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 telling tr
2、avel 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 meaningful c
3、entral 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 the two stories ar
4、e.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 event is interspersed
5、)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 essential to give a clear expression to
6、 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 little to create suspensePart 2Bodya.tell wh
7、at(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 developed in the unfolded plot.Only with proper confli
8、cts 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 different thoughts in the depth of peoples mind.Writing process of
9、 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 your schooldays in flashback.2.Write a story entitle“The Road to Su
10、ccess”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.The principle of centralization3.The principle of profundity4.The princ
11、iple 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 should accord with the law in nature or society and benefit the advancement of
12、 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 be only on theme in an article.2.The principle of centralizationThis principle requ
13、ires 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 perspective of old materials.4.The principle of freshness1.Youth is the most important period in
14、 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 have rightsExercise:Read the following theme and judge them good or not.2.Express the themeStory:
15、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 labor of human beings or appreciate a certain social idea,etc.In narrative writing,the way of expressing
16、 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 with or without modifiers.(See sample 6.19)Sentence outline:complete sentences are used.(See sample 6.20)The ou
17、tline 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 typical details;2.Observe things in particular;3.Describe from different perspectives.p 3 criteria in choosing incidents:p
18、 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 representative5.Select appropriate relating structure and orderExercise:Read sample 6.7,sample 6.9,sample 6.12 and sample 6.18
19、 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 a suitable perspectiveThere are 2 perspectives in narration:In the first person(sound as if the writer himself has seen or experi
20、ence 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 Hemingway and tell in what perspective do the writers tell their stories and what effects have been achieved.1.Part:Several friends and I went
21、 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.
