pattern.narration

Pattern: Narration

A narration paragraph tells a story, or at least a part of a story. In the following example, the student tells a story about his learning style, setting the story in the seventh grade.

This specific example does not use a lot of description, but often narration paragraphs use rich description to maintain the reader's interest. You may want to compare this sample with the Description sample.

Sample Paragraph

I could not handle being told how things are. I wanted to be taught. I wanted to know why. I set myself apart from the rest of the students. I refused to be passive and accept everything the teacher said. Some teachers thought I was attempting to challenge them. If I asked a question that the teacher did not have a reasonable answer for, they would feel that I was trying to undermine their position with the class. Usually the teacher would then try to stifle me to regain control of their class, and a big heavy fist would pound the table. For they were the teacher and I was the student. And after all "Children should be seen but not heard." I would try to respect my teachers, but after this happened I had no reason to respect to someone who tried to use their power and position to suppress me, a 7th grader. I strongly believe that people who try to use their authority to gain respect belong in the army, not in school.

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The OWL is an extension of the Community College of Denver Writing Center.
For more information contact

Bret Hann, Writing Center Coordinator
303-556-4709

This project was made possible in part by a grant from the Technology Learning Grant and Revolving Loan Program, State of Colorado, Department of Higher Education. We are also grateful for the ongoing support of Colorado Community Colleges Online (CCCOnline).

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