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Narrative Writing
The following are additional elements that can be used in narrative writing:
• Precise details add support, explain, and enhance the story.
• Realistic dialogue makes the characters come alive.
• Specific and interesting language entertain the reader.
• Supporting details such as examples, anecdotes, or facts support the main idea.
• Tone is appropriate for the audience.
Let’s look at how we can use some of
these elements in narrative
writing.
Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Characters
“Bridget!” Shania called over her shoulder. The straps of her backpack bit into her shoulders as she grabbed a tree branch to climb over a rock. “Hurry up!”
“I’m climbing as fast as I can!” Bridget shot back.Shania and her family were climbing to the top of the hill to
watch the meteor shower. They were staying in a cabin a few miles off the Appalachian Trail, which offered a beautiful view of the forest. In the daytime, the crimson and golden leaves shimmered in the sunlight. At night, however, the leaves blanketed the forest in a deep shadow, making it hard to see.
Suddenly, Shania heard a noise. “Ow!” Bridget cried out.
Narrative Writing
Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Setting
Narrative Writing
“Bridget!” Shania called over her shoulder. The straps of her backpack bit into her shoulders as she grabbed a tree branch to climb over a rock. “Hurry up!”
“I’m climbing as fast as I can!” Bridget shot back.Shania and her family were climbing to the top of the hill to
watch the meteor shower. They were staying in a cabin a few miles off the Appalachian Trail, which offered a beautiful view of the forest. In the daytime, the crimson and golden leaves shimmered in the sunlight. At night, however, the leaves blanketed the forest in a deep shadow, making it hard to see.
Suddenly, Shania heard a noise. “Ow!” Bridget cried out.
Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Realistic Dialogue
Narrative Writing
“Bridget!” Shania called over her shoulder. The straps of her backpack bit into her shoulders as she grabbed a tree branch to climb over a rock. “Hurry up!”
“I’m climbing as fast as I can!” Bridget shot back.Shania and her family were climbing to the top of the hill to
watch the meteor shower. They were staying in a cabin a few miles off the Appalachian Trail, which offered a beautiful view of the forest. In the daytime, the crimson and golden leaves shimmered in the sunlight. At night, however, the leaves blanketed the forest in a deep shadow, making it hard to see.
Suddenly, Shania heard a noise. “Ow!” Bridget cried out.
Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Characters
Shania quickly slid down the hill toward her sister. Bridget sat on a nest of leaves, massaging her ankle. Moments later her mother and father appeared. They were out of breath from running up the hill.
“I tripped over a rock,” Bridget said with a wince. “I hurt my ankle.”
Shania’s father dug a flashlight out of his backpack and turned it on. His fingers gently probed Bridget’s ankle.
“I think you just twisted it,” Shania’s father said. “Just the same, I don’t want you walking on it.”
Shania’s parents found two thick branches. They took both ends to make a small bench for Bridget to sit on. Minutes later, they were carrying Bridget up the hill just as the first meteor streaked across the sky.
Narrative Writing
Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Problem
Shania quickly slid down the hill toward her sister. Bridget sat on a nest of leaves, massaging her ankle. Moments later her mother and father appeared. They were out of breath from running up the hill.
“I tripped over a rock,” Bridget said with a wince. “I hurt my ankle.”
Shania’s father dug a flashlight out of his backpack and turned it on. His fingers gently probed Bridget’s ankle.
“I think you just twisted it,” Shania’s father said. “Just the same, I don’t want you walking on it.”
Shania’s parents found two thick branches. They took both ends to make a small bench for Bridget to sit on. Minutes later, they were carrying Bridget up the hill just as the first meteor streaked across the sky.
Narrative Writing
Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Resolution
Shania quickly slid down the hill toward her sister. Bridget sat on a nest of leaves, massaging her ankle. Moments later her mother and father appeared. They were out of breath from running up the hill.
“I tripped over a rock,” Bridget said with a wince. “I hurt my ankle.”
Shania’s father dug a flashlight out of his backpack and turned it on. His fingers gently probed Bridget’s ankle.
“I think you just twisted it,” Shania’s father said. “Just the same, I don’t want you walking on it.”
Shania’s parents found two thick branches. They took both ends to make a small bench for Bridget to sit on. Minutes later, they were carrying Bridget up the hill just as the first meteor streaked across the sky.
Narrative Writing
Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Narrative Writing
Some common types of narrative writing include the following:
• Personal Narrative
• Short Story
• Historical Episode
• Play
• Biography
• Eyewitness Account
Strategies for Writers Grade 7 © Zaner-Bloser, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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