Writing A Narrative and A Recount ~ English Edutainment

1. Writing A Narrative

A Narrative is. . .

A narrative essay is basically a story written about a personal experience.
it is usually set in the past or present
A narrative can be written about the experience of someone else.
Narrative essays often describe specific experiences that changed how someone is feeling by “showing” through his/her actions, rather than by coming right out and “telling” readers.
However, the purpose is not to merely tell an interesting story but to show readers the importance and influence the experiences has had on youthe writer.
Narratives appear in poetry, short stories, novels, personal essays, folk tales, scripts and plays.
Recounts and enecdotes are a type of narrative – descriptions of these follow.

A good narrative . . .

Involves readers in the story.
Relates events in sewuence.
Includes detailed observations of people, places, and events.
Present important changes, contrasts, or conflicts and creates tension.
Is told from a point of view-usually the author’s point of view.
Focuses on connection between past events, people, or places and the present.
Makes a point, communicates a main idea or dominant impression
Provides human interest, sparks our curiosity, and draws us close to the storyteller.
Has a point to make and makes it well.

Common structure of a narrative. . .

Orientation: setting the scene, introduces the participants and gives the necessary background information such as, “who”, “when”, “where”, “what” and “why”
Evaluation: stepping back to evaluate the problem/situation.
Complication: a crisis arieses
Reorientation: an optional personal comment or opinion and a closing statenment

2. Writing a Recount

A recount is . . .

The purpose of a recount is to allow the writer or speaker to retell events from the past. This could include personal events, factual incidents or imaginary incidents.
The intention of a recount is to recounstruct and interpret experience and past events to inform and/or entertain the audience or reader.
Recounts can be personal or factual. Fctual recounts are often included as part of other texts, for example, as background to a report. Personal recounts are used to retell events the speaker or writer was personally involved it.
Recounts can be spoken, such as telling a personal anecdote, recounting a holiday while showing photos, an invidual recounting an experience as part of a radio or television news report, etc.
Recounts can be written, such as accounts of projects and field trips, science experiments, diaries, journals, contributions to newsletters, acoounts in newspaper and magazine articles, etc.

A good recount . . .

Is well-organized and relates events in sequence using appropriate linking and coesive devices.
Includes detailed observations of people, places, and events.
Presents important changes, contrasts, or conflicts and creates tension.
Is told from a point of view – usually the author’s point of view.
Focuses on the connection between past events, people, or places and the present.
Is told in a register appropriate for the purpose and audience.

Common structure of a recount . . .

Orientation: setting the scene and giving the necessary.
The event: retelling the event in chronological order or logical sequence, usually in the pas tense. The focus should be on the important participants in the event. Details and personal responses included to add to the readers’ or listeners’ interest. Personal recounts should be written in the first person (using personal pronouns, I,/we, etc). Factual recounts should be written in the third person (he, she, it, etc)
Reorientation: usually includes a personal comment or opinion and a closing statement.

src: KGI

English Edutainment