Standard 3: Critical Reading and Writing

Students will apply critical thinking skills to reading and writing.

 For more specific genre information, please refer to Genre Guidance (page 4 of the Support Documents.).

The following statements are elements of a narrative piece of writing.  While composing, teachers and students

need to keep in mind the writing process (7.2.W), word choice (7.4.W), and language (7.5.W). 

Student Actions 

Teacher Actions 

• Students will compose a real or imagined story.
• Students will establish the characters and setting (time and place) of their story.
• Students will create a well-structured event and sequence including the five senses that moves the reader through the story or experience.
• Students will establish a clear conflict and solution/resolution.
• Students will use dialogue in their writing (when appropriate).
• Students will use the five senses to engage the reader’s interest. 

• Teachers share mentor texts to show how authors

• Establish characters

• Establish setting (time and place)

• Use sensory details

• Use plot (Exposition, Inciting Incident, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution)

• Create conflict (i.e. internal, external)

• Use dialogue

• Teachers model how to write a narrative by thinking aloud through a piece of their own writing.
• Teachers allow time for students to practice composing narratives while realizing not every piece needs to be taken completely through the writing process. 

Supporting Resources

Teacher Insights

• OSDE Writing Rubric with ELA OAS (PDF)
• OSDE 8th Narrative Writing exemplars (PDF)
• OSDE 8th Grade Narrative sample prompt (PDF)
• learnzillion.com: narrative writing (webpage)
• OK ELA Framework: Narrative Writing (webpage)
• smekenseducation.com: plan problem in narrative writing (webpage)
• smekenseducation.com: narrative writing in response to reading (webpage)

• Narrative writing conveys real (nonfiction) or imagined (fiction) experiences or events. Narrative writing tells a story.

• There are 3 types of narrative writing: nonfiction, imaginative, and personal.

• Narrative Nonfiction: a story about real experiences or events

• Personal Narrative: a particular kind of narrative nonfiction in which a writer tells a story about herself or himself

• Imaginative Narrative: a story about imagined experiences or events

• Introductions to narratives can be enhanced with an attention grabber or hook.

• Each type of narrative has characteristics: characters, setting, point of view, conflict, vivid details, and narrative techniques such as dialogue.

• Some of these elements are explained more in depth at 5.3.W.1.

• Plot includes rising action, conflict, climax, falling action, and resolution.

• Dialogue  adds to a narrative by giving readers a better understanding of characters and/or plot.

• Students will use a beginning, middle and end in their narrative writing.

• The narrative should employ concrete language to develop plot and character and use a range of narrative devices. (e.g., dialogue, suspense, and figurative language) to enhance style and tone.

• Sensory details include sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Students can use these to engage their reader’s interest.

• Example: Show me sentences with sensory details.

• Example prompt: Your family just won a one week vacation to anywhere in the world.  Tell a story about your experiences during this week.

Due to recursive nature of the standards, it is essential that teachers are aware of how all objectives within and between strands work together for optimal instruction.