Narrative
(Story genre)

Structure
• Orientation
• Complication(s) or conflict
• Sequence of events
• Resolution
• Coda (optional): a comment or evaluation of events in the story


Language features
• Opening words capture reader’s interest
• May use storytelling conventions (especially in Myths, Fairytales: “Once upon a time”)
• First or third person storyteller or “voice”
• Process or action verbs to recount events
• Most often in the past tense, but may be in the immediate present for effect
• Vary sentences length: simple, compound or complex
• Short sentences increase tension; longer sentences provide contrast and detail
• Time words connect events (e.g. After that…; Then…; A few moments later…)
• Noun groups describe characters and settings (e.g. the noisy children playing in the park)
• Dialogue develops action and characters
• Tense may change within the dialogue


More information
•Targeting text (series), Blake Education, Glebe N.S.W.
• Anderson, M 1997, Text types in English, Macmillan, 1998.
• English Elements (series), Jacaranda Wiley, Milton, Qld.
• Whitfield, M 2001, Targeting writing across the curriculum, Blake Education, Glebe, N.S.W.
• Schill, J 1998, On track: working with texts, Heinemann, Port Melbourne.
• Excel essential skills (series), Pascal, Glebe, N.S.W.
• Understanding text types (poster series), R.I.C., Balcatta, W.A.

Interactive example (Jenny Eather)

Printable version