Writing a Narrative, Chapter XIII

Summary

In this educational video, the speaker guides students through the process of writing an informal essay by focusing on the narrative form. Emphasizing that everyone has stories to tell, the speaker encourages students to share personal experiences that have shaped them. The video covers key elements of storytelling, such as identifying a clear event, setting, conflict, and point of view. It also suggests using resources like TED Talks for inspiration and provides tips on brainstorming, outlining, and selecting a meaningful topic. The speaker's personal anecdote about a positive encounter with the police serves as a relatable example, illustrating the power of narrative in engaging an audience.

Takeaways

• 📅 On October 3rd, students are expected to write an informal essay.
• 📚 Chapter 13 of the book emphasizes the importance of narrative writing.
• 🗣️ The phrase 'Tell me what happened' is a common prompt for eliciting narratives in everyday conversations.
• 🤗 Narratives are a fundamental part of our lives and are often used to explain actions or experiences.
• 📝 The transition from verbal to written narratives involves a process that the course aims to guide students through.
• 👀 The audience's attention can be captured through powerful storytelling, which can also establish the writer's authority.
• 🎭 A good narrative includes identifiable elements like a clear event, people, settings, conflict, and descriptive details.
• 👉 The narrative should be told from a consistent point of view, often first person for informal essays.
• 💡 The significance of the story is crucial; it should matter to the reader and connect with them.
• 🚀 For personal narratives, students are advised to choose topics that are meaningful to them and to be selective with the details they share.
• 📈 The process of writing a narrative involves brainstorming, listing, outlining, and focusing on compelling events or personal experiences.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Chapter 13 in the context of the video script?

Chapter 13 focuses on writing a narrative, specifically an informal essay, and guiding the reader on how to craft a story that is engaging and meaningful.

What is the significance of the phrase 'tell me what happened' in the context of narratives?

The phrase 'tell me what happened' is significant as it is commonly used to elicit a narrative or story from someone about an incident or event they experienced.

Why is writing a narrative considered a fundamental part of our everyday lives according to the script?

Writing a narrative is considered fundamental because it is a way of sharing experiences and stories, which is something people do naturally in various forms of communication.

What is the difference between telling a story verbally and writing it down as highlighted in the script?

The difference lies in the process; verbal storytelling is more spontaneous, while writing requires a structured approach to organize thoughts and details into a coherent narrative.

What advice does the speaker give for choosing a topic for the informal essay?

The speaker advises choosing a topic that matters to the writer personally, as this will make the narrative more engaging and authentic.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of a clearly identified event in a narrative?

A clearly identified event is important because it serves as the central focus of the story, providing a specific incident that the narrative revolves around.

What role does setting play in a narrative according to the script?

Setting is crucial as it provides the context for when and where the events of the story take place, and it helps to bring the narrative to life with descriptive details.

What does the speaker suggest as a way to connect with the informal essay topic?

The speaker suggests watching TED Talks or other relevant videos to find inspiration and make a connection with the essay topic.

How does the speaker describe the process of writing a narrative?

The speaker describes the process of writing a narrative as a step-by-step approach, starting from brainstorming and outlining to adding details and refining the story.

What is the significance of using the first person point of view when writing an informal narrative?

Using the first person point of view allows the writer to tell a personal story directly, making the narrative feel more intimate and relatable to the reader.

Why does the speaker encourage students to share personal stories in their narratives?

The speaker encourages sharing personal stories because they are often the most powerful and relatable, allowing the writer to connect with the reader on a deeper level.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Writing a Narrative

The speaker introduces Chapter 13, focusing on the task of writing an informal essay, which is essentially a narrative. They emphasize that narratives are a fundamental part of everyday life, often used to share personal experiences or explain actions. The speaker reassures that writing a narrative is a natural process, akin to telling a story verbally, but in written form. They mention the importance of understanding the process of writing, which is being taught week by week, and suggest using resources like TED Talks and YouTube to connect with the narrative topic.

05:02

🎭 The Power of Storytelling in an Informal Essay

The speaker continues to discuss the components of an informal essay, equating it to telling a story. They highlight the importance of describing a meaningful event or experience and its impact on the individual. The speaker encourages students to draw from personal experiences, such as contemporary issues or encounters with law enforcement, to craft a compelling narrative. They also share a personal anecdote about a positive experience with the police, illustrating how personal stories can be powerful and relatable.

10:05

📝 Key Elements of a Narrative

The speaker outlines the characteristic features of a narrative, including a clearly identified event, people, settings, conflict, and descriptive details that bring the story to life. They emphasize the need for a consistent point of view, suggesting that first-person narration is ideal for an informal story. The speaker also discusses the importance of having a clear point in the story, explaining why it matters to the reader. They provide guidance on how to select a topic that resonates with the writer and the audience.

15:06

🤔 Selecting and Structuring a Personal Narrative

The speaker addresses the challenge of choosing a personal topic for a narrative, advising students to be selective about the details they share. They encourage brainstorming and organizing ideas through mapping or listing to develop the narrative structure. The speaker also touches on the universality of personal stories, suggesting that what one has experienced is likely shared by others, thus making the narrative relatable. They provide examples of how to brainstorm and outline a story, using their own 'good cop' story as a model.

20:07

📖 Conclusion and Encouragement for Narrative Writing

In the final paragraph, the speaker summarizes the key points discussed in Chapter 13 about writing a narrative. They encourage students to read the examples provided in the chapter and to apply the techniques and strategies discussed during the lecture. The speaker expresses enthusiasm and anticipation for the students' rough drafts, aiming to motivate them to write their narratives with confidence and creativity.

Keywords

💡Narrative

A narrative is a form of storytelling, which is central to the video's theme of writing an informal essay. In the context of the video, a narrative is not just a fictional story but can be a recounting of real-life experiences or events. The speaker emphasizes that narratives are a fundamental part of everyday communication, from casual conversations to more formal written essays. The video script uses the phrase 'tell me what happened' to illustrate how narratives are requested and shared in daily life.

💡Informal Essay

An informal essay is a type of writing that is more personal and conversational, as opposed to a formal essay which follows strict academic conventions. The video script discusses how to write an informal essay by focusing on the narrative aspect, encouraging students to tell a story in their own words. The speaker guides the audience on how to craft a narrative that is engaging and meaningful, using 'I' as the point of view to make it personal.

💡Storytelling

Storytelling is the act of conveying events in a narrative form, which is a key concept in the video. The speaker explains that everyone tells stories, whether verbally or in written form, and that storytelling is a powerful tool for engaging an audience. The video uses examples such as recounting personal experiences or discussing current events to show how storytelling can be applied in essay writing.

💡Event

An event, in the context of the video, refers to a significant occurrence that serves as the foundation for a narrative. The speaker advises that a narrative should revolve around a clearly identified event, which provides the core of the story being told. For instance, the video mentions describing a meaningful event or experience and how it has changed the person, which is a directive for students to select impactful events for their essays.

💡Setting

The setting in a narrative refers to the time and place where the story occurs. According to the video, a clearly described setting is one of the characteristic features of a good story. It helps to bring the narrative to life by providing context and atmosphere. The speaker suggests using descriptive details to make the setting vivid, which can enhance the reader's engagement with the story.

💡Point of View

Point of view, or perspective, is the narrative voice used to tell the story, and it can significantly influence how the story is perceived. The video emphasizes the use of the first-person point of view ('I') for informal essays, as it makes the narrative personal and relatable. The speaker encourages students to stick to 'I' to maintain a consistent and intimate narrative voice throughout their essays.

💡Conflict

Conflict is a crucial element in storytelling that drives the plot and engages the reader. In the video, the speaker mentions that a narrative should include a conflict to make the story interesting. Conflict can be internal, such as a character's struggle with their emotions, or external, such as a character facing a challenge or opposition. The video uses the concept of conflict to illustrate how to add depth and tension to a narrative.

💡Character

A character is a person or entity in a narrative who helps to drive the story forward. The video script suggests that narratives often involve characters, and the speaker provides examples such as writing about one's own experiences or those of others. Characters bring the narrative to life and make it relatable to the reader by providing a perspective through which the story is told.

💡Contemporary Issues

Contemporary issues refer to current and relevant topics or problems that society is facing. The video encourages students to consider writing narratives about their experiences with contemporary issues, such as the Black Lives Matter movement or personal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. This approach allows students to connect their personal stories to broader social contexts, making their narratives more impactful and relevant.

💡TED Talk

A TED Talk is a presentation that covers a variety of topics, often given by experts in their fields, aimed at spreading ideas and knowledge. The video mentions TED Talks as a resource for students to draw inspiration from when writing their narratives. The speaker suggests that watching TED Talks related to their story's theme can help students gain insights and make connections for their essays.

Highlights

Chapter 13 focuses on writing an informal essay, which is essentially a narrative.

Narratives are stories that are fundamental parts of our everyday lives.

When writing a narrative, the writer is telling a story to the reader.

Stories can be about personal experiences, such as moving or a job interview.

The process of writing a narrative involves a transition from verbal to written form.

The advantage of writing about personal experiences is that they are often memorable.

TED Talks can be a resource for finding inspiration and making connections with one's narrative.

A narrative should describe a meaningful event or experience and its impact on the writer.

Contemporary issues like Black Lives Matter can be a source of narrative stories.

Personal stories, like an accident and the subsequent help from the police, can be powerful narratives.

Narratives are powerful for getting an audience's attention and establishing the writer's authority.

Characteristic features of a story include a clearly identified event, setting, conflict, and point of view.

The story should have a clear point that explains why it matters to the reader.

Examples of stories in the chapter can serve as models for writing one's own narrative.

When selecting a topic for a narrative, it should be something that matters to the writer.

Personal narratives require sharing something personal, which can be challenging.

Non-personal narratives should begin with a compelling event to engage the reader.

The writer's story is universal, and they are encouraged to see themselves as a storyteller and history maker.

Brainstorming and outlining are essential steps in organizing and starting to write a narrative.

Transcripts

chapter 13.

here's what happened writing a narrative

now what i'm going to do with chapter 13

is

i'm going to read and respond and i'm

going to explain and hopefully answer

questions and clarify

your doubts regarding what it is

exactly that you're going to do on

october 3rd

you're going to be writing an informal

essay you're going to be writing an

informal essay so let's go over

chapter 13. i'm not going to read every

page

and i'm just going to go to certain

parts in particular

in the chapter there that are going to

help you kind of

understand and make a connection with

the objectives

that i've discussed with you on a week

by week basis

so chapter 13 starts with a very

important

phrase so tell me what happened

you know when you have a conversation

with with a relative with a friend

and you're doing that at home you're

doing that

uh during lunch you know uh in an

evening chat uh on the telephone

on facebook sometimes a written

conversation sometimes with facetime

you know a person is telling you a

situation that they went through during

the day

and that you ask or say so

tell me what happened anytime we ask

someone about an incident and i'm

reading from the book chapter 13

at work or an event at school we're

asking for a narrative every time you do

that

your response is going to be a story

now when you hear the term story that

can be a little bit impressive right

i don't know how to write a story but we

tell stories all the time

all the time you know when you for

example what do you do in your free

time that's the story you know why did

you move

that's the story tell me about when you

relocated the flora

that's the story

tell us about what happened so as your

reader

i'm gonna be one reading your

your essay as your reader

you're gonna tell me a story

narratives are stories they are

fundamental parts of our everyday lives

when we tell someone about a movie we've

seen or a basketball game we've played

in

we often use narrative when we want

someone to understand something that we

did

we might tell us tell a story that

explains our actions

when we post on instagram when we often

write about something we've just done or

seen

so when you think of a story

you know it's a telling the story that

you shared so much

verbally but now you're doing it in

written form so that's the difference

the difference between saying it

verbally

and writing it is basically a process

when you tell a story you just go ahead

and say it you start talking to another

person and you start just

you open your mouth and you know

but when you write it there has to be a

process that's why i'm taking you

through this process

on a week by week basis that's why you

read and lamont

that's why you read george orwell that's

why you've read

chapter 13. i'm taking you through the

process of reading

and understanding that when you express

yourself

in writing there has to be a process

so if you're writing a story about your

workshop interview

the advantage that we have today is that

yeah you put that on youtube

word job interview and you're gonna see

horrible job interviews you're probably

going to laugh

but i'll tell you something you're

probably going to remember

an experience that you had which was

probably your worst nightmare

in terms of a job interview so you have

to find a way to start a process

go to a ted talks how many of you watch

ted talks by the way i have done a ted

talk

i'm just going to throw this in it's

called bridging the cultural gap in

education

bridging the cultural gap in education

you should watch that ted talk

it's your professor but

when you go to ted talk you go to

youtube and you search

you can search your topic

there are tech talks on relocation

moving from one country to another

there there's ted talks on interviews

there are

ted talks on relationships there are

different ted talks

so take your time and and find a way to

make a connection with your

informal essay story

informal essay equals story that's what

i'm talking about

tell me a story so i'm still on one

page 186 chapter 13 if you have another

edition

it's basically the same chapter it says

describe a

meaningful event or experience and how

it has changed or affected the person

you are today

so listen to me that's a story

if you're able to respond to a problem

like that that's a story

a meaningful event

a personal moral or ethical dilemma

and how it impacted your life that's a

story

maybe you've had experiences with you

know talking about what's happening

right now

contemporary issues you know with black

lives matter may you maybe you've had an

experience already maybe you've been out

there in the protests

maybe you have it i don't know what your

experiences are

so tell me about your experiences tell

me about a story

within the contemporary issues that we

phrased today

maybe you had an issue with the

policeman it could be a negative one it

could be a

how about a positive story with a cop i

can tell you a positive story

i mean i had an accident in new york

about 30 years ago

i was fixing one of my cars i was fixing

a car and old lincoln that i had

and 1978 this is 1990.

uh and i'm trying to move

you know the radiator making believe i'm

a mechanic

i'm a son of a mechanic but i don't know

anything about cars

but i was trying to do something with

the car and all of a sudden my hand

slipped

and my hand both of my hands went right

into the fan

of the car now i want you to see my

hands

so this was split open

this just went like that you know it

split open

and when i looked at that i mean my

hands were filled with blood

and i didn't even know what was going on

when i saw my hands

filled with blood i just guess what i

i fainted i mean i went i went to the

ground

and my head hit the ground and and

and i was lying on the ground all of a

sudden the cops drove by this is new

york city

and they saw me on the ground my hands

bleeding

and i was semi-conscious and they came

up to me they picked me up

and they were talking to each other i

couldn't even

understand what they were saying one of

them got an old rag and they started

you know another one another the cops

told the other

listen make sure that rag is a clean rag

so they got a rag i didn't care what

they were doing oh i knew all i knew was

that they were helping me

and they you know they started wrapping

my hands

around these rags and and and they

they the police station just happened to

be nearby

and i walked with them i kind of woke up

one cop on one side and another and they

took me to the police station they sat

me down

and then they actually do you have a

telephone someone we can call

and they call my wife i remember that

story well and then you know the

ambulance came

and they took me to the hospital that's

a story

i just told you a story right there

a story that i have with with good cops

from new york city

so tell me your story and i'm on chapter

187

narrative is a powerful way to get an

audience's attention

get my attention with a story like that

well not like that your story

telling a good story can even establish

your authority as a writer

now this is this is freshman composition

and guess what

you're writing here you're writing

stories so you're beginning with an

informal story then we're going to

transition into a

formal essay but that's not just yet

this is the guy we still have three

weeks with this

so i need you to stay with me stay

connected with

don't go ahead you know i mean some

students are like i want to go ahead

stay with me go

this is one week at a time now

uh i want to go a little bit further in

the chapter like i said i'm reading and

responding

right everyone's an author chapter 13

and uh

on chapter 192 you have the

characteristic features of a story

so there's no one way to tell a story

i'm reading from the chapter

most written narratives however have a

number of common features revolving

around the following characteristics and

questions

a clearly identified event so you need a

title for your story

so your story is going to be based on an

event

something that happened to you you need

people you need settings

you need conflict

a clearly described described setting

when and where did it happen

very descriptive details what makes the

story come alive

so you need to use details

you need to use adjectives

a consistent point of view who's telling

the story

you know if it's an informal story your

point of view

it's about i if you want to write about

your mom and your dad you can do that

he she but i would rather you stay

and stick to i i want to see i all

over your story i i i i

that's an informal story hello

this is about you this is about your

story

and last but not least a clearly a clear

point

why does this story matter it matters to

me i'm your reader i'm you know i'm

dying to read your stories

and then the rest of the chapter takes

those characteristics and it

you know they they break them apart into

different

paragraphs where you can get more

information about each of the

features that i just mentioned

you know and at the end of the chapter

you have examples of stories you have

uh you have a story about at the va

right healing the doctor-patient

relationship that's a story

don't be impressed with these stories

you know don't be impressed with them

this story is told in the third person

you can use the third person if you like

if you'd like if you want to

i think it's it's it's i want to say

easier

but i think it's better for you to start

writing first person

i'm sorry your first story should

always be written in the first person if

you've already written stories before

use third person he she write about

your husband your boyfriend your mother

your father

a friend

someone that you admire write about your

hero

write about an important significant

experience with the pandemic

maybe you had cloven right about that

story

maybe you had covet and you know you

overcame covert and you feel like you've

conquered the world

and of course you are because i've had

relatives passing away

i've had several relatives and friends

passing away

so we all know people that have had

covet maybe you've had covert

and you overcame covet so write that

story

i mean that would be an interesting

story fascinating story

and then at the end of the chapter and

i'm gonna

uh go over writing a narrative a roadmap

number one when you're selecting a topic

make sure it matters to you

if you if you're looking at the pages if

you have the chapter you'd like to open

your book

i'm on page 214 214.

so you know choose a topic that matters

to you

to you if it matters to you it matters

to me

i mean the reason why i'm doing these

videos is that you get to hear me and

listen to me

and get to know me a little bit better

if you listen to my tech talk

you know you'll be able to understand me

a little bit more you don't need to

understand me whatever

i mean i'm your audience did you know

that the first thing that you need to

understand is

when you have an audience you have to

get to know your audience well here i am

i'm your audience look at this t-shirt

that i have coming to america

look at the flag that i have puerto rico

look at the hat that i have

connect all that to your story this is

your audience

it doesn't mean that like this or i like

that you have to study your audience

that i have various videos on youtube

you know on different topics

so you don't have to go there and watch

them all but if you want to know if i'd

be interested

or not maybe you'd like to do that but

guess what i'm interested in your story

period

and i am going to be interested it's

going to be exciting

and then do i'm going to be enthusiastic

and i am already

i'm fired up i can't wait for october

3rd

number two if you're writing a personal

narrative choosing a topic can be

difficult because you're deciding to

share something personal

this is always a hassle

this is a hassle thinking about a story

that's personal

um i mean we don't like to share

personal things

well you know when you write a story

that's personal just be

selective with what with what you want

to say i mean i told you about the cop

story i didn't tell you the whole story

i decided what i wanted to share with

you

you're going to do the same thing with

your story you know

if something personal you have to give

all the details

i don't want to hear that just tell me

your story

as if you were sharing your story with

someone at home

in a restaurant in a park

if you're writing a narrative if your

narrative is not a personal one

you will want to start by compelling

there to be compelling so what that

means is

if it's not personal

use a compelling you know a story is

like a movie

so if you're not writing about yourself

and you're writing about someone else

third person he she uh they

then you're gonna have to use com use

compelling events you know start

begin begin a story the way you would

you would begin

a movie

uh i don't know why i thought of the

movie maybe because of the pandemic

right i thought of i'm legends one of my

favorite movies of all time

uh and in the movie that first scene you

know

that helicopter accident

wow

the helicopter accident amazing right so

think of a

first scene in your story a first

paragraph

that has compelling emotional

impact on the reader

so when you write a story i'm not saying

think about your audience because i

already told you that one

think about your purpose think about the

goals here

think about your stance your position

within the story

no need for any research here unless you

would like to watch

a video a ted talk

and just look for information related

connected to your story

you know sometimes we think i'm the only

one that i've been through

no you're not

if anyone knew right or i mean i've had

students i've been teaching for 35 years

public schools private schools colleges

universities you you name it

i've been there done that i i've had

students come to me and say

you know what i've been through and i'm

like i don't know but guess what

others have been through the same

situation as you now you you can debate

me on that right

you'll say come on professor i'm the

only one in the world

no you're not you're not

did you know that your story

is universal

listen to me now your story is universal

you're a movie maker you're a history

history maker

i'm trying to empower and encourage you

right now to write your story to get it

done

it says organize and start writing this

is basically to the end of the chapter

right

organize and start writing how do you do

that you have to start brainstorming you

have to

putting your ideas down and i've already

spoke to you about

mapping you can map you know you can

start let me show you

if you don't know where to start you can

start here right you can

let's go back to that uh

uh the story about cops i call it good

cop story

that's my title this is how you

brainstorm

right so then i'm gonna write who

then i'm gonna write when

where why what and how

and then i'm gonna start branching out

right

and i'm gonna do the same thing so this

is just an example

of how you can brainstorm you can also

write a list

good car and i could ride the list

new york city number two

car accident

number three so you go on and you can

you know

you start making a list of things

related

to the story and then you start taking

the things in the list and you start

adding more information

this is called listing

how about an outline that's due today

right

you have roman numeral one number two

and number three

right good cop

and you think of a topic another topic

and another topic

so you start working with your story my

story in this case

your story and you start outlining it

and then you start working with the

details and you start giving your

details

more information and your story starts

starts taking form

so ladies and gentlemen this is writing

a narrative there are some stories in

chapter 13.

i recommend that you read them i'm not

going to read them that right now those

stories are there for you as an example

as an example

so i mean i've today i've kind of

lectured a little bit

and given you more information on

writing a narrative

more examples and i just i'm trying to

be

as helpful as possible for your work

for your rough draft that is due next

week

uh so thank you very much that is

writing a narrative chapter 13

and i'll see you next week