Intro to Narrative Writing- "The Pie"

I can identify an author’s use of diction, imagery, symbolism and syntax and interpret how it contributes to the narrative’s meaning.

1. Draft Letter:
Review your essays- find your thesis sentence and underline it. Then, write a statement about how well you feel your essay went--strengths and struggles, what did you like about it, not like about it, need to work on, etc.??

2. Narrative Techniques (handout)

3. Gary Soto- "The Pie"
Read and annotate the text, looking for the following:

• Diction (religious, guilty, glutinous)
• Vivid sensory images
• Shifts in tone
• BIG, MEANINGFUL statements

4. Wrap-Up Writing and Reflection

1. “Write” your own essay: Answer the prompt. Compose an intro and outline what you would discuss in your essay (20 minutes)
2. Share your essays with a partner (piece of)
3. Read student sample essays and reflect on “writing about writing”
4. Wrap-Up: What makes effective narrative writing? What works in this piece of writing?

Homework:

Read the following two stories (“Eleven” and Half-Broke Horses). Annotate the texts for all their bang-up, impressive narrative techniques going on. Then, write a quick 3-paragraph response to each one:

• What is the author’s purpose (message or point) in writing this story?
• What techniques (writing style, narrative techniques) did the author use in writing this story and how effective were they?
• What is your personal response to the story? Did you like it, relate to it, abhor it….? Explain.