Fictional Narrative Workshop
Language Arts 7
What is a fictional narrative?
Imagine creating a character--a person who never existed before--and then
plunging him or her into an exciting or challenging situation. When authors write
fictional narratives, or made up stories, they have the power to bring to life any kind
of character or situation they imagine. Their only limit is their imagination!
Writers of fictional narratives follow a plot to build their short story:
Exposition:
Introduction of the setting, characters, and conflict
Complications: Scenes which intensify the conflict and build anticipation and suspense
Climax:
Conflict is resolved at the story's most anticipated, suspenseful part
Resolution:
The loose ends of the story are tied up and the characters respond to the resolved
conflict
Ingredients of Successful Fictional Narratives
1) The narrative has well-developed characters and a well-defined setting. Precise word choice
and sensory details are used to give the reader vivid images!
2) The narrative is based around a conflict and a solution to the conflict.
3)
Characters are described in detail through specific narrative action. Movements, gestures,
and facial expressions make the characters believable and interesting. "Showing" instead of
just "telling" helps indirectly characterize them! Remember, we can learn about a character
through his speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks.
4) Dialogue is critical. It moves the plot forward, gives indirect characterization, and builds
suspense.
In your fictional narrative:
We've read this classic story together, and you've been provided a copy. In this workshop, you will
recreate part of a short story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving. This classic
legend leaves the audience to interpret what really happened to its main character, Ichabod Crane.
Your goal will be to rewrite the climax and resolution of the story to include detail as to what really
happened to Ichabod Crane during his encounter in the hollow with the Headless Horseman. We
know that Ichabod Crane encountered somebody in the hollow without a head, but we don't actually
know what the two characters said or did! In keeping with the writing style of Washington Irving, you
must not resort to excessive description of violence. Be creative and have fun, but write a school
appropriate ending! You must write 2 to 3 pages (500 to 750 words) of your own. You must submit
your essay in MLA format by the due date!
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California State Standards:
1.0 Students write clear, coherent, and focused essays with an awareness of the audience and
the purpose. Students progress through the stages of the writing process as needed.
1.1 Create and organizational structure that balances all aspects of the composition and uses
effective transitions between sentences to unify important ideas.
1.3 Use strategies of outlining to impose structure on composing drafts.
1.6 Create documents using word-processing skills and publishing programs.
1.7 Revise writing to improve organization and word choice after checking the logic and ideas
and the precision of the vocabulary.
2.0 Students write narrative texts of at least 500 to 700 words.
2.1 Write narratives:
a. Develop a standard plot line and point of view.
b. Develop complex major and minor characters and a definite setting.
c. Use a range of appropriate strategies (dialogue, suspense, naming of specific narrative
action, including movement, gestures, and expressions)
Strategy for instruction of narratives
1. Students will learn the framework for short stories, the plot. They will identify the plots of
several short stories and discuss this predictable framework.
2. Students will read and complete a study guide from the Holt Literature Workshop on
Narration pages 534 – 557 and pages 704-705. This workshop includes mini-lessons on:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Ingredients and Purpose of a Narrative
Thinking About Purpose and Audience
Using Narrative Strategies
Planning the Plot
Evaluating and Revise Content, Organization, and Style
Using of Precise Nouns and Adjectives
Punctuating Dialogue
3. Students will listen to and read "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". They will be provided a copy,
and we will discuss this legend together in class.
4. To further emphasize audience perspective, students will view "The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow". This step is not necessary in order to write a new ending, but it does give students a
chance to see one person's perspective and elaboration of the original story! We will discuss
character development and compare and contrast the two mediums.
4. Students will use Washington Irving's basic situation and complications from "The Legend
Of Sleepy Hollow" and then write their own climax and resolution. They must
include their interpretation of what truly happened to Ichabod Crane. The narrative must
contain suspense, narrative movement, precise nouns and adjectives, and dialogue.
Students must write 2 to 3 pages in MLA format of their own climax and resolution!
5. Students will submit an MLA formatted essay, the grading rubric, and the prewriting and
drafting by the deadlines established. Essays are deducted at 10% off each day late.
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Practice #1: What’s A Narrative?
Holt Literature: pages 542-547
1. In order to keep your readers turning the pages of your narrative, a good story
should contain a character facing a _____________________________.
2. In order to start brainstorming for a narrative, a writer should start with:
a. ________________________________________________________
b. ________________________________________________________
c. ________________________________________________________
3. In order to develop your characters for your audience in a true or made up story,
a writer should ask himself or herself:
a. __________________________________________________________?
b. __________________________________________________________?
c. __________________________________________________________?
Narrative Strategies: page 545
1. People or characters can communicate through their ____________________ or
______________________.
2. The more details a writer includes in the story about how the characters
__________________ and _____________________, the better the reader will be
able to picture them.
3. Specific narrative action makes characters come alive! People speak with their bodies.
Three types of specific narrative action are:
a._______________________ b. _____________________ c.____________________
Point of View: page 547
1. In first person point of view, the narrator is a _________________in the _____________.
2. In third-person limited, the narrator is not a character in the story. The narrator tells only
what one character ________________, ________________, and ________________.
3. In third-person omniscient, the narrator is not a character in the story. The narrator knows
what __________of the characters are ________________, __________________, and
experiencing. This narrator can also tell things that none of the characters could know
such as the future!
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Practice # 2: Quotations and Dialogue
RULE #1: A direct quotation begins with a capital letter.
Jimmy shouted, “See you at the game!”
“Is it true?" asked Cindy.
RULE #2: When a quotation is interrupted into two parts with words like “he asked”
or “the teacher demanded,” the second part begins with a lower case letter.
“What are some of the things,” Mrs. Baskin inquired, “that make school fun?”
“One thing I like,” replied Sarah, “is recess!”
RULE #3: When writing dialogue, all punctuation marks at the end of the quotation
go inside the quotation marks.
“Let's visit the museum,” suggested Samantha. (end dialogue tag)
Jon replied, “Didn't we go there last weekend?” (starter dialogue tag)
“But when we did,” Beth added, “we didn't see the Ancient Egyptian exhibit.”
(interrupter dialogue tag)
RULE #4: Do not put a period inside the end of a quotation when a dialogue tag ends
the sentence. Use commas, question marks, and exclamation marks…but not periods.
Periods end sentences.
“My Algebra class is driving me crazy!” Paul yelled.
“That's my favorite class,” Becky replied.
RULE #5: Make a new paragraph (indent) each time the speaker changes.
"Last night, I dreamt that I ate a giant marshmallow," Kevin said.
"Was that anything like the dream you had about eating your way through a mountain
of fruit cocktail?" asked Suzy.
"Scarier," Kevin explained. "This time I woke up and my pillow was gone."
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Practice #2: Dialogue’s Purpose
One of the key ingredients in a narrative is dialogue. A writer must
include meaningful conversation between the characters. So, what is
meaningful conversation in a story? What should dialogue do? Dialogue
is one of the fiction elements you can use to propel your plot forward and
integrate your theme into a scene. But, dialogue is one of the hardest parts
of fiction to write.
So, as a narrative writer, make sure your dialogue has a purpose! Dialogue
may:
1) Provide background or new information to the characters about the conflict
2) Reveal new obstacles that the character must overcome to achieve his or her goal
3) Introduce a pivotal moment in the plot that changes the character(s)
4) Accelerate the emotion and story movement to increase the suspense and make the
situation more urgent for the characters
Dialogue can provide background information and move the plot
forward. Dialogue can provide further characterization and
personality.
“Ichabod, I would never marry a hypocrite like you,” Katarina barked.
“Why, Katerina, whatever do you mean, my dear?” Ichabod nervously retorted.
“I overheard your conversation with my father about my ‘foolish dreams’. I want
nothing more to do with you. Please respect my wishes and be on your way!”
When showing the interaction between two characters, the writer
must carefully choose his or her words.
“Who’s there?” Ichabod stammered. “Why are you following me? What do you
want?”
At first the headless being offered no reply. He simply pointed. “Your head is what I
seek, you fool. How dare you trespass on my hollow!” the dark, monstrous shadow sneered.
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Practice #2: Punctuating Dialogue
Proofread the following passage by adding dialogue punctuation such as commas and
quotation marks. Use a pen to make your marks heavy and dark!
A Saturday with Didi
In one year said Mr. Goldman the average American teenager sees more
than twenty thousand commercials. Twenty thousand! And what do those
commercials make you want to do? The students thought for a moment, and
then Elaine raised her hand and said Buy stuff. Mr. Goldman nodded his head
in agreement and disbelief.
Elaine decided to watch television one Saturday morning with her
neighbor Did, who is seven. I like programs about animals that talk Didi told
her, so they watched a show about a pink talking elephant. The show was
predictable, so mostly Elaine watched Didi watch television. Didi laughed at
all the jokes, but her eyes lit up like fireworks when the commercials came on.
The ad for a talking doll made her say Wow! The one for the sugary sweet
cereal prompted her to comment I like that stuff. It makes the milk turn blue.
During an hour of television, there were seventeen commercials. Four were for
other television shows, five were for cereals or food, and eight were for toys.
Elaine asked Didi Do you think television is a good thing?
Her answer was Yes. How else do you know what you want?
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Practice #3: Tracing the Plot
BASIC SITUATION:
Give a one or two sentence description for each character. Write in
complete sentences!
Ichabod Crane
Katarina Van Tassel
Bram Bones
The Headless Horseman
What details does Washington Irving provide about the setting to provide
information about the story's characters, the mood, and the creation of conflict?
Provide minimally 3 sentences.
What is the internal and external conflict that our main character, Ichabod
Crane, will face? Explain in 3 sentences.
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COMPLICATIONS:
How does the conflict become more complicated? What obstacles does
Ichabod Crane encounter? Explain in 3 sentences.
CLIMAX:
In your recreation of the story, you need to describe the hollow and the
encounter that Ichabod has with the Headless Horseman. Your description and
dialogue must build suspense! Who was the Headless Horseman? Why did he
want to encounter Ichabod? What did he want? What happened between the
two of them? How and why does Ichabod disappear?
Narratives include specific narrative action in the form of gestures, expressions,
movements. What types of narrative action can you include?
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What are some specific lines of dialogue that you will use?
How will Ichabod Crane's internal conflict and external conflict be resolved?
What really happened between the "Headless Horseman" and Ichabod Crane?
Does your climax keep in similar style to Washington Irving's? Is it a believable
and realistic ghost story?
RESOLUTION:
Your story's ending should not just be tacked on. Is should follow naturally
from the story's events. Your story's outcome can be happy or sad, but make
sure it is believable. The loose ends of the story should come together. The
characters are changed in some way as a result of the resolved conflict. What
happens in Sleepy Hollow after Ichabod goes missing? What happens to Brom
Bones and Katarina Van Tassel?
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Practice #4: Narrative Action
Giving your reader a clear picture is important in narrative writing. Remember to include
sensory details. Use precise words in your description! Equally important to bringing your
writing alive is narrative action such as gestures, expressions, and movement of your
characters. These will indirectly develop your characters and make you a better story-teller!
Goal: Read the following passage. Rewrite the passage to include precise words. Also,
focus on indirect characterization by showing about your characters instead of telling.
For example, I have directly told you Ichabod was nervous and Katerina was uneasy
and angry. SHOW the characterization through their body movements, facial
expressions, and hand gestures. (We will add dialogue later!)
Ichabod was nervous. He wanted to ask Katerina to marry him. Katerina
seemed uneasy. She did not want to speak to Ichabod and she seemed
angry. Ichabod approached and asked her the question.
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BASIC SITUATION AND COMPLICATONS
This is the story of a man called Ichabod Crane and his unfortunate encounter with The
Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. Sleepy Hollow is one of the quietest places in the
whole wide world. The only sounds to be heard above the babbling brook that meanders
there, are the birds; starlings, sparrows, and perhaps the occasional woodpecker. An unusual
tranquility indeed!
However, no one ever went into Sleepy Hollow, not even in the daytime, because people for
miles around believed that the place was haunted. To venture out there after dark would be
folly indeed, for witches were known to cavort there with goblins and spirits and ghosts and
unspeakable things that could bite! It is said that the most fearful spirit that haunts this
nightmarish region is the apparition of a figure on horseback. The figure has no head! It is
said to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper whose head had been carried away by a cannonball
in some nameless and forgotten skirmish during the Revolutionary War, and who is
compelled forever to furiously ride, as if on the wings of the wind, to the scene of battle in a
forlorn and nightly quest to recover his head and then get back, before daybreak, to the little
whitewashed church where lay his troubled grave. He is known throughout the region of
fantasy and shadows as The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.
Not very far from Sleepy Hollow was a school house. The schoolmaster's name was Ichabod
Crane. He was tall, lean, and lanky with long legs and arms that protruded from his too short
sleeves. His head seemed small because his ears were so large. His nose was long and
pointed. He could easily, from a distance, be mistaken for a scarecrow. Ichabod Crane
fervently believed in witchcraft. His imagination, however, would become active as he often
walked through the hollow, and it would fill him with dread as he would sing shakily, or
dryly try to whistle to bolster his spirits, believing that he was being followed by the
unspeakable hollow or the galloping Headless Hessian.
Katarina Van Tassel was the daughter and only child of a wealthy, local Dutch farmer. She
was an attractive lady of eighteen years. Plump as a Partridge and as rosy cheeked as one of
her father's peaches. Ichabod was enraptured and found her almost as desirable as her father's
considerable wealth! He had serious thoughts of marriage. Unfortunately, for Ichabod, he
was not the only contender for Katarina's hand. She had many admirers.
The most formidable of these was the swashbuckling young giant named Brom Van Brunt.
He was famous for miles around for feats of great strength and daring. His powerful frame
gave credence to his nickname, "Brom Bones". Being good humored and boyishly
mischievous, he enjoyed playing pranks and engaging in boisterous fun and frolics. He was
also a superb horseman, his feats in the saddle were legendary and he liked nothing better
than to race his huge black stallion called "Daredevil".
One fine autumnal evening, Ichabod was invited for merrymaking at the house of Herr Van
Tassel. Everyone was there, including Brom Bones. The dancing had begun. Ichabod was a
good dancer and partnered with Katrina, while Brom Bones, filled with jealousy, sat
watching and brooding alone, in a corner.
(YOU RECREATE FROM HERE! WRITE A NEW CLIMAX AND RESOLUTION!)
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Writing Your Narrative Climax and Resolution
Ichabod’s rejection
 Dialogue between Ichabod and Katrina
 Ichabod’s gestures, expressions, and movements as he leaves
 Ichabod’s thoughts
Ichabod enters the hollow
 Sights of the hollow: trees, branches, moon, brook, cemetery,
hanging tree
 Sounds of the animals, brook, horse
 Ichabod’s expressions and movements as he becomes fearful
 Ichabod’s thoughts
The approach and encounter of a Headless Horseman






Sound of the black stallion and the Headless Horseman’s approach
Gestures, expressions, and movement of the horseman and Icahbod
Dialogue between the two characters
Explain what the Headless Horseman wants with Ichabod
Explain Ichabod’s reaction
Reveal the truth…whatever you have decided it is!
The search for Ichabod
 Who discovers that the encounter happened?
 What is the reaction of the school children, Katrina and Brom, and
the towns’ people?
 What is the lasting effect of the town people’s reaction to the Headless
Horseman and the hollow?
Your Climax and Resolution:
 Should be two and a half to four pages typed in MLA format
 25% of the essay should be dialogue. Use proper format for
quotations and paragraphing! Use smart dialogue tags! Proofread
for punctuation using the dialogue rule page!
 25% of your essay should be Ichabod leaving the party and
entering the hollow. Use sensory details, gestures, expressions,
and movement.
 25% of your essay should be the encounter.
 25% of your essay should be the resolution! Don’t be lazy here!
 An adult of LA support teacher should proofread your essay!
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Language Arts 7
Narrative Essay Rubric
Scoring Rubric:
O = outstanding mastery of standard; creative and advanced understanding
S= satisfactory understanding of skill/concept; effort shown to meet standard
N= needs improvement in meeting standard although some understanding is apparent
U= unsatisfactory; standard not addressed; directions not followed
MLA FORMAT:
All essay parts are double-spaced; size 12 font; proper heading; pagination;
paragraphs indented; one inch margins; white paper; (refer to handout or print another
from the blog to review this previously taught concept)
EVENTS BUILD TO SUSPENSEFUL CLIMAX:
Foreshadowing and description of setting build suspense. Dialogue, too, may be used to build
anxiousness.
O
S
N
U
O
S
N
U
POINT OF VIEW NARRATION:
The writer chooses one consistent narrator and remains in the same tense (present or past)
throughout.
O
S
N
U
MAJOR CHARACTERS ARE WELL-DEVELOPED:
The student has made the characters come alive through their thoughts, actions, and words;
detail, description, and dialogue are used to develop full, complex characters.
O
S
N
U
O
S
N
U
O
S
N
U
O
S
N
U
O
S
N
U
O
S
N
U
O
S
N
U
O
S
N
U
SPECIFIC NARRATIVE ACTION:
Gestures, facial expressions, and movement shows attitudes and personalities of characters;
the writer has made a dedicated effort to successfully incorporate narrative actions to show the
reader personality of the characters rather that just tell the reader about the characters.
PRECISE WORD CHOICE DESCRIBES CHARACTERS AND SETTING:
Choice of words reflects a thoughtful, revised effort to skillfully and vividly create images of the
characters and setting. Selection of dialogue tags shows consideration for characterization.
CREATIVE CLIMAX AND RESOLUTION (REMAINING IN IRVINGS' STYLE):
The writer has added to the climax where Irving left off. Ichabod and the Headless Horseman's
exchange is expanded upon from the original story. The climax and resolution are school
appropriate. The writer includes details as to the resolution for the main characters.
DIALOGUE AND ADVANCEMENT OF PLOT:
The writer included dialogue between the characters (especially Ichabod and the Headless
Horseman). The dialogue moves the plot forward and shows the characters' personality and
motives.
STANDARD CONVENTIONS WITH QUOTATIONS:
The writer utilized the example page to punctuate the quotations. Each new speaker's lines are
indented as a new paragraph. Punctuation is included inside the end quote. Commas are
positioned properly. Capitalization rules were followed.
SPELLING, PUNCTUATION, AND CAPITALIZATION:
Standard use of spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are used appropriately for this grade
level; proofreading and editing were done prior to submission of this final draft. Students have
properly punctuated commas with a direct address and compound sentences.
STANDARD ENGLISH GRAMMAR AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE:
Grade-level sentence variety and structure are used appropriately; the writer shows mastery of
complete sentence writing with few or no run-ons or fragments (refer to blog PowerPoint or see
Mrs. Cochren at lunch as needed to correct run-ons and fragments).
Name: _____________________________________________ Period: _____________ Number: _______________
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Narrative Essay: Edit Activity
We have been working on skills for successful narrative writing over the last two weeks:
proper punctuation and rules of dialogue, narrative gestures, expressions and
movements to indirectly characterize, and key ingredients of narratives. Please review
your narrative packet to ensure that you have followed directions and have focused
specifically on our key narrative areas.
After doing so, please initial each additional edit area for completion.
__________ I have read through my final draft and have also had a trusted adult or student
read it too.
__________ I have met the length suggestion of 2 ½ to 4 pages.
__________ My essay is in MLA format (double spaced, four row heading, centered title,
pagination, one inch margins, indented paragraphs, times new roman point 12).
__________ I included all four suggested parts (page 12) of my recreation of the climax and
resolution.
__________ I have very carefully reviewed punctuation rules for dialogue and there are few
to no errors.
__________ My choice of dialogue tags reflects consideration for precise word choice for
emotional effect and indirect characterization. (see 300 ways to say “SAID”
handout)
__________ In dialogue use, I indented a new paragraph each time a speaker changed.
__________ I added many gestures, expressions, and movements to bring my characters to
life.
__________ I capitalized and spelled the following properly: Sleepy Hollow, Headless
Horseman, Ichabod Crane, Bram Bones, Katarina/Katrina Van Tassel,
Gunpowder,
__________ I included sensory details to define the setting of the entry to Sleepy Hollow
__________ My writing style is similar to the author’s. I have a ghost story that is not too
violent or unbelievable.
Name: ______________________________________________ Period: _____________ Number: _______________
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