Narrative Elements

A narrative text is a fictional account of a sequence of events. It contains elements like plot, setting, character and theme which are used to develop a story.

Plot:

Orientation - who, what, why, how, when?

Complication - What is the first problem that arises?

Climax - Tension is the highest here. The main character must do something to resolve the problem.

Resolution - What happens after the main character tries to solve the problem.

Setting:

Physical - Where is it happening? E.g. In the classroom.

Chronological - When is it happening?  E.g. In the 1990s.

Characters:

Leading - The plot revolves around them and involves them very closely.

Supporting - These characters help to develop the plot although the plot does not feature them very often.

When a character changes over the course of a story, this is called character development.  Main characters usually have character development.

We can find out more about a character by looking at his or her appearance, speech, actions and interaction with other characters.

Theme:

This is the main idea in a narrative film. It can be very simple - Love. Or very complicated - The ironic pursuit of happiness in a post-apocalyptic society.

You can infer themes from the plot, setting or character's development. Ask yourself - what is the lesson that this story is trying to teach me?

- Learning Activity -


Step 1: Watch the videos:

Express -


Normal Academic -


Step 2: fill in Exercise 1 of the chapter. Express: Page 24, Normal Academic: Page 15

Step 3: Tweet your responses to this question with the hash-tag #el-tpss
"What aspect of the film do you find most interesting? Why?"

Magnus - Goodbye to the Normals

This is part of an English lesson conducted for Sec 2E/NA. 

What do you think of Magnus?

Do you think he has a real reason to run away from home?

What is your opinion of how he behaved towards his parents?

What is your opinion of how he talks to his parents?

How do you think Magnus's parents feel about what he did?

Tweet your responses to #el-tpss.

Tenses practice!

This is a lesson conducted for 2N2 using the iPad.

Using Dropbox, download "Reading Article 1 (NA)". Open it in Office 2 HD.

Alternatively (Public dropbox):

Download it here: Reading Article 1

Notes from yesterday can be downloaded here: Tenses.PPT

Instructions:

1. Highlight the simple present and present progressive verbs
2. Fill in the rest of the worksheet by making inferences about the story.
3. Email the worksheet to shen_simin[at]tpsec.edu.sg with the subject: [My name / Partner's Name] 2N2 Reading Article 1
4. Move into a group of 4. Choose a leader among you who will host a popplet.
5. Open the Popplet app and join the popplet hosted by your leader.
6. Post your names at the bottom of the popplet. (See below for example)
7. Contribute what you know about the main character.
8. At the end of the lesson, the leader must email the JPG of the mind map to the same email address. Subject: 2N2 Mindmap

Example: