Norton Text Info

1. Narrative/Memoir
ENG 111
Unit One

2. Narratives
• Narratives are stories that are told for
different purposes.
• In college, students will be asked to relate
their experiences dealing with different
matters. There is also the narrative
required on the college application.

3. Memoirs
• Memoirs focus on events, people, and
places that are important.
• One usually writes a memoir to capture
the important moment and to tell how it is
important to him/her.

4. Key Features
• A well-told story: Like most stories, those
about literacy often set up some sort of
situation that needs to be resolved or a
question to be answered.
• Vivid detail: Vivid details are what bring a
story to life and help create the mental
images of sights, sounds, smells, tastes,
and textures of the world in which the story
takes place.

5. Key Features Continued
• Indication of narratives significance: A
literacy narrative tells something about
how the person learned to read or write.
The writer must also make it clear why the
event is important. A sort of moral of the
story, if you will.
– A memoir tells about the significance of the
memory, while explaining what it means to the
writer.

6. Choosing a Topic
• Focus on the simple events during a brief
period:
– Any earlier memory about reading or writing
– Someone who taught you to read or write
– A book that is significant to you
– An event at school that was interesting,
humorous, or embarrassing, etc.
– A memory you will never forget
• Make a possible list of topics and choose
one that you feel is interesting.

7. Considering the Rhetorical
Situation
• Purpose: Why do you want to tell the
story? Think about the reasons and how
they will shape what you write.
• Audience: Who are your readers?
Understanding your audience lets you
know what you need to explain, if there
would be similar experiences, and if they
share your attitude.

8. Rhetorical Situation Cont.
• Stance: What attitude do you want to
project? The attitude will determine the
tone you use when writing.
• Media/Design: How will be the narrative be
presented? There is print, oral, and web.,
and then there are photos, charts, or other
illustrations that may be needed.

9. Generating Ideas and Text
• Remember that the goal is to tell a story
that is vivid and compelling for the reader.
– Describe the setting: Where does it take
place? What do you see? What do you hear?
What do you smell? How and what do you
feel? What do you taste?
– Think of key people: People’s actions play an
important part in the story. Describe each
person in a paragraph or so. Recall (or
imagine) some characteristic dialogue.

10. Generating Ideas and Text
Cont.
• Write about ―what happened‖: A good
story dramatizes the action. Try to
summarize what happened with active and
specific verbs to describe as vividly as
possible. Answer what, where, and who.
• Consider the significance of the narrative:
Be clear about why the event is important.
How did it change or affect you?

11. Ways to Organize
• Start by Outlining the main events. Then
think about how you want to organize it.
– Chronologically: from beginning to end
– Beginning in the middle: start with the middle,
fill in details, tell how situation was resolved,
and why it was important.
– Beginning at the end: tell how the story ends
and then go back to the beginning to tell how
it happened.

12. Writing Out a Draft
• Once all the information is collected, it is
time to begin writing.
– Draft a beginning: jump right in with the main
action; describe the context by giving
background information; describe the
setting—especially if it is important to the
narrative.

13. Writing Out a Draft Cont.
– Draft an ending: what do you want to leave
the readers with.
• End where your story ends
• Say something about the significance of your
narrative
• Refer back to the beginning
• End on a surprising note
– Come up with a title.
• A good title indicates something about subject and
makes the audience want to read the narrative.

14. Considering Matters of Design
Narratives are usually written in paragraph
form.
– What typeface? Essays are usually Times
New Roman, Arial, or Calibri.
– Any headings? Essays have a header with
your name, teacher’s name, class, and date.
– Any visuals? Short essays usually do not
included visuals.

15. Getting Response and Revising
• Getting responses from others is really
important.
– Does the title and beginning make the reader
want to read more?
– Are transitions used correctly to take the
reader through the story?
– Is anything confusing?
– Are the details added and are the interesting?
Does the reader know the setting? Is there
dialogue?

16. Getting Response and Revising
Cont.
– Has the situation been made meaningful?
– Are actions described vividly and clearly as to
engage the reader?
– Is the significance clear?
– Is the ending satisfying and what does it leave
the reader thinking?
Once you have all the answers, it is time to
revise.

17. Editing and Proofreading
• Make sure events are narrated in clear
order with proper transitions.
• Make sure to have verb tense consistency.
• Make sure verb tenses indicate when an
action took place.
• Punctuate dialogue correctly.
• Proofread for other grammatical and
usage issues.

18. Taking Stock in Your Work
• How well did you tell the story?
• What did you do well?
• What could you improve?
• How did you come up with ideas and
generating texts?
• How did you go about drafting the
narrative?
• How did others’ responses influence you?