Writing a good Narrative essay
- Relevance
Underline the key words in the question and think up of a plot that will fit the title given.
The main idea conveyed by the title must be present. For example, to the title "Exploitation", the story must be about a person / some people who were treated most unfairly. "Addiction" should feature the protagonist seriously hooked on a compulsive habit or substance.
- Organization
- Introduction - Give the setting, meaning the time and place of events as well as introduce the main characters. You may begin your introduction using one of the following ways:
i) dialogue ii) character description iii) dramatic action iv) shock treatment v) mood /atmosphere eg. spookiness, tension, conflict/confrontation, romance, joy, sadness etc vi) scene description vii) place description viii) direct statement
- Complication – Quickly introduce the problem / obstacle / difficulty faced by the main characters in the story. Through the introduction of a new character or a new event, move the story on, causing the desired emotion to be aroused in the readers to be even more pronounced.
- Climax – Emotionally, the most intense part of the story. It could be the most touching, the most dangerous, the saddest or most tragic or the funniest.
- Resolution – The part where the writer decides how the problem(s) faced by the main characters is/are resolved. There should be a satisfactory ending to all that had happened in the story.
- Use of direct speech – dialogue crafted should be spontaneous and natural with contractions and proper dialogue carriers. There should be a new paragraph whenever a different person speaks.
- Use of abundant sensory details – appeal to the readers’ sense of sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell through concrete details.
- Clear description of characters’ thoughts and emotions
- Plot units should keep moving and not become a drag.
Narration should be in the past tense. Dialogue will depend on the circumstances.
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