Writing a narrative
If you want to describe an imaginative experience, you will write a narrative. This kind of writing has a definite structure. First you need to write an introduction that sets the scene: this is called an orientation. This is when you establish the main character and when the story begins to take place. Then you write the series of events. This is the main body of the narrative - we call this the complication. And finally, you will finish with sentences that will form a satisfactory ending or conclusion. This is called the resolution.
Ah Fong beats the pirates
Ah Fong shook the sleep from his eyes. His father would already be out on the South China Sea, catching fish to feed the family and sell in the market. Everyone in his village on Cheung Chau had been worried for weeks. There were rumours that pirates had been hiding their stolen treasure somewhere on the island and that was dangerous for everyone.
It was a beautiful day, so Ah Fong decided to go for a walk. He strolled through the swaying bamboo and along the beach. As he began to climb a hill, a hand came over his mouth. Another grabbed him roughly and threw him to the ground. He had been captured by pirates.
They carried him to their secret cave and tied him to a chair. Ah Fong looked around him and saw boxes full of jewels and money. After a while, one of the pirates came to him and said: 'Tonight, there are no ships in the channel, so we are going to rob everyone in your village.' Ah Fong knew he had to escape, but how?
As the light began to fade, the pirates got ready to go to the village. Ah Fong looked around. There was a sword on the ground and he could just reach it with his left foot. Skilfully he moved the sword so that he could rub it against the rope around his wrists and cut it.
His plan worked! Ah Fong knew a shortcut and sprinted as fast as he could to warn his family and the rest of the village. He was just in time. After being warned, the villagers hid in the trees. When the pirates arrived, they were taken by surprise and captured.
Ah Fong was a hero. The village was safe from pirates from that day on.
Glossary
rumour (n) - a story that people spread without proof
treasure (n) - valuable objects such as jewels or money
to stroll (v) - to walk slowly in a relaxed manner
secret (adj) - of something hidden from general view
channel (n) - a narrow stretch of sea
to sprint (v) - to run quickly
Comprehension
1. What was Ah Fong's father doing when he woke up?
2. On which island did the story take place?
3. Where did the pirates carry Ah Fong to?
4. When did the pirates get ready to go to the village?
5. What was on the ground?
6. How did Ah Fong reach the village before the pirates?
Writing style
When writing narratives you need to describe how people do things. Adverbs are very useful for this. For example, in the phrase 'He moved the sword skilfully', 'skilfully' is the adverb that describes how he moved the sword. Spot the adverbs in the following sentences.
7. Pirates cruelly killed crews on ships they plundered.
8. People run quickly to change MTR trains at Admiralty station.
9. The feng shui man carefully placed the furniture.
10. The old woman shuffled slowly across the road.
11. Trams rattle noisily along Des Voeux Road.
12. Gold rings sparkle brilliantly.
13. Temple statues stand silently in a peaceful environment.
Crossword
There are many different types of narrative. People love telling stories and have always done so. Read the list below and choose the correct answer and write it in the grid.
List: adventure, mystery, comedy, myth, fable, tragedy
1. an exciting story
2. a story that makes readers laugh
3. a traditional story that has a moral
4. an old story that may not be true
5. a story that may be hard to understand
6. a story in which something bad or sad happens
Answers:
1. fishing; 2. Cheung Chau; 3. their secret cave; 4. as the light began to fade; 5. a sword; 6. he knew a shortcut; 7. cruelly; 8. quickly; 9. carefully; 10. slowly; 11. noisily; 12. brilliantly; 13. silently
Crossword
1. adventure; 2. comedy; 3. fable; 4. myth; 5. mystery; 6. tragedy
