Writing a Narrative Composition can be fun because it lets you tell your own story. This type of composition is like sharing an experience or adventure, either real or imagined, in a way that captures your readers’ attention.
What is a Narrative Composition?
A Narrative Composition tells a story, often about a personal experience. Unlike most school essays, it allows you to be more creative and personal in your writing.
You might have to write one of these for an English assignment, but the skills you learn from writing narratives can also be useful when telling stories or even when writing personal statements for applications.
Why Write a Narrative Composition?
A Narrative Composition helps you develop your storytelling skills. You’ll learn how to start your story, build it up, and then wrap it up in a way that leaves an impression on your reader. Let’s break down what you need to include to make your story interesting.
The Key Ingredients of a Narrative Composition
To write a good narrative, you need the following elements:
1. Plot
The plot is the series of events that happen in your story. It should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Think of it like the map of your story.
- Example: If you’re writing about your first day at a new school, your plot could describe how you felt walking into the building, the people you met, and the challenges you faced that day.
2. Characters
The characters are the people (or sometimes animals or objects) involved in your story. These can be real people from your life or made-up characters, but each one should be described well so the reader can imagine them.
- Example: In your first day of school story, your characters might include yourself, your teacher, new classmates, or a friendly janitor who helped you find your way to class.
3. Conflict
Conflict is what makes your story interesting. It’s the problem or challenge your characters face. It can be a big problem or something small that still matters a lot to the character.
- Example: The conflict in your story could be how nervous you felt about fitting in at the new school or how you dealt with getting lost in the hallways.
4. Theme
The theme is the main idea or message behind your story. It’s what your readers will take away from it. A good theme gives your story a deeper meaning.
- Example: The theme of your first day of school story could be about overcoming fear or learning to adapt to new situations.
5. Timeline
A narrative follows a sequence of events, but those events don’t always have to be in exact order. You can use flashbacks or start in the middle of the action to make the story more engaging.
How to Structure Your Narrative Composition
1. Opening/Introduction
The beginning of your story should grab the reader’s attention. Start with something exciting or unusual that makes them want to read more.
- Example: “My hands were sweating as I stood in front of the school gates, wondering if anyone would notice the new kid.”
2. Body (Narrative Paragraphs)
In the body of your composition, tell the different parts of your story. Each event or moment can be its own paragraph. This is where you develop the characters, describe the conflict, and build up to the climax.
Use vivid details and sensory language to help your reader picture the scene. Imagine you’re painting a picture with words—what can your characters see, hear, or feel?
- Example:
- Paragraph 1: Describe your nervousness as you step into the school for the first time.
- Paragraph 2: Show how you struggled with finding your classroom or meeting new people.
- Paragraph 3: Describe how you eventually found your way or made a new friend, and what you learned from the experience.
3. Closing/Conclusion
The end of your narrative should wrap up the story and explain what the experience taught you. This is where you resolve the conflict and tie back to the theme.
- Example: “By the end of the day, I realized that being the new kid wasn’t as scary as I thought—it was the beginning of something exciting.”
Tips for Writing a Great Narrative
- Show, Don’t Tell: Instead of just telling the reader what happened, use descriptive language to show how it felt.
- Example: Instead of writing “I was nervous,” try “My stomach flipped as I walked into the classroom, my feet feeling heavier with each step.”
- Use Dialogue: Adding conversations between your characters can make your story more engaging and realistic.
- Example: “‘Hey, you’re new here, right?’ said a girl sitting next to me in class. I nodded, grateful for the friendly face.”
- Stay Focused: Keep your story focused on the main events. Don’t include too many unnecessary details that can distract from the story.
- Revise and Edit: After writing your first draft, go back and read it to see where you can add more details or cut out anything that doesn’t fit. Make sure your story flows smoothly from one event to the next.
Final Thoughts
Writing a narrative composition is a chance to express your creativity and share your experiences in a fun and engaging way. Remember to include a clear plot, well-developed characters, a meaningful conflict, and a strong theme. With these elements, you’ll be able to craft a story that captures your readers’ attention from start to finish. Happy writing!
This is a great write up.
Kindly enlighten me how they mark English composition in Zambia.
The question was “end the story with my aunt was vindicated “
I read the word vindicated as evicted so my narrative composition was based on the ending with my aunt was evicted.
The story line was okay and well structured according to my knowledge. Where I labeled my aunt to be bad hence in the end she was chased from the farm by
My question is will I be given marks for telling the story though missing the word vindicated ?
Thank you very much for visiting my website and reading this article. In Zambia, based on my past experience as a teacher, there are a few things that examiners look for in an essay. Let me outline some of them below:
Instructions: The questions will test your understanding of the question and your ability to answer according to the instructions. This also includes adhering to the required word count. In Zambia, you are expected to write between 250 and 350 words.
Format: Each essay or composition type has its own format (there may be multiple formatting types within the same composition type). When asked to write a narrative, you are expected to use the appropriate format. I use the word “appropriate” and not “correct,” as the way you format your essay should resemble a story, not a description, report, or speech.
Language Use: Language use involves applying grammatical rules correctly and ensuring that punctuation is properly done. In Zambia, we teach grammar rules in English Structure. As a student, you are advised to use a variety of sentence types and language/grammar structures.
If your essay told a story using appropriate sentence structures, and followed the correct format, you will earn good marks. The examiner is a human being and will read the words you’ve used, which lead to your conclusion.
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