Narrative Paragraphs

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Narrative Paragraphs"

Austen Carter
5 years ago
Views:

1 PAST PRESENT TED Ankara College English Department s DISCUSSION QUESTION: Who is your favourite author (novelist)? Why? Gülten Dayıoğlu (Mo nun Gizemi)? / Roald Dahl (Matilda)? / J.K.Rowling (Harry Potter)? Writing Tells a STORY It can be fiction or non-fiction The story is told in the first-person (I, me, us) OR third-person (he, she, they) Topic Sentence character, place, time + main idea Gives Background Information about the story in the beginning - Set up the story Story has a clear Beginning, Middle, and Ending Uses consistent verb tense A story about the past uses the past tense A story is often written in the past tense, but it can also be in the present tense The Flow of the Story --- Simple Past Simple Present Past Progressive Present Progressive Language Gives details (paint a picture with words) o Descriptive Example: The movie was nice The movie was thrilling! o Specific Example: Dad had to call someone Dad had to call the manager Sentence General words Descriptive words The movie was. nice interesting, thrilling, inspiring The short stories were. bad boring, horrible, empty, violent I felt. good marvellous, fantastic, elated Has a Topic Sentence, Supporting Sentences, and a Concluding Sentence Topic Sentence the first sentence in a paragraph Hints to the reader about what kind of paragraph it will be Includes the Main Idea (topic), sets the tone, and hooks the reader May include the Background information to start the story Version 2.1 1

2 Supporting Sentences TED Ankara College English Department Supporting Sentences Who, What, When, Where, Why, How? Give Details! Describe! Explain! Give Facts! Supporting Sentences make up the Body of the paragraph The story needs to flow smoothly Add detail and be specific not too simple or too specific: 36% of people swim for exercise. I think swimming is an excellent way to exercise for many reasons. Swimming is good. Too Detailed SPECIFIC Too General Concluding Sentence the last sentence of a paragraph Sums up the story Helps create meaning about the experiences Paragraph 1 Topic Sentence Background Beginning Middle Ending Concluding Sentence I never thought I could do it, but I finally conquered my fear of public speaking. At the beginning of the semester, my English teacher assigned us the difficult task of speaking in front of the class for three minutes, and I worried about it for the next two months. I wrote all of my ideas on note cards. I practiced my speech with my notes in front of a mirror, in front of my cat, and in front of my husband. When the day of my speech came, I was ready. As I reached the podium, I looked at my audience and smiled. Then I looked down at my note cards. At that moment, I realized I had the wrong information. These were the notes for my biology test, not the information about my speech! I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Without further hesitation, I began the speech. To my surprise, the words flowed from my mouth. Three minutes later, it was over. Everyone applauded my speech that day, and I left that room feeling like a winner. Version 2.1 2

3 Paragraph 2 Today I m a pretty good bowler, but I remember the very first time I went bowling with my dad. I was only five years old. His fingers fit into the ball like he was putting on his favourite gloves. I saw Dad s powerful swing and watched the bowling ball glide down the alley. Pow! All ten pins went flying. Then it was my turn. The ball was so heavy, but I held on. Taking a deep breath, I aimed for the pins. Come on, strike, I said as I ran a few steps and swung the ball hard. It crashed down and started rolling very, very slowly. I kept saying, Go, go but it stop dead. Everybody was pointing and laughing. Dad had to call the manager to push my ball into the gutter. It was one of the most embarrassing and funny moments of my life. Q U E S T I O N S 1. Have you ever felt embarrassment? What was an embarrassing moment you experienced recently? 2. Does the author have a Topic Sentence and a Concluding Sentence? Underline them in the paragraph above. 3. Where does the story take place? 4. Who is/are the main character(s)? 5. Does the writer add details in the story? Underline descriptive language and specific information in the paragraph above. 6. Does the writer use verb tense consistently? Find one mistake and circle it. 7. What would be good title for this story? Write it in the blank in the paragraph above. 8. Do you have a funny story from your childhood? What happened? Write it using 5 sentences and share the experience with your class. Version 2.1 3

4 Paragraph 3 A Journey The Emperor Akbar ( ) was travelling to a city a long way from his home in the Muhgal Empire of India. It was hot and he was beginning to feel tired and bored. Can anybody shorten this road for me? he asked impatiently. The courtiers looked at one another anxiously. They knew there was no shorter road through the mountains to their destination. I can, said Birbal, his favourite adviser. You can shorten the road? said the emperor. Well, go on and do it! I will, said Birbal. But first listen to this story. Birbal rode beside the emperor and began to tell a story. It was a very exciting tale, full of adventure and mystery. All the listeners were fascinated. Before they knew it, they had reached the end of their journey. We ve arrived! exclaimed Akbar. So soon! Hearing this, Birbar smiled. Well, you did say you wanted the road to be shortened. Q U E S T I O N S 1. What is the purpose of a story? To entertain or to inform? Explain your opinion. 2. Does this story have a problem or a conflict? What is it? Support your view. 3. As a reader, does the story activate your feelings or opinions? If yes, explain how you feel or your opinions. If not, how could the writing be improved? 4. Is this story fiction or non-fiction? Explain your opinion. 5. Does the writer use the first-person narrative or the third-person narrative? 6. Underline the Topic Sentence. What is the Main Idea? 7. Where can we find the Beginning, the Middle, and the Ending in the story? Mark these 3 parts in the paragraph above. Version 2.1 4

5 PART 1 : Pre-writing Brainstorm Writing Assignment Before writing your, think about your Topic Choice and draw a mind map above your composition. Example: my brother playing a trick at home falling on the stage at school Funny Experiences throwing a bowling ball other places PART 2 : Composition Below your mind map, write a. Choose one from each category. A. Fiction Non-fiction B. First person narrative Third-person narrative TOPIC CHOICES: A - A story about a dangerous (or scary) experience you had B - A story about a poor student who experiences the first day of school Your paragraph MUST include these features: 1. A beginning, middle, and ending 2. Topic Sentence - with Background information 3. Supporting Sentences 4. Concluding Sentence 5. tense consistency 6. Word choice that is descriptive and specific 7. Total of 10 sentences, with a Margin and a Title PRO TIP Help readers SEE & FEEL Remove confusion Include a SURPRISE Use good adjectives and adverbs Check the Rubric! Version 2.1 5

STEP 1 : Read what you wrote from the audience s viewpoint. Make last minute changes if needed. STEP 2 : Find a partner and give your writing to him/her. Be ready to explain yourself.

6 Peer-Editing Academic Writing is not a one-step process there are many steps! Get opinions on what you wrote with Peer-Editing, so you can have a deeper understanding of the reader/writer viewpoint, keep making improvements, and fix mistakes. STEP 1 : Read what you wrote from the audience s viewpoint. Make last minute changes if needed. STEP 2 : Find a partner and give your writing to him/her. Be ready to explain yourself. STEP 3 : Complete the To Do List, then return it to writer. Be ready to explain yourself. STEP 4 (OPTIONAL) : Read your composition in front of the class. To Do List: On the composition Fix spelling errors Improve word choice Fix grammar errors Point out where the writer can add more specific details or descriptive language Point out anything confusing Comment if anything is lacking (missing) Comment if the Beginning, Middle, and End is missing Is it boring? Give advice to make it more original, inspiring, meaningful, interesting Check the format. If the Margin and Title are missing make a comment Version 2.1 6

7 Vocabulary Find the definition that matches how these words were used in the s. Then find the word forms for each word. Write an X if no form is possible. 1. Podium : 2. Hesitation : 3. Impatient : 4. Courtier : 5. Anxious : 6. Destination : Version 2.1 7

Pronouns and possessive adjectives

4 Pronouns and possessive adjectives Date: Grammar Station Subject pronoun I you we he she it they Object pronoun me you us him her it them Possessive adjective my your our his her its their A Circle the