English — Writing: Writing a Short Story (Narrative Paragraph) — 2nd Year Middle School — Algerian Curriculum

Writing a Short Story (Narrative Paragraph)

A narrative paragraph tells a story or describes an event. It is one of the most common types of writing. In this lesson, we will learn how to write a good narrative paragraph.

Structure of a Narrative Paragraph

1. Topic sentence: Introduces the story (when, where, who).
2. Supporting details: Describe what happened in order.
3. Concluding sentence: Ends the story (how it finished, how you felt).

Useful Time Words (Connectors)

First, Then, Next, After that, Later, Finally, Suddenly, In the end, Eventually.

Example Story:
“Last summer, I went to the beach with my family. First, we set up our umbrellas and towels on the sand. Then, we played volleyball and swam in the sea. After that, my father grilled some delicious fish for lunch. In the afternoon, I built a huge sandcastle with my little sister. Finally, we watched the sunset together. It was one of the best days of my life!”

Tips for a Good Story

• Use the past tense (Simple Past, Past Continuous).
• Describe feelings and emotions.
• Use interesting adjectives (beautiful, exciting, terrifying).
• Keep a logical order (chronological order).
• Check your punctuation and spelling.

Exercises

1. Put the sentences in the correct order to make a story.
2. Write a short story (6-8 sentences) about your best holiday.
3. Add two adjectives to each sentence in the example above.
4. Rewrite the story from another character”s point of view.

See also Describing a Person and Simple Past Tense.