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Step 9. Finalizing Your Narrative

Drafting
At this point, you have all of the pieces to go forward and write an initial draft of writing workshop
your narrative. Keep in mind as you draft your piece that your narrative is expected
to be true, as much as you can remember, but a certain amount of artistic license is
necessary, especially when you are writing about an event that may have taken place /
years earlier. Look back through what you have written in this workshop to make
certain that your piece contains the following elements:
1. An interesting hook for the opening of your narrative (p. 239) Writing a Narrative
2. Characterization of yourself at the time of the event (p. 233) and of any other people
in your narrative (p. 236)
3. A clearly described conflict, especially an internal one (p. 235)
4. Other elements, such as setting, dialogue, and blocking (p. 237)
5. A structure that mostly follows a chronological order with flashbacks when
appropriate (p. 238)
6. A reflection that includes statements or questions about why this event is important
to you (p. 240)

Revising
Revising gives you a good opportunity to think again about your narrative’s purpose
and audience. In most cases, your audience will be your teacher or an evaluator in the
case of a standardized test. In both situations, that means using a somewhat formal
tone, but your writing can still be engaging for you and your audience. Reread your
narrative for the following:
• Check the flow of your piece. Will your reader be able to easily follow it? If you
need help with this, you may want to look at Revision Workshop 5: Effective
Transitions in the back of the book.
• Revisit your word choice. Is it effective and appropriate for your purpose?
Consider working through Revision Workshop 7: Effective Diction in the back
of the book.
• Check your syntax. Are your sentences clear and effective? If you need additional
support, you might want to work through the activities in Revision Workshop 6:
Effective Syntax in the back of the book.

Editing
Editing is the very last thing you’ll do. You and your teacher know better than anyone
the types of spelling, grammar, and convention errors you need to focus on in your
writing development. Be sure to refer to one or more of the Grammar Workshops in the
back of the book if you encounter an issue and aren’t sure how to overcome it.

Uncorrected proofs have been used in this sample. 241
Copyright © Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers.
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers.
For review purposes only. Not for redistribution.

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