The narrative paragraph can be fun to write because you tell a story or relate an event. Narratives have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Any time you go to a movie or read a fiction book, you are looking at a narrative. Narrative paragraphs often describe events from the writer's life.

A narrative paragraph

• tells a story
• gives background information in the opening sentence(s)
• has a beginning, a middle, and an end
• entertains and informs

 

SAMPLE NARRATIVE PARAGRAPH

 

 

Background of story      I never thought I could do it, but I finally conquered my fear of public      (topic sentence)            speaking.

 

Beginning of story      My English teacher gave the assignment (to speak for three minutes in 

front of my class) at the beginning of the semester, and I worried about it for two months. I have always been afraid of making a speech in public. I wrote all of my ideas on note cards. I practiced my speech with my notes in front of a mirror, in front of my dog, and in front of my husband. Would I be able to make my speech in front of my class?

 

Middle of story           When the day of my speech came, I was ready. As I reached the podium, I 

looked at my audience and smiled. Then I looked down at my note cards. At that moment, I realized that I had the wrong information. These were the notes for my biology test, not the information about my speech! I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly, I began the speech. To my surprise, the words flowed from my mouth.

 

End of story               

Three minutes later, it was over. Everyone applauded my speech that day, and I left the podium feeling like a winner.

 

 

The first sentence in the paragraph - the topic sentence - gives background information about the story. The writer introduces the characters and prepares readers for the action that will come. This sentence is the beginning of the paragraph, but it is not usually the beginning of the story.