Describing a sequence of events (narration)

Describing a sequence of events is simply telling a story.

State clearly when events happened or how one event caused another.

Writing a story

Before you write a story:

• Decide on the plot (the events you will include in your story and the chronological order they will appear in).

• Decide on the characters who will be involved

Layout

I. Introduction. Set the scene of your story (where and when the story takes place, who is involved and what happens.).

II. Development of the story (describe incidents leading up to the main event and the event itself in detail, the sequence of events is important, too).

III. Conclusion (refer to people's feelings, com­ments and reactions or the consequences)

A good ending is possibly an unexpected or unpredict­able one, which surprises the reader and creates a long-lasting impression of your piece of writing

• In you composition use direct and reported speech to make your story lively.

• You can also describe the weather and people's feelings.

• Use different adjectives and adverbs to stress feelings and actions (horrified, surprised, absolutely, extremely).

• Don't forget to finish your composition with the special sentence from the task instruction if it was given.

E.g. At last, we saw a group of people coming towards us ... We all felt very happy to be back                     home.

• NOTE: Past Simple, Past Continuous and Past Perfect are normally used in stories. (e.g. He went out to the car. It was raining hard and a cold wind was blowing. He had rung her ten minutes before, so he knew she would be waiting.)

A story can begin by:

a) setting the scene through the use of senses

She woke up feeling the floor shaking violently beneath her. At first she thought it was part of the dream she had been having, but then she realized what was happening.

b) using Direct Speech

“Where is all this light coming from?” Peter asked Tim as he stared at the green beams crossing the starry summer sky.

c) setting the scene through describing the weather

The grey sky covered the city like a heavy blanket, making the buildings dull and shadowy. The rain had been whipping the faces of the hurrying citizens with icy, sharp drops and now the roads were dark and shining, the air - damp and cold. I looked carefully before crossing the street.

d) using first person narration

What can I tell you about Roger? He was the kind of man you've probably all met at some stage in your lives - self-assured, charming, polite ... and complete­ly ruthless. So I wasn't surprised when I saw his pic­ture in the newspaper.

e) using third person narration

It was a beautiful clear day when Brian, Phillippa, Tom and Ruth set off on their camping trip. They were all bursting with excitement as Brian drove his father's jeep off the main road to join the nar­row track which led through the forest.

f) including a description of a person

Susan had met Mark three years before at college. At first she had found him quite unpleasant and generally avoided him. She thought he was rather arrogant and vain. The fact that he was a famous film star and very attractive as well, left her quite indifferent. First impressions can be deceptive though, and she soon changed her opinion of him.

A story can end by:

a) using Direct Speech

"Thank God! I'm safe now.'' I thought as I entered my flat. But as soon as I turned on the light, I noticed a glass on the table. He was there waiting for me.

b) describing people's reactions to the event developed in the main body

With revived hope she started shouting. It wasn't long before she could see daylight again. She was injured but alive.

c) referring to people's feelings/moods

As the policemen took Roger out of the courtroom I could hear people murmuring. I felt relief. After all, he had got what he deserved: 30 years in prison.

d) creating mystery or suspense

He told his friends that the vet said the young fox was going to be fine. What's more, he had promised to return the animal to the forest when it recovered. Relieved to hear the good news, they all sat around the campfire to enjoy what they thought would be a peaceful evening. Little did they know that a pair of red shiny eyes was peer­ing at them through the trees.

Model Composition

I was alone in the house, reading a scary ghost story. As snow fell silently outside, the only sound was the ticking of my old grandfather’s clock. The dying fire cast an orange glow onto the walls of my study.

I was absorbed in the story when suddenly I began to feel that some­one was watching me. The clock stopped ticking I looked around but I could see no one. Was my mind playing tricks on me?

Trying to ignore my intense fears I returned to my book. After a few seconds, though, the book was knocked to the floor by an unseen hand. “Who’s there?” I cried. I saw something standing in front of me that made my blood run cold: a shadowy white ghost pointed a pale finger at me, its mouth moved: “Come on, come with me! It’s time!” it said.

“What do you want?” I managed to ask, shaking with fear. The ghost took me by the hand and led me to the window. Just as we reached it, the clock struck twelve. Mysteriously I found myself back in my armchair, my book beside me. I looked around but only Samantha, my cat, was in the room, trying to make herself com­fortable on my lap. “Where’s the ghost?” I wondered, then laughed at myself. “I’d better stop reading ghost stories,” I thought. But then I felt a cold wind blowing in through the now open window.

NB. Use time words such as: before, until, then, next, lastly, at first, then, while, when, after, before, finally, etc.

Model Composition

"Isn't this exciting?" whispered Janet Porter to the stranger in the next seat as the plane flew through the dark sky. "Yes, I suppose it is," he replied, smiling politely before continuing to read his newspaper. She glanced at her watch. It was half past eleven at night.

Janet was just about to start reading her book when the man picked up his briefcase and started moving towards the front of the plane. Calmly and quietly, Janet stood up and started to follow him. He opened the cockpit door, walked inside, then closed it behind him. Most of the passengers on the plane were asleep, but those who were awake were watching every move that Janet made. She squeezed into the tiny space behind the cockpit door and waited. Seconds later the door flew open and the man came out holding a gun, "This is a hijack!" he shouted. "Oh no, it's not," Janet said calmly. She held her police gun to the back of his head and said, "Drop your weapon and lie down on the floor."

As soon as the plane had landed at the airport, Janet felt relieved and happy. A police car was waiting for them. They put the man in the car. Janet smiled at her fellow offi­cers and said, "It's over. Nobody was injured. What's next?"

Linking:

At first

Eventually

Finally

First

Firstly

In the end

In the first place/in the second place

Lastly

Later

Next

Second

Secondly

To begin with

Previously

At the very time/moment

In the meantime

By the time

Since then

Useful expressions

One can feel: content/discontent/frustrated/depressed/confused/mixed up/miserable/delighted/excited/inspired/thrilled/furious/anxious/nervous/worried

NB. Descriptions of people/places and descriptive techniques (e.g. use of the senses to describe atmosphere) can be used while writing a narrative, when you want to emphasize specific parts of your narration.

Model Composition

Danny looked excitedly out of the window as the airplane was taking off into the bright sky. Then he smiled happily at his dad who was holding his soft hand tightly.

They had been flying for an hour when Danny's father disappeared for a few minutes. He came back followed by a friendly looking stewardess in a blue and red uniform. "Would you like to see the cockpit Danny?'' she asked. Danny couldn't believe it. "This has always been my dream and it’s going to come true," he thought as he followed the stewardess to the front of the plane.

The captain was showing Danny the different controls and dials when suddenly the cockpit door burst open. A tall man with a scar on his left cheek, who was carrying a gun, grabbed Danny and yelled at the captain. "This is a hijack. I'm in control now." Without thinking of the danger Danny bit the man's hand as hard as he could. The hijacker screamed in pain. Quickly the co-pilot grabbed the gun while the captain knocked the hijacker unconscious.

"This is going to be the best Christmas ever," thought Danny. "I can't wait to tell Grandad about what I did." When the plane landed Danny was given a hero's welcome. As a reward the airline gave Danny and his family free flights for the rest of their lives.

NB. In story writing you can use flashback narration. This means that you can start your story at a specified time, then go back in time and set the previous scene using the Past Perfect. Continue your story using normal past tenses, leading your readers up the specified time, then go on to the end of your story. Using flashback technique makes your story more exciting.

Model Composition

Twelve years! The judge's words echoed around Carl's head as the two policemen silently led him out of the courtroom. He couldn't believe how he had ever thought they could get away with their crime.

It had all started one evening the pre­vious year when he had been sitting in the pub asking his friend Ray what he should do about all his debts. When Ray said he had the per­fect solution, Carl was anxious to hear what he had to say.

Several months later, after careful planning, Carl found himself gripping the steering wheel of a van outside a bank in a small town in Scotland. Everything had been going smoothly until Ray came out of the bank with his hands in the air. No sooner had Carl reached for the gear lever, ready to speed away, than he felt the cold metal of a gun barrel against the side of his head.

"Don't move!" said a deep voice. His heart sank.

Now Carl was filled with regret as he looked around the space inside the four walls of the tiny cell. Thinking of the years that lay ahead, he heard the heavy prison door shut behind him.