Rhetorical Situations in Writing Narratives

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Questions and Answers

Narratives are ______.

stories

In addition to supporting many types of writing, narratives are particularly helpful in providing support for what two types of writing?

A position paper and a profile.

When a narrative is sequenced chronologically, what is the order?

Arranging events in no particular order

Starting with the beginning and moving towards the end (correct)

Starting with the end and moving towards the beginning

Arranging events in random order

Reverse chronological order moves from the beginning of a story to the end.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a narrative that uses a flashback?

Terry Tempest Williams' essay "The Clan of the One-Breasted Women" Signup and view all the answers

Time markers are always used, and are a necessity for readers to follow events, particularly in journal entries or diaries.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a transition word?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What should be considered when deciding if a narrative is appropriate for your writing?

Audience and purpose Signup and view all the answers

What is the author's main point in the essay excerpt about the suspicion African American men often face when walking at night?

The author's main point is that African American men are often perceived as threatening, regardless of their intentions. Signup and view all the answers

What is "Merlin", as referenced in the text, and what is its purpose?

Merlin is a computer program for playing tic-tac-toe against human players, designed to provide a challenge for young children. Signup and view all the answers

Starting a narrative is a common and helpful way to begin an essay.

True Signup and view all the answers

Narratives only function as the opening, or introduction to a piece of writing.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary theme of Barbara Tuchman's narrative about Bubonic Plague?

Tuchman's narrative is about the devastating effects of bubonic plague, and how it spread so quickly across the globe. Signup and view all the answers

How does using narrative in writing help with purpose?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

The genre of writing determines if it's appropriate to use a narrative.

True Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a way to convey a humorous stance in writing?

Using a sarcastic tone Signup and view all the answers

In print or spoken text, the length of relevant narratives should be limited.

True Signup and view all the answers

In electronic text, the use of narratives can benefit from full-length narratives or visuals from the web.

True Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Rhetorical Situation for Narratives

Purpose of writing affects how a process is explained. For example, explaining how a chicken nugget is made will be different from explaining how to fry chicken.
Consider your audience and whether they need background information to understand the process.
Genre influences explanations. A lab report requires a detailed process explanation; a profile might need an anecdote to make a point.
Medium impacts explanations. Print can use words and images, while web options include animations.

Narratives in Writing

Narratives are stories that support various writing types. They can support position papers, profiles, or other purposes. Narratives should support, not be added just for an interesting story.
Sequence events chronologically, reversing order, or by using flashbacks.
Chronological order: Start at the beginning and progress to the end of an event. Maya Angelou's graduation narrative is an example.
Reverse chronological order: Beginning with the final action and progressing backward. Illustrated by Aldo Leopold's narrative about cutting down a tree.
Flashbacks: Interrupt the narrative to illuminate the larger narrative. Terry Tempest Williams discusses breast cancer in her family using this technique.
Use specific time markers. Examples include diary entries, journals, or narratives of exploration (e.g. Robert F. Scott).
Include transitions (e.g., first, then, meanwhile, at last) for clarity in narratives. Langston Hughes includes time markers and transitions in his "Salvation" narrative.

Including Detail in Narratives

Select crucial details; remove unnecessary details.
Background info might be needed for some narratives. The amount depends on your audience and purpose.
A journalist might start a narrative without background for maximum impact, gradually introducing details later as appropriate. Example: Brent Staples' narrative about being followed by a woman on the street.
Introduction to narrative with background is sometimes needed, as can be seen in Sherry Turkle's essay about children's interaction with electronic toys. The backstory is on the computer tic-tac-toe game.

Opening and Closing with Narratives

Stories attract interest and clarify your main point.
Start or finish with narratives to make an impression on the audience.
Historical narrative attracts attention to bubonic plague, as shown in Barbara Tuchman's "This Is the End of the World."
The concluding paragraph in Joan Didion's essay on American values and Vegas weddings uses a short narrative to convey her point. It is about wedding rituals.

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Description

Explore the intricate relationship between rhetorical situations and narrative writing. This quiz examines how purpose, audience, genre, and medium influence the crafting of narratives. Understand the significance of storytelling in various writing types and techniques for organizing events effectively.