Narrative Writing

Establishing the Situation means starting a story in a way that helps the reader know what is happening at the beginning.

When writers establish the situation, they tell important beginning details. These details help the reader get ready for the story.

A strong story beginning often tells:

• Who the story is about
• Where the story happens
• When it happens
• What is starting to happen

This is important because readers can understand the story better when they know the main character, the setting, and the first part of the problem or event.

Think of the beginning of a story like opening a door. The writer is letting the reader step inside and look around.

Main Idea 1: Introduce the main character

The main character is the person or animal the story is mostly about.

At the beginning of a story, tell the reader who the story is about. You can give the character's name and a small detail.

For example:

• Mia held her red rain boots by the door.
• Leo the puppy bounced across the kitchen floor.

These beginnings tell us who the story is about right away.

Main Idea 2: Tell the setting

The setting is where and when a story happens.

Where can be places like a school, a park, a beach, or a bedroom.

When can be times like in the morning, after dinner, on Saturday, in summer, or during a storm.

For example:

• On a windy afternoon, Mia stood in her backyard.
• Early Saturday morning, Leo waited at the park.

Now the reader knows more about the story world.

Main Idea 3: Show what is starting to happen

A good introduction does more than name the character and setting. It also gives the initial context. That means it shows what is going on at the start.

Ask yourself:

• What is the character doing?
• What does the character want?
• What is about to happen?

For example:

• Mia put on her rain boots because she wanted to splash in puddles after the storm.
• Leo waited by the park gate for his first puppy race.

These sentences help the reader know what the story may be about next.

Main Idea 4: Put the beginning details together

When you write a story introduction, try to include the important beginning details in a few clear sentences.

A helpful way to think is:

1. Who is in the story?
2. Where are they?
3. When is it?
4. What is happening first?

You do not always have to answer all of these in one sentence. You can use two or three sentences.

Simple Story Starter Frame

You can use this frame to help you:

[Character] was at [place] on [time]. [Character] was [starting action or feeling].

Example:

Emma was at the beach on a hot summer day. She was building a sand castle with her little brother.

What makes a strong introduction?

• It names the main character.
• It tells the setting.
• It gives the reader a clear beginning.
• It makes the reader want to keep reading.

What makes a weak introduction?

• It is too confusing.
• It does not say who the story is about.
• It does not tell where or when the story happens.
• It does not show what is starting.

Look at the difference

Weak: It was fun and then something happened.

This is hard to understand. We do not know who, where, or what is going on.

Stronger: On Friday afternoon, Ben rode his bike to the corner store to buy a cold drink.

Now we know:

• Who: Ben
• When: Friday afternoon
• Where: the corner store
• What is starting: he is riding his bike to buy a drink

Worked Example 1

Story beginning idea: a girl wants to fly a kite

Let us build the introduction step by step.

• Who: Nora
• Where: the park
• When: a breezy spring morning
• What is starting: she is getting ready to fly her new kite

Introduction: On a breezy spring morning, Nora ran to the park with her new kite. She could not wait to see it soar into the sky.

Why this works:

• It tells the main character: Nora.
• It tells where: the park.
• It tells when: a breezy spring morning.
• It shows what is starting: she is about to fly her kite.

Worked Example 2

Story beginning idea: a boy loses his library book

Step by step:

• Who: Carlos
• Where: in his classroom
• When: Monday morning
• What is starting: he is searching for his missing library book before school starts

Introduction: Monday morning, Carlos looked under his desk in the classroom. His library book was missing, and the bell was about to ring.

Why this works:

• It names the character: Carlos.
• It gives the setting: classroom, Monday morning.
• It starts the action: he is looking for the missing book.
• It gives the reader a reason to keep reading.

Worked Example 3

Story beginning idea: a puppy is going to the vet for the first time

Step by step:

• Who: Daisy the puppy and Ava
• Where: in the car on the way to the animal doctor
• When: after school
• What is starting: Daisy is nervous about her first visit

Introduction: After school, Ava lifted Daisy the puppy into the car. They were on their way to the animal doctor, and Daisy shook a little on Ava's lap.

Why this works:

• It tells who is in the story.
• It tells when: after school.
• It tells where: in the car, going to the animal doctor.
• It shows the first feeling and event: Daisy is nervous.

How to improve a story beginning

If your beginning feels too short or confusing, ask these questions:

• Did I name the main character?
• Did I tell where the story happens?
• Did I tell when it happens?
• Did I show what is happening first?

Here is an example of fixing a beginning.

Before: Sam was excited.

This tells only a feeling. It does not tell enough.

After: On the first day of summer camp, Sam hurried across the field with his sleeping bag. He was excited to sleep in a tent with his friends.

Now the reader knows much more.

Tips for writing your own introduction

• Start with the character's name.
• Add a place.
• Add a time word, like one morning or after school.
• Show the first action or feeling.
• Keep it clear and simple.

Helpful time words

• One morning
• After lunch
• On Saturday
• That night
• In the summer
• Before school

Helpful place words

• at the park
• in the kitchen
• at school
• on the playground
• at the beach
• in Grandma's backyard

Helpful action starters

• was getting ready to
• could not wait to
• looked for
• hurried to
• held
• peeked at

Try this thinking pattern

Before you write, think:

1. My story is about ______.
2. It happens at ______.
3. It happens on/in/after ______.
4. At the start, ______.

Example:

1. My story is about Jada.
2. It happens at her grandma's house.
3. It happens on a rainy evening.
4. At the start, Jada hears a strange sound in the attic.

Introduction: On a rainy evening, Jada was visiting her grandma's house. As she walked past the stairs, she heard a strange sound in the attic.

Brief Summary

To establish the situation, begin your story by telling who the story is about, where and when it happens, and what is starting.

A strong introduction helps the reader understand the story right away.

When you write, remember: character, setting, and beginning action. If you include these parts, your story will have a clear and strong start.

Incorporating Sensory Details means adding words that help the reader imagine a scene. Sensory details tell what someone sees, hears, smells, touches, and tastes.

When writers use sensory details, their stories feel more real and more interesting. The reader can picture what is happening and feel like they are there too.

Think about the five senses:

• See — what something looks like
• Hear — what sounds you notice
• Smell — what your nose notices
• Touch — how something feels
• Taste — what flavor something has

Writers can use one sense or many senses in the same story. Using sensory details helps turn a plain sentence into a vivid sentence.

Plain sentence: I went to the beach.

Better sentence with sensory details: I went to the beach and saw bright blue water, heard crashing waves, and felt warm sand under my feet.

Notice how the second sentence helps you imagine the beach much better.

Why are sensory details important?

• They help the reader make a picture in their mind.
• They make a story more exciting.
• They help show how a character feels.
• They make small moments more memorable.

Let’s look at each sense more closely.

1. Seeing details

Seeing details tell about colors, shapes, sizes, and what things look like.

• The sky was pink and orange.
• The puppy had floppy brown ears.
• The tall grass waved in the wind.

2. Hearing details

Hearing details tell about sounds.

• The bell rang loudly.
• Birds chirped in the tree.
• My boots splashed in the puddle.

3. Smelling details

Smelling details tell about scents in the air.

• The cookies smelled sweet.
• The rain smelled fresh on the grass.
• The campfire smelled smoky.

4. Touching details

Touching details tell how something feels on your skin or in your hands.

• The blanket felt soft and warm.
• The ice felt cold and slippery.
• The tree bark felt rough.

5. Tasting details

Tasting details tell about flavors.

• The lemonade tasted sour and sweet.
• The popcorn tasted buttery.
• The apple tasted crisp and juicy.

How to add sensory details to your writing

1. Think about the place or moment in your story.
2. Ask yourself: What did I see? What did I hear? What did I smell? What did I touch? What did I taste?
3. Pick the best details.
4. Add them to your sentence or paragraph.

You do not need to use all five senses every time. Choose the details that fit the moment best.

Worked Example 1: Add one sensory detail

Plain sentence: The soup was on the table.

Ask: What sense can we add?

• Taste: salty
• Smell: delicious
• See: steaming

Better sentence: The steaming soup sat on the table and smelled delicious.

This sentence is better because now we can see and smell the soup.

Worked Example 2: Add two or three senses

Plain sentence: I walked into the park.

Ask: What did I notice there?

• See: green trees
• Hear: birds singing
• Touch: cool breeze

Better sentence: I walked into the park and saw green trees, heard birds singing, and felt a cool breeze.

Now the reader can picture the park and imagine being there.

Worked Example 3: Make a story moment stronger

Plain sentence: We made cupcakes.

Step 1: Think of senses.

• See: pink frosting
• Smell: sweet vanilla
• Taste: sugary cake
• Touch: sticky batter

Better sentence: We made cupcakes with pink frosting. The kitchen smelled like sweet vanilla, the batter felt sticky on my fingers, and the cake tasted sugary and soft.

This example uses many senses, so the moment feels lively and fun.

Worked Example 4: Use sensory details in a short narrative

Plain version: I went outside during a storm. I was scared.

Better version: I stepped outside during the storm. I saw dark clouds filling the sky and heard thunder boom above me. Cold rain tapped my face, and the wet grass felt squishy under my shoes. I hurried back inside, my heart thumping.

These details help show why the character felt scared.

Tips for good sensory details

• Use details that match the scene.
• Choose words that help the reader imagine clearly.
• Do not add too many details in every sentence.
• Pick the most important ones.

Let’s compare.

Without sensory details: Grandma baked bread.

With sensory details: Grandma baked bread that smelled warm and yeasty. The crust looked golden brown, and the first bite tasted soft and buttery.

The second version is more fun to read because it paints a clearer picture.

When should you use sensory details?

• When you introduce a place
• When you describe an important event
• When you want to show a feeling
• When you want your reader to imagine a moment

Try these question stems when you write:

• What did I see?
• What did I hear?
• What did I smell?
• What did I feel?
• What did I taste?

Mini practice ideas

If your sentence is: I ate an orange.

You might add:

• I saw its bright peel.
• I smelled its fresh citrus scent.
• I felt the juicy slices.
• I tasted its sweet, tangy flavor.

Better sentence: I peeled the bright orange and smelled its fresh citrus scent. The slices felt juicy, and the fruit tasted sweet and tangy.

Another mini practice

If your sentence is: My dog ran through the yard.

You might add:

• I saw his shiny black fur.
• I heard his tags jingle.
• I felt the soft grass as I chased him.

Better sentence: My dog raced through the yard, his shiny black fur flashing in the sun. I heard his tags jingle as I ran across the soft grass behind him.

Summary

Sensory details are words that tell what characters see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. These details help readers imagine the scene and feel more connected to the story.

When you write a narrative, stop and ask yourself what the character notices with the five senses. Then add a few strong details to make your writing come alive.

Showing vs. Telling Emotions

When we write stories, we want our readers to understand how a character feels. We can do this in two ways: telling and showing.

Telling means we say the feeling word right away. For example: Mia was sad.

Showing means we give clues about the feeling. We describe the character’s actions, face, body, thoughts, or words. For example: Mia looked at the ground. A tear slid down her cheek. “I miss my grandma,” she whispered.

Both ways are correct, but showing often makes a story more interesting. It helps the reader picture the moment and feel closer to the character.

Why do writers show emotions?

• It helps the reader make a picture in their mind.
• It makes the story feel real.
• It helps readers guess how a character feels.
• It makes writing stronger and more exciting.

How can we show emotions?

Writers can show feelings in several simple ways.

1. Actions: What is the character doing?
2. Face: What does the face look like?
3. Body: How is the character standing, sitting, or moving?
4. Thoughts: What is the character thinking?
5. Dialogue: What does the character say?

Let’s look at each one.

1. Show with actions

Actions can give strong clues about feelings.

• Happy: Jamal skipped down the sidewalk.
• Scared: Lena hid behind her dad.
• Angry: Ben stomped to his room.
• Excited: Ava bounced up and down.

2. Show with the face

Faces can tell us a lot.

• Sad: Her lips trembled.
• Surprised: His eyes grew wide.
• Happy: A big smile spread across her face.
• Worried: He bit his lip.

3. Show with the body

Body movements also give clues.

• Nervous: She twisted her fingers together.
• Tired: He dragged his feet.
• Proud: She stood tall.
• Afraid: His shoulders curled in tight.

4. Show with thoughts

A character’s thoughts can help the reader understand feelings.

• Worried: What if I forget my lines?
• Excited: I can’t wait for my turn!
• Sad: I wish this day could start over.

5. Show with dialogue

What a character says can show feelings too.

• Excited: “We’re going to the zoo? Right now?”
• Angry: “That is not fair!”
• Scared: “Do I have to go in there alone?”
• Sad: “I just wanted to help,” she said softly.

Telling sentence: Leo was nervous.

Showing sentence: Leo’s hands shook as he walked to the front of the class.

In the showing sentence, we do not use the feeling word nervous. Instead, we give a clue: his hands shook.

Worked Example 1

Telling: Sara was happy.

How can we show it?

• Action: Sara twirled in a circle.
• Face: Her grin stretched from ear to ear.
• Dialogue: “This is the best day ever!” she shouted.

One strong showing sentence: Sara twirled in a circle and shouted, “This is the best day ever!”

Why it works: We can tell Sara is happy because of what she does and says.

Worked Example 2

Telling: Max was sad.

How can we show it?

• Face: His eyes filled with tears.
• Body: He slumped onto the couch.
• Dialogue: “I really wanted to go,” he murmured.

One strong showing sentence: Max slumped onto the couch, and his eyes filled with tears.

Why it works: The actions and face give us clues that Max feels sad.

Worked Example 3

Telling: Nia was scared.

How can we show it?

• Action: Nia took a step back.
• Body: She held her breath.
• Dialogue: “Did you hear that?” she whispered.

One strong showing sentence: Nia took a step back and whispered, “Did you hear that?”

Why it works: Stepping back and whispering are clues that she feels scared.

Worked Example 4

Telling: Owen was angry.

How can we show it?

• Action: Owen slammed his pencil on the desk.
• Face: His eyebrows scrunched together.
• Dialogue: “I said it was my turn!”

One strong showing sentence: Owen slammed his pencil on the desk and said, “I said it was my turn!”

Why it works: His action and words show anger without using the word angry.

A helpful writing trick

When you write a feeling word like happy, sad, mad, or scared, stop and ask:

• What is the character doing?
• What does the face look like?
• What is the body doing?
• What is the character thinking?
• What does the character say?

Then try changing the telling sentence into a showing sentence.

Example:

Telling: I was excited for my birthday.

Showing: I bounced out of bed before the sun was up and ran to the kitchen.

Use more than one clue

Good writers often use two or more clues together. This makes the feeling even clearer.

Example: Ella hugged the library book to her chest, her eyes wide. “I get to take this home?” she asked.

Here, the writer shows emotion with:

• an action: hugged the library book
• a face clue: eyes wide
• dialogue: “I get to take this home?”

Be careful

Sometimes writers use both telling and showing in the same sentence.

Lila was sad and cried into her pillow.

This is okay, but if you want stronger writing, you can take out the feeling word.

Lila cried into her pillow.

Now the reader figures out the feeling from the clue.

Let’s compare

• Telling: The boy was excited.
• Showing: The boy raced to the door and yelled, “They’re here!”

The second sentence is more fun to read because it helps us see the moment.

When you write your own story

• Start with the feeling you want to show.
• Think of clues a reader can see or hear.
• Add actions, face clues, body clues, thoughts, or dialogue.
• Read your sentence again and ask, “Did I show the feeling?”

Quick practice ideas

Try turning these telling sentences into showing sentences.

• The girl was worried.
• The dog was excited.
• My brother was mad.
• I felt proud.

You might write:

• The girl peeked at the clock and twisted her fingers.
• The dog wagged his tail so hard that his whole body wiggled.
• My brother crossed his arms and glared at me.
• I held up my drawing with a big smile.

Summary

Telling names the feeling: She was sad.

Showing gives clues through actions, face, body, thoughts, and dialogue: She looked down and wiped a tear from her cheek.

When you show emotions, your story becomes more lively, clear, and fun to read.

Crafting Resolutions means writing the ending of a story in a way that solves the main problem.

In a personal narrative, the resolution tells what happened at the end and how the writer felt or what the writer learned.

In a fictional story, the resolution tells how the character's problem was fixed and how the character changed.

A good resolution helps the reader feel that the story is finished.

What is a resolution?

Stories often have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

• Beginning: We meet the characters and learn where the story happens.
• Middle: A problem happens. The character tries to solve it.
• End (Resolution): The problem is solved, and we learn what happened after.

The resolution is important because it answers the reader's questions.

• Did the character solve the problem?
• What happened in the end?
• How did the character feel?
• What did the character learn?

What should a strong resolution do?

1. Solve the main problem.
2. Tell what happens at the end.
3. Show a feeling, lesson, or change.

Let’s look at each part.

1. Solve the main problem.

Every story has a main problem, also called a conflict.

The resolution should clearly show how that problem ends.

If the story is about losing a library book, the resolution should tell whether the book was found, replaced, or returned.

If the story is about being nervous for a class show, the resolution should tell what happened during or after the show.

2. Tell what happens at the end.

The resolution should not stop too suddenly.

It should give the reader a few details about the ending.

You can tell:

• what the character did,
• what other people did,
• where the story ended,
• what happened next.

3. Show a feeling, lesson, or change.

A great resolution does more than say, “The end.”

It shows that the experience mattered.

You can include:

• a feeling: I felt proud.
• a lesson: I learned to ask for help.
• a change: Now Mia was brave enough to try again.

Questions to ask when writing a resolution

• What was the main problem?
• How was it solved?
• What happened right after the problem was solved?
• How did the character feel?
• What did the character learn or how did the character grow?

Helpful sentence starters

• In the end, ...
• At last, ...
• Finally, ...
• After that, ...
• I felt ...
• She learned that ...
• He was proud because ...
• From then on, ...

Worked Example 1: Personal narrative

Story problem: I was scared to ride my bike without training wheels.

Weak resolution: Then I rode my bike. The end.

This ending is too short. It solves the problem, but it does not tell much more.

Better resolution: Finally, I took a deep breath and pushed off. I wobbled a little, but then I rode all the way to the mailbox by myself. My dad clapped and cheered. I felt proud and brave because I kept trying.

Why it works:

• It solves the problem.
• It tells what happened.
• It shows feelings.

Worked Example 2: Fictional story

Story problem: Lina's puppy ran out of the yard.

Weak resolution: She got the puppy back.

This ending tells the answer, but it needs more detail.

Better resolution: At last, Lina found the puppy hiding behind the neighbor’s flowers. She gently picked him up and carried him home. Lina fixed the loose gate latch with her mom. She hugged her puppy and learned to check the gate before playtime.

Why it works:

• The puppy is found, so the problem is solved.
• We learn what Lina did next.
• We see what Lina learned.

Worked Example 3: Personal narrative with reflection

Story problem: I forgot my lines in the class play.

Resolution: For a moment, I stood very still. Then my friend whispered the first words to me, and I remembered the rest. I said my lines in a loud, clear voice. When the play ended, I smiled all the way back to my seat. I learned that even if I make a mistake, I can keep going.

Why it works:

• It explains how the problem ended.
• It shows what happened after.
• It includes a lesson.

Worked Example 4: Fictional story with character growth

Story problem: Ben did not want to share his crayons.

Resolution: Finally, Ben saw that Maya only needed one blue crayon to finish her sky. He handed it to her, and they both smiled. Soon they were coloring the whole picture together. Ben discovered that sharing made the work more fun, and he felt happy that he had been kind.

Why it works:

• The conflict is solved because Ben shares.
• It tells what happens next.
• It shows Ben’s growth.

How to turn a weak ending into a strong resolution

Here is a simple way to build a better ending.

1. Name how the problem was solved.
2. Add one or two details about what happened next.
3. End with a feeling, lesson, or change.

Example:

Weak ending: We found the kitten.

Step 1: We found the kitten under the porch.

Step 2: We found the kitten under the porch and carried her inside in a warm towel.

Step 3: We found the kitten under the porch and carried her inside in a warm towel. Mom gave her milk, and I felt relieved. I learned that staying calm helps in a hard moment.

Tips for writing a strong resolution

• Make sure the ending matches the main problem.
• Do not add a brand-new problem at the end.
• Use clear time words like finally, at last, and after that.
• Add a feeling word like happy, proud, relieved, or brave.
• Keep it short, but give enough detail.

Let’s practice thinking like writers.

If the problem is: Sara was afraid to jump into the pool.

A strong resolution might answer:

• Did she jump?
• Who helped her?
• How did she feel after?

Possible resolution: At last, Sara held her aunt’s hand and jumped into the pool. The water splashed all around her, and then she laughed. After that, she jumped two more times by herself. She felt proud for being brave.

Another practice idea

If the problem is: Jay could not finish his puzzle.

A strong resolution could be:

Finally, Jay turned the last piece the other way, and it fit perfectly. His sister clapped when they finished the puzzle together. Jay smiled and learned that trying a new way can help solve a problem.

Summary

A resolution is the ending part of a story.

It should solve the main problem, tell what happens at the end, and show a feeling, lesson, or change.

When you write a resolution, help your reader see that the story is complete.

A strong ending makes your narrative feel meaningful, clear, and satisfying.