Unit 7 - Writing a Narrative
Key Ideas and Vocabulary
*Please fill in the blank spaces with words found in your lessons. Complete this doc as you work through your lessons for this unit. *Click here for a visual of how to complete the notes.
Lesson 2 / Narrative Context Clues
Context clue A word or phrase near an ________ or difficult word in a text, giving the reader a better idea of the word’s meaning.
*Context clues can be found in the same sentence as the difficult word or in the sentences before or after it.
Synonyms A word or phrase that has the ________ meaning as another word or phrase.
Antonyms A word or phrase that has the ________ meaning of another word or phrase.
Definitions A statement of the ________ meaning of a word, especially in a dictionary.
Examples Something that is characteristic of its _______ or illustrates a general rule.
Lessons 3-4 / Connotative Meetings & Word Choice
Figurative
language Words or that are meant to be understood imaginatively rather than literally.
Metaphor Type of figurative language that compares two unlike objects or ideas that does ______ use the words like or as.
Simile Type of figurative language that compares two objects or ideas using the words ______ or as.
Connotative
meaning A positive, neutral or negative ________ or idea that a word has in addition to its literal meaning.
Literal meaning The ________ definition of a word or phrase; found in a dictionary.
*Also known as denotative meaning.
Tone The ________ that a writer has toward his or her subject.
Mood This is the way a reader feels about a piece of writing.
Lesson 5 / Transition Words
Transition
Words Are used to join other words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence to show the order of events in the story or to show when or where an event in the story happens.
They show how one idea is connected to another.
*These do not include verbs - keep this in mind for your quick check
Narrative A ________ or spoken telling of events; a story
Sequence/Time order Words and phrases such as first, next, or last; can also show time, such as with yesterday, in a little while, after, or as soon as.
Spatial order Words and phrases such as behind, inside, on your right and over here.
Lessons 6-7 / Details & Sensory Language
Adjectives Words that describe and pronouns
Adverbs Words that describe , adjectives, and other adverbs
Thesaurus A book that lists the word and their _________, along with related concepts and sometimes antonyms.
Descriptive language Words that help a writer visualize, describe, define, or explain what he or she is writing about. It helps the writer to what something is like.
*Adjectives and adverbs are a great way to use descriptive language
Precise words These are descriptive words that are and particular.
Sensory language Language that appeals to the ______ senses; Writers use this to provide greater detail and to make the writing more interesting and vivid.
Five senses How people experience the world around them, through touch, taste, sound, scent, and sight.
*Helps the reader to feel like they are in the story.
Lesson 8 / Pacing
Pacing The at which a story, or part of a story, unfolds.
*This is how fast or slow the action takes place. For example, by adding more details, the pace moves slowly and creates suspense. (page 2)
*Scenes with fighting or high speed chases or rescues are more fast paced to help the reader feel the speed of the action.
Introspection Kind of detail shows a character's inner thoughts. This technique can slow down the pacing because it adds more detail. (page 2)
*An example: when the character is thinking to themselves
Lesson 9 / Purpose and Audience
Author’s Style The way an author develops, __ ______, and tells or writes a narrative. (page 2)
Author’s Purpose The reason why the author is writing the story. (see question on page 3)
Persuade
Inform
Entertain This purpose is convincing someone to do something.
Ex. an argumentative essay, advertisements, speeches, article about the importance of doing something
This purpose is to give factual details and information.
Ex. a book report, do-it-yourself instructions, a news article
This purpose includes many narratives and stories (i.e. Fantasy stories) and is for pleasure.
Ex. an epic poem, a comedy sketch, a fantasy story
Audience The person or people who are going to _______ the narrative.
Exposition This is where you introduce the characters, the setting, and some background information.
Rising Action This is where you describe how the characters struggle to overcome obstacles and the main conflict.
Climax This is where you reach the greatest tension and how the conflict will be resolved becomes clear.
Falling Action This is where you describe how the characters resolve the conflict and where the tension
Resolution This is where you conclude the story by revealing the result of the conflict and tie up any loose ends.
Lesson 10 / Writing Process
The writing process is a multi-step process that writers use to craft a complete narrative. Many of the steps can be used more than once. On pg. 2, the writing steps include the following:
Planning Decide you want to write about and what style you are going to use. Create an outline and/or take notes about your subject.
Outline A tool authors often use to organize their ideas and the information that they have gathered. (example on page 2)
Writing Write your first with all the details you want to include in your narrative.
Revising Reread your writing and add to it or it to make it better.
*This is the step where you look at style, details, explanations, & word choice.
Peer Review Have someone else read what you wrote and make to improve it.
Editing Check your writing for spelling, , and punctuation errors.
Rewriting Rewrite your draft and include the marked in the revising, peer review, and editing stages.
Grammatical and spelling errors Errors can disrupt the reader's ability to understand an author's writing.
Lesson 11 / Concluding a Story
Personal Narrative A story that tells about a experience
Conclusion The thoughts or summary to a piece of writing; the ending.
A conclusion can: Restate the _ ______ to remind readers of the purpose of the story.
State the writer’s about an event or tell how the event affected the author.
Provide a learned or show the readers how the experience changed the author’s mind or actions.
Resolution The part of a story where the main problem is worked out or examined; usually happens at the of the story.
unit 7 lesson 2 quick check
problem 1
Which of the following describes an antonym?
Answer: has the opposite meaning of another word.
problem 2
Use the sentences to answer the question.
It's important to eat citrus fruits every day. These include oranges, lemons, and grapefruit.
Which type of context clue is used to help readers understand the underlined words?
Answer: example
problem 3
Use the sentence to answer the question.
Firefighter’s uniforms are made with fire-retardant materials, so they do not need to worry about their clothes catching fire.
Which type of context clue is used to help readers understand the underlined word?
Answer: definition
problem 4
Use the sentence to answer the question.
Mabel worked 60 hours at the hospital this week, so all she did on her day off was lounge on her couch and watch movies.
Which type of context clue is used to help readers understand the underlined word?
Answer: antonym
Lesson 2 / Narrative Context Clues
Context clue: A word or phrase near an unfamiliar or difficult word in a text, giving the reader a better idea of the word’s meaning.
*Context clues can be found in the same sentence as the difficult word or in the sentences before or after it.
Synonyms: A word or phrase that has the same meaning as another word or phrase.
Antonyms: A word or phrase that has the opposite meaning of another word or phrase.
Definitions: A statement of the literal meaning of a word, especially in a dictionary.
Examples: Something that is characteristic of its type or illustrates a general rule.
Lessons 3-4 / Connotative Meetings & Word Choice
Figurative language: Words or expressions that are meant to be understood imaginatively rather than literally.
Metaphor: Type of figurative language that compares two unlike objects or ideas that does not use the words like or as.
Simile: Type of figurative language that compares two objects or ideas using the words like or as.
Connotative meaning: A positive, neutral or negative feeling or idea that a word has in addition to its literal meaning.
Literal meaning: The literal definition of a word or phrase; found in a dictionary.
*Tone: The attitude that a writer has toward his or her subject.
*Mood: This is the way a reader feels about a piece of writing.
Lesson 5 / Transition Words
Transition Words: Are used to join other words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence to show the order of events in the story or to show when or where an event in the story happens. They show how one idea is connected to another.
*Narrative: A written or spoken telling of events; a story
Sequence/Time order: Words and phrases such as first, next, or last; can also show time, such as with yesterday, in a little while, after, or as soon as.
Spatial order: Words and phrases such as behind, inside, on your right and over here.
Lessons 6-7 / Details & Sensory Language
Adjectives: Words that describe nouns and pronouns
Adverbs: Words that describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs
Thesaurus: A book that lists the word and their synonyms, along with related concepts and sometimes antonyms.
Descriptive language: Words that help a writer visualize, describe, define, or explain what he or she is writing about. It helps the writer to show what something is like.
*Precise words: These are descriptive words that are specific and particular.
*Sensory language: Language that appeals to the five senses; Writers use this to provide greater detail and to make the writing more interesting and vivid.
Five senses: How people experience the world around them, through touch, taste, sound, scent, and sight.
Lesson 8 / Pacing
Pacing: The speed at which a story, or part of a story, unfolds.
*Introspection: This kind of detail shows a character's inner thoughts. This technique can slow down the pacing because it adds more detail.
Lesson 9 / Purpose and Audience
Author’s Style: The way an author develops, organizes, and tells or writes a narrative.
Author’s Purpose: The reason why the author is writing the story.
Persuade: This purpose is convincing someone to do something.
Inform: This purpose is to give factual details and information.
Entertain: This purpose includes many narratives and stories (i.e. Fantasy stories) and is for pleasure.
Audience: The person or people who are going to read the narrative.
Exposition: This is where you introduce the characters, the setting, and some background information.
Rising Action: This is where you describe how the characters struggle to overcome obstacles and the main conflict.
Climax: This is where you reach the greatest tension and how the conflict will be resolved becomes clear.
Falling Action: This is where you describe how the characters resolve the conflict and where the tension decreases.
Resolution: This is where you conclude the story by revealing the result of the conflict and tie up any loose ends.
Lesson 10 / Writing Process
The writing process is a multi-step process that writers use to craft a complete narrative. Many of the steps can be used more than once. On pg. 2, the writing steps include the following:
Planning: Decide what you want to write about and what style you are going to use. Create an outline and/or take notes about your subject.
Outline: A tool authors often use to organize their ideas and the information that they have gathered.
Writing: Write your first draft with all the details you want to include in your narrative.
Revising: Reread your writing and add to it or change it to make it better. This is the step where you look at style, details, explanations, & word choice.
Peer Review: Have someone else read what you wrote and make suggestions to improve it.
Editing: Check your writing for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
Rewriting: Rewrite your draft and include the changes marked in the revising, peer review, and editing stages.
*Grammatical and spelling errors: Errors can disrupt the reader's ability to understand an author's writing.
Lesson 11 / Concluding a Story
Personal Narrative: A story that tells about a personal experience.
Conclusion: The final thoughts or summary to a piece of writing; the ending.
A conclusion can:
-Restate the main idea to remind readers of the purpose of the story.
-State the writer’s feelings about an event or tell how the event affected the author.
-Provide a lesson learned or show the readers how the experience changed the author’s mind or actions.
Resolution: The part of a story where the main problem is worked out or examined; usually happens at the end of the story.