How to compose a narrative: Students' approaches and pedagogical implications. (9th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thorsten, Anja
• Is Part Of: Writing & pedagogy. Volume 11:Number 1(2019)
• Page Start: 23
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2019-04-09
• Subjects: variation theory -- middle school -- narrative writing -- teaching writing -- narratology; English language -- Rhetoric -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; English language -- Style -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; English language -- Writing -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; English language -- Written English -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 808.042071
• DOI: 10.1558/wap.33676
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-5839

Abstract

Abstract : The purpose of this paper is to contribute knowledge on children's narrative writing from a pedagogical perspective. Through analyses of nine- to ten-year-old students' narrative writing, aspects that are critical to discern in order to write narratives with a well-developed plot are formulated. The theoretical framework is narratology theories and Variation Theory. Narratology provides a conceptual framework for describing narrative writing, while Variation Theory offers a pedagogical perspective. A total of 80 narratives written by students have been analyzed, and five qualitatively different approaches to writing were seen. Narrative writing can be approached as describing events, solving a problem, creating action, making jokes and composing a narrative. A comparison between these approaches revealed five aspects that are critical for children to discern in order to develop the ability to write narratives: the discernment of a reader, the function of a narrative, the narrative structure, coherence, and duration. These aspects can be discerned in a more or less powerful way. The study contributes to the field by offering teachers guidance in what aspects are critical to address when teaching narrative writing in school.