TOC, Fall 2010 Newsletter: Narratives
How Core Standards State Standards Will Change Student Narrative Writing
As the Common Core State Standards are folded into each state’s curriculum, we’ll start to see common requirements for each skill.
The new Common Core standards requires narrative writing at all levels. Here are some of the distinctions of narratives (the CCSS includes both real or imagined narratives) by students at each grade. As always, the frameworks build on the previous grade’s skills, so I’m just highlighting what changes in each grade.
General Narrative Skills
- K Time order, give character reactions. Can be a single event or loosely connected events.
- 1st Two or more sequenced events with some details. Use temporal words (e.g. first, then, when, later)
- 2nd Well elaborated event with details that describe.
- 3rd Use introduction and “sense of closure.” Descriptions and dialogue.
- 4th Strong introduction, transitional words & phrases, concrete words/phrases and sensory details, and strong conclusion.
- 5th Pacing, transitional words & phrases & clauses.
- 6th Introduction establishes context, shifting time frames, precise vocabulary.
- 7th Conclusion reflects on experiences or events.
- 8th Shifting time frames and relationships among those events.
- 9th – 10th Multiple point of views, characters reflect on events, telling details.
- 11th – 12th Introduction emphasizes significance of events, control of tone.
Skills in Adding Details
- 1st Some details
- 2nd Well elaborated event with details that describe
- 3rd Details show response of characters to situations
- 4th concrete words/phrases and sensory details convey experiences and events precisely
- 6th precise words/phrases, relevant descriptive details and sensory language
- 7th details that capture action
- 8th details that show relationships among experiences and events
- 9th – 10th Telling details, details convey a vivid picture
By second grade, students can give many descriptive details of an event or experience. By fourth grade, the word choices are precise. By sixth, the student starts to discriminate among relevant details and chose the best ones. Seventh grade focuses on capturing action, while eighth grade focuses on relationships among experiences and events. By ninth grade the focus is on choosing details that are “telling” and convey a vivid picture.
Skills in Using Chronological Order
Using Time Lines:
- K-12 Straight chronological order
- 1st Temporal words (when, then, first, later, after, next, etc.)
- 4th Transitional words/phrases that show relationships (as a consequence, because, since, etc.)
- 5th Transitional words/phrases/clauses
- 6th Time shifts: flashbacks, out of sequence events
- 8th Shifting time frames and relationships among those events