Module Introduction
This module discusses the stories we tell to make sense of the world. The importance of storytelling to human existence is explained. Narration is then introduced as another word for this storytelling, and its connection to other academic writing and description is discussed. Examples are provided of perspective and point-of-view, and the primary components of narrative writing (characters, conflict, and purpose) are introduced to help writers begin constructing their own stories. Chronological order, the ordering of events through time, is explained, as is the concept of the flashback, jumping backwards in time. The prewriting strategies of questioning and freewriting are introduced as ways to generate ideas for a narrative. Outlining is emphasized as necessary for the construction of logical, cohesive papers. Finally, the importance of using transitions (joining words) to connect ideas when composing is discussed. (1)
Objectives
Upon completion of this module, the student will be able to:
- Explain what narration is and why it is central to human life
- Identify fiction and nonfiction writing, as well as the complications involved in such distinctions
- Explain the problem of perspective
- Identify the primary elements of a narrative: character, conflict, and narrative purpose
- Use chronological order and flashbacks to organize events in time
- Use questioning and freewriting to generate ideas
- Use outlining to prepare a narrative paper
- Compose a narrative piece of writing
- Use transitions to tie events together (1)
Readings
- Online Learning Units
Lecture Content
ENC1101 Learning Unit 2
Our Selves, Our Stories
Human beings are fundamentally storytelling creatures. Of all the ways we use words, perhaps the most important (and most typical) is to communicate who we are, where we have been, and where we are going. Think of all the times you use words to convey what has happened to you in a single day, even a single hour! Indeed, we spend most of our lives using our words to spin stories about ourselves; even our own sense of identity is a kind of story we tell ourselves to make sense of the world!
Because using words to tell stories is so fundamental to our everyday experience, narration , a fancy word for storytelling, is the perfect place to start our composition course in earnest. For many students, a narrative essay, one which requires to writer to tell a story of some sort, is the most comfortable and enjoyable kind of assignment to tackle. This is especially true if you are interested in creative writing or have aspirations of publishing short stories, screenplays, or novels. Aside from being a familiar and creative kind of writing, narration is also a key component in many other kinds of essay writing, and as the course continues you’ll see that narration comes in handy when you are trying to come up with interesting hooks to start papers or are looking to explain specific points about a topic with examples that he