Narrative Writing
Essential Knowledge and Skills for Essay Writing - A Practical Guide for ESL and EFL Undergraduates - Neil Evan Jon Anthony Bowen
Neil Evan Jon Anthony Bowen [+ ]
Thammasat University
Neil Bowen is an Associate Professor at Thammasat University and an ESRC Doctoral graduate from Cardiff University. He holds a PhD in Language and Communication, an MA in Applied Linguistics, and a BA in English and TEFL. His research focuses on process–product relationships in writing using a combined cognitive and Systemic Functional Linguistics approach. His 2019 article, “Unfolding choices in digital writing: A functional perspective on the language of academic revisions,” was the runner-up for the 2022 John R. Hayes’ best article award given by the Journal of Writing Research. His work can also be seen in other prominent journals such as Journal of Second Language Writing, TESOL Quarterly, Written Communication, Computers and Composition, Teaching and Teacher Education, System, and others.
Description
Unit 3 focuses on the key skills and language features needed for narrative writing. These include working with narrative perspective, creating dialogue and golden details, and choosing strong, vivid verbs. Once the basics are in place at the word/phrase/sentence level, students are then shown how characterization and the sequencing of events can contribute to a five-stage, rise–fall pattern consisting of setting-the-scene, rising action(s), climax, falling action(s), and resolution. At the end of the unit, students are challenged to write a narrative essay of at least five paragraphs, and are again guided through the seven stages of the writing process.