Narration Defined

A narration relates a series of events in a definite sequence.  Whenever we relate what happened during our day to someone, we are using a
narrative form of organization. Whenever we tell a story, it is a narration.  The oral traditions of literature used by the Native American Indians
usually began as a narrative.   It is one of the most commonly used forms of organizational patterns.  However, in order for a narrative (noun form of
narration) to be clear to the reader, several critical points must be included.  We'll examine these in the next section, "Narration  Guidelines and Criteria".

Narration Guidelines and Criteria

1.  Have a strong thesis statement or point.

 Have you ever read or listened to someone tell a story and wonder where it was leading? While listening to someone's narrative, or reading, have
you asked yourself "Where is this going?"  If so, the writer or speaker, did not have a thesis statement/point, or it was a very unclear one.  Very
early in paragraph one, the thesis statement should appear.  It will direct the reader's attention to the specific point that they will  read about.

 A thesis, then, is the final form of the first critical idea about what you are going to write about.  The thesis statement, generally, can take as long to
fully develop as the entire paper because it commits the writer to his/her topic.  The thesis,  sometimes, must be either narrowed or expanded.  For
example, let's say someone wants to write about cats.  Fine.  But volumes have been written on cats.  And the student expects to do this in 500 words
or less!  Instead, take the general topic, cats, and apply the question, "What about cats?" "Cats are extremely intelligent," the student responds.
Good.  Now the student has a point, a thesis, about cats.  They could reasonably be expected to produce 500 interesting words based on that thesis
statement.

Conversely, let's say a student chooses to write about something such as size 12, black, Macintosh Texan Boots.  I seriously think that he/she would
have a problem producing 500 words because the thesis is too specific.  In this case, the thesis needs to be expanded to something like, "Texan
Boots are a stylish fashion statement".  Now, the student should be able to produce 500 words.

The point is that if the thesis is too narrow or broad, the writer will have trouble writing.  Often, students say they just can't get going on the paper, or
they can't think of much to say, etc.  The problem lies with the opening sentence, the thesis.  If it isn't broad enough, yet specific, the student will not
be able to continue on.  If this happens to you, rework your thesis statement to a workable size.  Do not stubbornly cling to the original version if it
stops you from producing.

Having said that, a thesis performs three important functions for the writer and reader.  It

     controls the content that will appear in the writing
     obligates the writer to produce what he/she has promised, and
     predicts for the reader what will follow  the thesis statement in the writing.

The thesis then is a writer's COP because it controls, obligates, and predicts!

2.  Narrations depend on pacing to keep the audience interested.

Have you  ever read on and on and on, or listened and listened and listened to every minute detail that a person might include in their story?  It can
be so annoying that we tune what we read/hear out completely because we don't recognize the relevance of all the extra detail.  Once tuned out, the
reader/listener is usually gone.

Pacing is the art of glossing over the insignificant details while focusing on the significant ones.  How do we know what is significant?  We ask the
question, "Is it relevant and related?"  If we start a narrative as close to the beginning of the action as possible, and close as soon as the
significant/important action is finished, we have an organizational pattern.  For example, if you were involved in a minor auto accident on Delta Rd.
on the 3rd of the month while coming to Delta, do we need to know what you had for breakfast and lunch?  Unless you lost them, we don't!  Do we
need to know that you had on your Guess jeans and a purple Tommy Hilfiger shirt?  NO!  You would start with the action of driving down Delta Rd.
and end when you drove away.  Limit the details to what the audience really needs to know in order to understand your thesis.

3.  Use a consistent point of view.

Point of view is the angle from which the story is told.  First person uses I, while third person uses he or she in the narration.  Stay in the I point of
view if you are the narrator, retelling a story that occurred to you.  Use the third person to relate an event that perhaps you observed or where
someone else is the main character.  Do not keep switching back and forth between I and he/she if you are the main character.  Focus, and stay, on
the I viewpoint.  Consequently, very few, if any, I's should be used in relating an event which features someone else as the focus of the narration.

4.  Insert appropriate details into the text.

After considering pacing, be sure to include enough details so that the event being described is clear to the reader.  For example, don't begin, "We
were going down Delta Rd. when . . . ."  Who is we?  Identify necessary elements.  Don't just write details like, "it was scary, "it was awful", etc.
Explain, through detail, why it was scary or awful, etc.  Exactly how far was the car pushed?  Not a ways.  The idea is to be specific when required.

5.  Occasionally, the feelings of the writer may be expressed in a narration.

This is one of the few forms of writing that allows the writer to subjectively express him/herself because it is a relating of the author's history.  BUT,
if the writer does use feeling, such as "I felt sick", the writer should follow up with what was meant.  "My stomach was in knots, and my head was
pounding" gives the reader more specific appropriate details while still conveying the feelings of the writer.
 

    CLUES FOR NARRATION

When proof-reading a narration, the following will help you detect if you have written it  according to the rules above:

Do I have a strong, identifiable thesis statement early in paragraph 1?  Do I relate a series of events in a definite sequence?
Do I maintain a consistent viewpoint?
Is my story paced well?  Do I include enough detail to make everything clear?  Am I specific enough , and have I included appropriate,
     necessary details?
Do I start as close to the time that the event began?  Do I close as soon as the relevant action finishes?

         Last Updated:  July, 2003
         Patricia A. Hutchins
         http://www.delta.edu/pahutchi/narrationlect.html