Writing Narrative Compositions/Essays (Not Less Than 200 Words)

An account of event

Refers to any report of connected events narrating a story, which occurred in a particular time.

Characteristics of narrative composition

1. Always tells a story from a writer's perspective.
2. Plot refers to how one event leads to another.
3. Characters are described through action, speech and thoughts, good characters are always described in detail.
4. Setting refers to the time and place in which the story takes place.
5. Theme refers to the meanings behind the story.

Steps in writing narrative compositions

1. Finding a story idea: The story should have a conflict/topic/problem that can be external or internal, intra-personal or inter-personal, at the level of an individual, group or society. Story ideas come from everyday life experience, newspapers, magazines or books.
2. Developing characters: Assign roles that relate to their physical descriptions, thoughts, personality traits, actions and reactions to one another. Include dialogue to let readers witness the characters' conversations. In writing a dialogue, use the language that reflects age, background and personality of each character.
3. Setting the scene: In setting the scene, include information about time, place, weather and historical period. Often setting will affect the way characters act.
4. Communicating a theme: Theme is a main idea of a story that the writer conveys through the narrative. One way to express the theme of narrative is through description of the setting and the title.
5. Choosing a point of view: The decision is made by the author whether to use first person (I/we), second person (You) or third person (he/she/it/they) narration.