A NARRATIVE

TOPIC

 Writing a narrative is like telling a story.

MODEL: The New Neighbour

Last summer, a man moved into our building. As soon as they had
seen him, the other neighbours began to talk. They said that he was
probably a criminal. He really looked frightening and he never said a
word to anyone.

One day, I heard shouts coming from the stairs. Mrs. Thompson’s
baby was choking and she was screaming fro help! All of a sudden,
the new neighbour appeared. He grabbed the baby and helped her
breathe again. He was a doctor, and he had saved the baby’s life.
After that, we all began to talk to him.

We found out that he was in England and didn’t know much

English. That was why he was so quiet. We had all been wrong
about him. In the end, we learned a lesson from what had
happened: you can’t rely on first impressions.

YOUR TASK

 Write a survival story. Use 100 – 150 words.

a. BRAINSTORM. Think of the characters and events. Answer the

questions to help you.

o Who are the main characters?

o Where / when does the story take place?
o What problem do the characters face?
o What do they do to try to solve the problem?
o What difficulties do they have solving it?
o How does the story end?

b. ORGANISE YOUR IDEAS. Use the plan to organize your ideas.

PLAN: A Narrative

PARAGRAPH 1 → Set the scene (characters, time and place, introduce the situation).

PARAGRAPH 2 → Write the main events of the story.

PARAGRAPH 3 → Say how the story ended, how the problem is solved.
USEFUL LANGUAGE

 TIME EXPRESSIONS

When As soon as
While By the time
Before Until
After During
It all began when Meanwhile
Shortly after A few minutes later
Yesterday It all began when
All night It was a cold day
A week later Before I knew it
Last summer Suddenly
Immediately All of a sudden
Shortly after It was a ……… experience
I’ve never been so…

 ESPRESSIONS OF SEQUENCE

First In the beginning Next At last

At first To begin with Later In the end