1、Unit 6 Narrative Writing制作单位：中国政法大学In narrative writing, the writer is to give a detailed account of an event that happened, happens, or will happen to something or somebody. What is narrative writing?In daily life, it is widely used in: story telling work reporting accident retelling anecdotes tell
2、ing travel recording a story (real or imaginary) a biography history news items narrative poemsIn its broadest sense, a narration can be:A good narrative essay always possesses a clear-cut, detailed and lifelike manner. an attractive beginning fluent development striking climax impressive ending a m
3、eaningful central idea It is composed of :There are 2 distinct characteristics of narration:1. Specific space and time are included2. either implicit or explicit theme in narrationExercise: Read the two stories on page 127-128, identify the space and time of the stories and tell what the theme of th
4、e two stories are.There are mainly four modes of narration:1. in sequence of time (the events are told according to the time when they happened)2. Flashback (the ending is put at the very beginning)3. narration interspersed with flashbacks (the process of narration is interrupted and another related
5、 event is interspersed)4. narration interspersed with comments (narration of an event is accompanied by comments on it)Exercise: Read the 4 stories (sample 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4) and tell in what modes of narration the story is told.Six essential elements: In a narrative essay, six elements are essenti
6、al to give a clear expression to the characters and the events or the sceneries. These six factors are what, who, when, where, why and how.Exercise: Read the story on page 129 (sample 6.9) and identify the six essential elements in the story.Part 1beginningprovide background information offer a litt
7、le to create suspensePart 2Bodya. tell what (how, why) happenedb. create conflicts c. reach climaxPart 3endinga. echo the beginningb. end naturallyc. end implicitlyd. direct or inspire the readersThree parts of narrative writing:conflicts: In a narrative essay, climax is reached through conflicts de
8、veloped in the unfolded plot. Only with proper conflicts and climax, the article can be deep in meaning and vigorous in expression. There are 3 kinds of conflicts: 1. Conflicts between different characters2. Conflicts between human beings and surroundings environments3. Conflicts between the differe
9、nt thoughts in the depth of peoples mind.Writing process of a narrative essay:1. Abstract a theme2. Express a theme3. List an outline4. Select meaningful incidents and appropriate details5. Select appropriate relating structure and order6. Select a suitable perspective1. Write a memorable story in y
10、our schooldays in flashback.2. Write a story entitle “The Road to Success” in third person.Writing Practice:This is the end. Thank you!Theme is the soul of the article and the expression of the writers intent. Theme is contained and abstracted from abundant materials.1. The principle of correctness2
11、. The principle of centralization3. The principle of profundity4. The principle of freshness4 principle for the theme abstracting:1. Abstract a themeThe abstracted theme should accord with the reality of the characters and the events. And the comment made by the writer on the characters and events s
12、hould accord with the law in nature or society and benefit the advancement of the society.1. The principle of correctnessFrom the numerous and complex materials in the article, the writer must find their common place and link them with one main idea, i.e. the theme. Generally speaking, there should
13、be only on theme in an article. 2. The principle of centralizationThis principle requires the theme to be: With great capacity and powerful generalization Sharp insight into the essence of the facts3. The principle of profundityFresh ideas may be abstracted from new materials or from a new perspecti
14、ve of old materials. 4. The principle of freshness1. Youth is the most important period in life.2. Fatalism has it reasons.3. We should treasure time4. Friendship is even more important than life.5. Money is the most important.6. All kinds of means can be used in order to succeed.7. Animals should h
15、ave rightsExercise: Read the following theme and judge them good or not.2. Express the themeStory: to express the significance of the story.Character: to show the spiritual world of the characterScenery: to express the writers inner feeling on the natural scenery.Society: to praise the wisdom and la
16、bor of human beings or appreciate a certain social idea, etc. In narrative writing, the way of expressing a theme is closely related with the expressed object. The expressive style depends on the nature of the expressed object.e.g.3. List an outlineTopic outline: noun phrases and nominal phrases wit
17、h or without modifiers. (See sample 6.19)Sentence outline: complete sentences are used. (See sample 6.20) The outline is the framework of an article. It is the first step for any writing. Two kinds of outline:Two kinds of outline:4. Select meaningful incidents and appropriate details1. Choose typica
18、l details;2. Observe things in particular;3. Describe from different perspectives.p 3 criteria in choosing incidents:p Proper detailed description can make the story more vivid. In choosing details, the writer should:1. able to show the essence of the things2. Relevant to the theme3. Typical and rep
19、resentative5. Select appropriate relating structure and orderExercise: Read sample 6.7, sample 6.9, sample 6.12 and sample 6.18 and tell in what order is each story told? There are 4 kinds of relating order or structure:Time orderSpace orderTime and space orderCognitive order of the writer6. Select
20、a suitable perspectiveThere are 2 perspectives in narration:In the first person (sound as if the writer himself has seen or experience all those events recounted)In the third person (more objective)Exercises: Read the story “The Tell-tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe and “The Killers” by Earnest Heming
21、way and tell in what perspective do the writers tell their stories and what effects have been achieved. 1.Part : Several friends and I went to climb a steep mountain at night.Part : With cliffy road and little light, we risked the danger of falling down the cliff.Part : We were too scared to go on.Part : We waited until daybreak and then climbed down. 5. It is about a terrible story of person-killing. Yes, it is. The narrator is the hero of the story, i.e. “I”. It is told in the order of flashback. The climax is when the old man was killed.
