Narrative and Descriptive Writing Techniques

Why is it important to use narrative/descriptive writing strategies?

• It is not important. They are a waste if time.

• They help to keep the reader engaged in your writing and are creative ways to describe important characters, settings, and events.

• They help to make the story flow from one idea to the next smoothly.

I thought back to my fifth birthday and remembered that it was the first time I met my best friend Tina. Twenty years later, we are still making memories.

• Show, don't tell

• Flashback

• Hyphenated Modifier

• Simile

The white, glistening snow started falling, covering up the faded black driveway that was cracked and worn down. It wasn't how I remembered it years ago.

• Show don't tell

• Repetition for effect

• Simile

• Suspense

What technique is shown below?"What are you doing here?" John asked."I'm her to bring you home," his mother said lovingly.

• Magic 3

• Show don't tell

• Dialogue

• Metaphor

What can you do to improve your setting's description?

• Make it short and vague

• Make it really long and hard to follow

• Add details using different senses

• Don't talk about setting at all.

What is meant by flashback?

• Conclusion of the narrative

• Interruption in the narrative to show quick events from the past which may help explain what’s occurring in the present.

• Beginning of the narrative to show what will happen in the future

• Middle of the narrative

Being lost can be a frightening experience for a child.  Write about a time you were lost.  Be sure to include descriptive details in your story.

• Narrative

• Opinion

• Informational

Which of the following literary techniques provides the time and place of the story?

• Dialogue

• Imagery

• Setting

• Character

Which is an example of Magic 3?

• No, no, no!

• Martha spent time thinking about her past, imagining what life could have been like if things were different, and wondering whether she had made the right decision or not.

• Over the bump. Over the hill. Over the mountain. This would be easy.

• None of these show Magic 3.

What writing technique is being shown below?

The tree's leaves danced in the sky as the wind began to pick up speed.

• Personification

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole