Lecture 2

Narration

Outline 1. Objectives of Lecture 2.

2. What is a narrative essay?

3. The structure of a narrative essay.

4. Tips for writing a narrative essay.

5. Example essay study.

Objectives

a. to know what is a narrative essay.

b. to know its structure.

c. to know how to write it.

1. What is a narrative essay?

It is an essay that tells a story. Important elements that make up a story:

＊ setting;

＊ theme;

＊ mood;

＊ characters;

＊ plot;

2. The Structure of a Narrative Essay

A narrative essay usually has 3 parts:

1) The Introduction:

the narrative hook and the thesis.

2) The Body:

transitional sentences.

3) The Conclusion.

1) The Introduction

The Narrative Hook

＊ Hooks help “set the stage” for the story.

＊ They make readers start guessing about what will happen next.

＊ The hook should make the reader ask wh-questions about the essay.

Task 1 Read the sentences. Which three of these

sentences are NOT good hooks for narrative essays? Put an X next to these sentences. Be ready to explain why you think these sentences do not work well as hooks for narrative essays.

___ The roar of racecar engines ripped (拉开 ) through the blazing (炽燃的 ) heat of the day.

___ It was freezing on that sad December day.

___ After my brother’s accident, I sat alone in the hospital waiting room.

___ My friend and I shouldn’t have been walking home alone so late on that dark winter night.

___ Whales are by far the largest marine mammals.

___ She gave her friend a birthday gift.

___ The gleaming snow lay over the treacherous （危险的）mountain like a soft white blanket, making the terrain （地带） seem safe instead of deadly.

___ The Russian dictionary that we use in our language class has 500 pages.

___ Sandra never expected to hear the deadly sound of a rattlesnake (响尾蛇 ) in her kitchen garden.

___ A shot rang out (响起 ) in the silence of the night.

1) The Introduction

The Thesis ＊ It introduces the action that begins in the first pa

ragraph of the essay.

e.g. a.) I wanted my mother to watch me race down the steep hill, so I called out her name and then nudged (轻推 ) my bike forward.

b.) Because his pride wouldn’t allow him to apologize, Ken now had to fight the bully, and he was pretty sure that he wouldn’t win.

2) The Body

This part contains most of the plot – the supporting information.

The action in the plot can be organized in many different ways. One way is chronological, or time, order.

2) The Body

Transitional Sentences

In a chronological organization, each paragraph ends with a transitional sentence.

Transitional sentences have two purposes:

a.) to signal the end of action in one paragraph;

b.) to provide a link to the action of the next paragraph.

3) The ConclusionIn the concluding paragraph, you finish descri

bing the action in the essay.

The final sentence can have 2 functions: a.) It can deliver the moral for the story, or tell the r

eader what the character(s) learned from the experience.

b.) It can make a prediction or a revelation( 启示 ) (disclosure of something that was not known before) about future actions that will happen as a result of the events in the story.

3) The ConclusionLook at these examples:

Moral:

The little boy had finally learned that telling the truth was the most important thing to do.

Prediction/Revelation:

Every Christmas Eve, my wife and I return to that magical spot and remember the selfless act that saved our lives.

3. Tips for Writing a Narrative EssayIn an effective narrative essay, you should have:

☆ a thesis that sets up ( 提出 ) the action in the introduction.

☆ transition sentences that connect events and help the reader follow the story.

☆ a conclusion that ends the story action and provides a moral or revelation.

4. Example Essay Study

Task 2 Read and study the essay. Answer the

following questions. These questions will help you understand the content and the organization of the essay. As you read, look at the final sentence in paragraphs 2, 3, 4, and 5. Does each one prepare you for the action to come?

1.What is the narrative hook?2.Do you think the hook is effective (did it grab your

attention)? Why, or why not? 3. Where is the setting of this story (where does it take place)?4. What is the theme, or the basic idea, of the essay?5. What do you think the mood of the story is? What feeling or

atmosphere does the writer create?6.Who are the characters? 7. What verb tense is used in this narrative essay? Write down

any five verbs.8. Is the story arranged in chronological, or time, order? In a

few words, describe what happens first, second, third, and so on.

9. Underline the transitional sentences.10. Does the story end with a moral or a revelation? If so, write

it down.

4. Example Essay Study

Task 3 Outlining Practice

(see the attached)