Chapter 6-Narration

Narrative writing is one of the most common types of writing, and, chances are, you have written and read multiple narrative stories in your school career.

So, what exactly is narration or narrative writing? Simple! It’s storytelling. Anytime you read or write a story, fiction (real) or non-fiction (made-up), you are engaging in narration.

Narration is usually written in chronological or time order. Writers start at the beginning of the story and work their way to the end.

Some of the key components of narration include plot, characters, point of view, setting, conflict, resolution, and theme.

• Plot-main events of the story
• Characters-people in the story
• Point of view-includes first, second, or third person; narrative writing is usually written in first person (using words like “I” or “me”) or third person (told by the narrator)
• Setting-place and time that the story occurs
• Conflict-problem in the story
• Resolution-ending or solution
• Theme-main lesson or idea that the author wants the reader to understand or possibly learn from

Students often find narrative writing to be easier than other types of writing. You can write a story about something that has happened to you in the past, or you can make up a story.

Chapter Questions:

1. Define narration.
2. Have you ever written narration before? Tell about your experience.
3. How is narrative writing usually organized?
4. T/F: Narrative writing for a class should always be based your own experiences.

Student Samples

Open Your Heart to New Opportunities

Written by Ada Sardana Sambola

Imagine that you went on vacation with your family of five, but you ended up adding a new member to it. What started as a gift for my parents, ended up changing our lives. My parents are the most hardworking people I have ever met. I owe everything I have to them, and I will be forever thankful for all the opportunities they have given to me. Therefore, my brothers and I decided to surprise them with a trip to the south of Spain. Granada sounded like the perfect place: warm weather, calmness, and beautiful landscapes. Precisely what my parents needed after a year full of stress as well as quarantines.

When we surprised our parents gratefulness was all their facial expressions showed. I could not hold back my tears from running down my cheeks. It was not a trip to New York or the Maldives, but I could see that they were so appreciative for what we had given them. We explained the details of the trip to them and how we had organized it. As Spain is a tiny country, going from one end to the other by car takes roughly twelve hours. With the help of my talkative mother and my tendency to argue with my brothers, those hours flew by. We had booked three rooms in a little hotel near Granada. The photos we had seen did not do it justice. It was run by an old English couple, who knew exactly how to make that hotel feel like a home. It was a tiny, white house with a beautiful terrace full of plants and flowers. The living room still had visible wooden beams that gave the place an old but stylish feeling. The big chimney was the main feature of the room, and around it, there were two brown, comfortable armchairs. As the animal lover that I am, I could not have been happier when I saw two fat and affectionate cats walking around the hotel like they owned the place. We could not wait for the next day to discover what Granada had to offer.

Sweat dripping down our foreheads, a load of tourists, and steep hills- that is how we could describe the days we spent sightseeing, but it was all worth it. We visited The Alhambra and the Granada Cathedral. Those two historic buildings stand imposing, showing how beautiful the city of Granada is. The characteristic arches and the detailed, symmetrical engravings give harmonious visual equity. These monuments are proof of the Arabic heritage of Spain, and we had the privilege of visiting them.

After admiring the mesmerizing architecture, we decided to go to the old part of the city to take a break. The streets became narrower and quieter as we walked, leaving behind the bustle of the tourists. We found a little, picturesque café in which we could talk to some locals. One of them caught my attention. She was sitting next to a skinny yet elegant dog with almond-shaped, honest, sad eyes, long thin legs, tail, and snout. This dog looked like it belonged to royalty or like it should be guarding the entrance of an Egyptian temple. Usually, when you look at a dog, they start wagging their tail and look at you with the happiest eyes. This dog was different. I could see and sense the fear he felt around people. I instantly felt curious and wanted to know more about that breed. I did not hesitate to ask the woman who had the dog’s leash in her hands. “Excuse me, what kind of breed is this dog?” I asked her politely. “A Spanish Greyhound.” She responded nicely. “It is the most abandoned and abused breed in Spain,” she said while looking sadly at the dog. I did not expect that raw response. “Hi, I am Mikaela,” she said to avoid the uncomfortable silence I had created as I was speechless because of her response. I introduced myself, yet my head was brimming with questions, and she was happy to see attentiveness regarding the subject, so the conversation flowed. She told me that she had created an association dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of Spanish greyhounds.

My family and I listened carefully to her as she explained how this breed had become the target of abandonment and mistreatment. Their privileged anatomy has caused them to be used for hunting. I could not believe what I was hearing. A lot of emotions ran through my mind while she was talking such as anger, injustice, impotence, rage, and finally, hope. I felt hope, thanks to people like Mikaela. People that have decided to dedicate their lives to a major good, to help these poor animals that otherwise would have died alone in pain and suffering. Hope because they give them a second chance. A chance to go from hell to a find better place, a forever home.

Mikaela invited us to her home where she had all the dogs she had rescued. My heart broke instantly when I saw the large number of dogs that were there. Some were wagging their tails and happy to see us, others were close to the fence with their tail between their legs shaking uncontrollably. Most of those greyhounds had been found in the streets wandering and surviving off the food they found around garbage cans. It was easy to see how malnourished those animals were. The worst thing was that it was humanity’s fault. Humans can be the best and the worst species alive. We can create beautiful things and accomplish what other species cannot do. At the same time, though, we are the only species that can hate and harm on purpose. People who hate, hate consciously, and do not know love. Some people fear ghosts or spirits, but I think we must be afraid of those who hate on purpose. Those who harm animals and treat them as objects. Those who do not think that they have the right to be treated with respect and love. Those who think humans are a species that stand above others. The worst thing is that these loyal animals can trust again, even though they have not felt love or affection in their lives. That is not an easy task, which proves that those dogs are the superior species.

Suddenly, I felt the urge to do something about it. I could not stand there and see these delightful animals mistreated. In a fraction of a second, an idea came to my mind. My family already knew what I was about to say. Maybe I could not end this problem, but I could improve the life of one of those greyhounds. We already had one dog, so it was a little challenging to convince my parents, but in the end, they understood the reason for my decision. In these cases, it is not just about adopting a dog. It is about allowing them to live a life that is not based on suffering, hunger, pain, or violence but a life of love, comfort, and happiness.

We were going back home with a new member in our family. It was love at first sight. His eyes trespassed my soul. A sadness I had never seen before. The recent scars in his skinny body reflected the harsh past he had had. But I was determined to show him that healing was possible, that a better future was ahead of him and that the suffering had finally ended.

One year later, Nordic is a different dog. He is living his best life, spending the days running, playing, and most importantly, sleeping. He is not the only one whose life has changed. Nordic has changed our lives. It is incredible how dogs can be so thankful for little details like a caress or a belly rub. His vitality and excitement for everything is contagious. We adopted him to give him a better life, but in some way, he has also adopted us and made our lives happier. Nordic has taught us to leave the past behind and open our hearts to new opportunities.

School Semester in Russia

Written by Valerie Petri

When I was 13 years old, I got an offer to spend a semester abroad in Russia during high school. Little did I know that this experience would change my whole perception of life and my future goals. A single semester in Russia lead me to a distinct perspective and made me realize that it takes effort, discipline, and the ability to get out of my comfort zone to achieve remarkable things. The girl that flew to Russia was quite different from the girl who came back to Germany.

It was a rainy fall day, and I was sitting in my classroom constantly blinking at the   clock. As my eyes were wandering around the classroom, I noticed the door slowly opening. A small red-haired lady came in. As she started talking, I recognized a strong Russian accent. The red-haired lady caught my attention. I soaked up every word she said. She talked about an opportunity for us to join a program that enabled us to spend a semester abroad in St. Petersburg. My anxiety immediately started talking to my inner self, “I should not do this; it is way too dangerous,” and “I am going to miss so many things in Germany,” “What will my parents think,” and so on; however, something deep inside of my heart told me to go, so I raised my hand and signed up for more information.

When I came home, I immediately talked to my mother, who was born and raised in Russia. She was very thrilled to hear that I wanted to learn Russian and attend school in her home country. As my whole family sat down at the dinner table, I introduced my father to my idea to attend school in Russia. He was not happy about the idea. Therefore, he started rolling his eyes like he always did when I had some new, crazy idea; however, after a long discussion he finally agreed and stated that he would always support me to do the things that would make me happy. My heart exploded. I jumped up and screamed and almost fell onto my little brother. I got my parents’ approval, which meant that I was able to start my new adventure.

Only four months after, I was on my flight to Russia. I cried several times in the days leading up to the flight and had multiple panic attacks and regrets; however, I was unbelievably proud I made it to the airport. On the plane, I tried to hold back the tears that were still coming out after having to say goodbye to my family. At some point, I got so tired of my tears that I fell asleep. I was in a very deep sleep when I got woken up by the words “Welcome to Russia.” I felt very overwhelmed and nervous, as this was my first time alone without my family in a strange country.

When I walked out of the small airplane into the big airport, I felt so insignificant compared to everything else. Suddenly I started feeling these deep cramps in my stomach that I got when I was nervous. As I walked closer and closer to the exit, my heart started beating faster, and eventually so fast that I thought it would entirely stop. At that moment, a women’s voice shouted “Lera” which is the nickname for Valerie in Russia. I quickly turned around; it was my host mom Ekaterina. She gave me a big hug and squeezed me so hard that I almost exploded, but I appreciated the warm welcome.

As we arrived home, I met the rest of the family. After we ate a typical Russian dinner together, I went to my room. As I laid down and faced the wall, I started realizing that I was in Russia, and this was my new reality. I did not know how to feel about the situation; everything was so different from home. I eventually started crying because I felt very lost and alone in a completely strange country.

The next morning my alarm clock woke me up at 5 am. It was time to get ready for school which started at 7 am. I had to put on a uniform which I never had to do in Germany. My way to school also looked a little different. I was used to being driven to school by my dad; however, in Russia, I had to walk to the bus station when it was 12 degrees Fahrenheit outside. School in Russia was exceedingly difficult for me, I knew a decent amount of Russian; however, it was almost impossible for me to understand biology and math in Russian. I came home very frustrated and tired after a long school day.

I questioned if I had made the right decision to come to Russia. Eventually, I started realizing that all the whining and negative self-talk would not help me in any way, so I changed my attitude. Instead of constantly comparing my situation in Russia to my situation back home, I focused on making the best out of every moment. I decided to hire a tutor that helped me every day after school to improve my language skills. After just two weeks I saw a major improvement in my language. I was finally able to understand all my teachers and classmates. Being happy and appreciative of my situation instead of being miserable made me more open and talkative. I eventually made great friends. I started enjoying my time so much that I even forgot about the homesickness that plagued me at the beginning. I was so excited to attend school and see my friends that I did not even mind the long and cold trip to school anymore.

Three months went by, and it was time for me to go back home. I was incredibly sad to leave all my friends and the life I had built in St. Petersburg. On the plane, I cried again, and I had to think of the girl that cried on the trip to Russia. I was not the same girl anymore. I had turned into a girl that was able to make the best out of demanding situations–a girl that could work hard and assimilate to her environment. I was not a spoiled child anymore. Instead, I turned into a responsible girl willing to work hard for her dreams.

Until this day, I know that if I had not gone to Russia, I would not be the person I am now. Russia made me hungry for challenges and chasing my dreams. Today, I live in the USA, and I am working on my big dream to become a lawyer. Just like attending school in Russia, this is not a dream that is easy to achieve; but is worth working hard for.

The African Queen

Written by ChiChi Muchena

She is a benevolent light that overpowers any darkness that could block away hope, faith, and love. This lady is a well-respected, admired and noble leader who is adored by many. She is The African Queen.

She was born and raised in Zimbabwe, a country in southern Africa. On the 19th of October 2001, she was brought onto this earth, but her birth had a relative number of complications. She was born two months before her due date which meant that she was a premature baby. Her heart was not fully developed which made it quite difficult to breathe and caused more complications. This Queen barely had any eyebrows when she came to this earth, but she came in with a smile. It sounds rather strange for a baby to be born with a grin, but this smile was her superpower, and it still is. The beautiful Queen comes from a well-cultured family that aims to be diverse and open minded. She grew up under the influence of modesty, humility, prayer and love. Her character reflects the light she is. This lady is a sanguine that spreads the joy and love that any other human being would need. She has a beaming smile that resonates the happiness that she spreads. Her smile is one of the most adored characteristics of her persona because it is said to be contagious and can automatically brightens someone’s day. It brings healing and the honesty and sincerity behind it is greatly appreciated by many. Besides her dazzling smile, the heiress possesses a heart that spreads love to her friends, family and the people in her community.

The African Queen faced many challenges that have forged her personality and character. One of the biggest challenges was overcoming death as a newborn. The experience of having to fight for her life at such a fragile stage was traumatizing. She had to fight the difficulty of having a non-fully developed heart which caused an unsteady pace in her heartbeat and breathing difficulties. She was challenged further as she had to spend time in the incubator and was fed through her nose by tubes. As a newborn she could barely express her pain in words, but she used to cry a lot. Her cry was distinctive, and her mother would instantly know that it was her crying. Regardless of the hardships the Queen faced as a premature baby, she soldiered on and escaped from the terror of being in an incubator, and finally joined her family at home. However, the situation worsened because she could not be breastfed. She lost so much weight because she barely ate, and she got terribly sick quite often. It almost felt as if she was going to forfeit her life. Fortunately, this Queen was not the type to give up because she had her mother supporting her and taking care of her. She chose to live and to tell her story.

A few years passed and the Queen started going to preschool. However, she faced the challenge of not being able to speak in a way that everyone could understand. Her development in speaking, writing, and comprehension was slow which caused her to take an extra year of nursery school. It was so concerning to her parents because they feared that she might have a delay.  An extra year in preschool helped a lot such that by the time she started primary school she was comfortable, and she was not lagging behind like before. Unfortunately, halfway through primary school this queen still had trouble eating and had a forced feeding scheme which tormented her. She used to throw away her food in the bin because she was afraid to bring the same food back home. She lost weight dismally and encountered bullying because she was lanky and very small. The bullies kept at it for a while until it came to a point where this Queen gathered her power and courage to stand up for herself and remember that she is royalty. She put her foot down and the bullying stopped instantly.

Many years have gone by, and this Queen has matured and has become an influential leader. She continued to face challenges, but she continued to press on. She has achieved many outstanding awards and has led many people and groups in both primary school and high school. This Queen has her imperfections, too, because she can be very rigid, and it is a habit she has that can sometimes cause problems, especially if things do not go her way. She has a problem of overthinking, which ends up complicating things. Sometimes her imperfections cause the circumstances she faces in her life; however, perseverance is always an answer she gives to the challenges that come up.

To this day her obstacles have made her realize the precious miracle she is. She has realized the amount of potential she has to build her future because she will not let anyone walk over her. With the positive impact created by her mother she believes nothing can stop her or get in the way of her success. If she conquered death nothing could stop her. This Queen is the light of the world, and her name is Chiedza Muchena.