Let’s check out narratives!

Let’s check out narratives! Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

So what exactly is a Narrative? • A story • A tale • An anecdote • A yarn • A myth • A legend • An account Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

Narratives can be.. • Real life • Magical • Funny • In the past • In the future • Scary • Adventurous • In another world Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

What do they have in common? • An ORIENTATION • A COMPLICATION • A RESOLUTION Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

Some have • More than one complication • A moral or a lesson to be learnt • A twist to the plot • A resolution that still leaves you wondering Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

ORIENTATION • This “sets the scene” • It introduces the main characters • It tells about time and place • It makes the reader want to know more Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

Here’s How! • Jessica sat in her bedroom and stared angrily around her. She didn’t really see the comfortable bed, the posters of bands and movie stars on the wall, the desk with the laptop on it or the wardrobe full of clothes that her parents had supplied for her. As she blinked the angry tears out of her eyes, all she could see was the unfairness of it. She heard her older brother, Sam, knock on her door and she turned round. “Jess, open the door and let me explain,” he pleaded. Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

And This! • Once, long ago in the time of magic, there lived a very naughty pixie. His little house in a large toadstool was always in a mess, his clothes always needed washing and mending, and he was always borrowing things from the other pixies in Green Forest Village and then never returning them. It was a pity that Paddy was so naughty because everyone else in the village lived happily together as good friends and neighbours. Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

COMPLICATION • A series of events that happen to the characters • How the characters react to situations or circumstances • How the characters interact with each other • The problems/dramas/events that the characters have to solve Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

Here’s How! • Pete and Josh sprinted along the river bank, each trying to out-pace the other. Josh had narrowly won their last contest and so Pete was determined to reach the end of the pathway first. He began to pull ahead of Josh as the finish line came in sight, “I’m going to beat you this time!” he gasped as he gathered himself for a final spurt. Suddenly Josh’s arm snaked out and grabbed Pete’s shirt and he was dragged to a halt. “Not fair!” he shouted angrily, but stopped when he saw Josh’s face, which was white and shaken. He looked to where Josh was pointing and that was when he saw it! Floating face down in the river appeared to be a body. Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

And This! • Ella rushed through the front door, hardly stopping to throw down her school bag on the way to the kitchen, “Mum, mum, you won’t believe where we’re going on school camp this year!” she yelled excitedly as she burst into the room where her mother was sitting. “It’s only to Briar Farm Horse Camp,” she added with her eyes sparkling with pleasure. “And it’s only going to cost $250.00,” she finished triumphantly. Her mother looked down at a letter in her hand, “Oh dear,“ she said sadly, “I think we may have a problem finding the money. I’ve just lost my job!” Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

Resolution • How the characters solve the complication • The things that happen because of the events • How it turns out in the end Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

Like This! • Josie held her breath as she peered round the broomstick she was hiding behind. She saw Evilia hunched over the cauldron stirring the foul-smelling brew and adding a variety of disgusting looking ingredients to it. She slowly and carefully stretched out her hand and replaced the glass bottle on the shelf with the one that the kindly old lady had given her. She watched as Evilia grabbed it without looking and added it to the potion. There was an almighty blinding flash of light and when Josie looked again – there was no Evilia – only a tiny green frog! Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

And This! • Hunter climbed up the wall and leant down to help Cooper. Silently they dropped to the other side and scurried under the overhanging branches of a tree. They looked towards the mansion and saw the light on in the ballroom. “They are definitely after the silver!” whispered Cooper. Hunter nodded and they crept across the garden to the house. Peering into the window they spotted the gang filling up bags with the silver cupsand trophies. Silently the two boys slid round a corner and Hunter pressed triple zero on his mobile. It was only a few minutes later when they heard the sirens and the saw the flashing blue lights arrive. Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

characters • Make them real – even though they’re not! • Give them a “look” • Give them conversation • Give them emotions • Give them a personality Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

Here’s how! • Miserea cackled softly to herself as she stared into the cauldron. Her cruel eyes blinked in the foul-smelling smoke and the wart hairs on the end of her nose twitched as she slowly stirred the potion that would soon make her beautiful. She patted her stringy black hair with the talon like fingers of one hand and imagined what she would look like once the spell was complete. Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

And This! • Mr Drummond stamped into the classroom and slammed the door. The class all hunched their shoulders waiting for the explosion. “Which of you hideous children broke my coffee cup yesterday?” he demanded, sweeping his beady eyes round the room. Jamie began to tremble, his brown curly hair flopped across his forehead with each shake, he tried to sink into his seat and become invisible but he knew he’d have to own up. Slowly, painfully, he raised his skinny arm. Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

settings • Describe the “time and place” of your story • Help the reader to visualise where and when this is happening • Make the setting and the time fit the events in the story Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

Here’s how! • It was the hottest day of summer. The sun frizzled the dry, brown grass and baked the bare patches of earth in Jack’s back yard. He wandered past the washing line, down the cracked cement path to the old tin shed. The padlock on the door was gaping open and he wrestled it out and shot the bolt. The door squeaked harshly as it swung open. Inside it was dark and a mouldy smell wafted out. “Don’t be long Jack,” he heard his mother shout, “it’s nearly teatime.” Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

And This! • Once long ago, so long ago that history has forgotten it, there was the kingdom of Futasia. Oh! What a place it was! High rolling mountains, clear, fresh rivers, green lush fields, picturesque villages and bustling towns. One particular village, called Puddlestone, was the home of Conrad, a strong lad who worked for the blacksmith. Conrad loved the forge where he worked. The clanging of the metal and the sparks from the fire excited him every day. Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

Remember These • Don’t just “tell” your reader – “show” them • Vary your sentence starters • Vary the length and types of your sentences • Stay in one verb tense – usually 3rd person past tense • Replace overused vocabulary with more imaginative words • Use figurative language such as simile, metaphor, alliteration or onomatopoeia Produced by www.linkingtoliteracy.com

Let’s check out narratives!