Writing a Narrative
CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
• A clearly identified event: What happened? Who was involved?
• A clearly described setting: When and where did it happen?
CONSIDER YOUR RHETORICAL SITUATION
Whenever you write a narrative (or anything, for that matter) you need to consider the
following elements of your rhetorical situation:
Think about your audience. Who will be reading what you write, and what’s your
relationship with them?
• Will your audience have any knowledge about your topic? Will you need to
explain anything or provide any background information?
• How are they likely to react to your narrative? What do you want them to think or
do as a result of reading what you say?
Think about your purpose. Why are you writing this narrative? What is the
significance of this story, and what do you hope it will demonstrate to your readers?
Think about your stance. Are you telling a story that is very personal to you, or is it
one you have some distance from? How do you want to present yourself as the
narrator? Do you want to come across as witty and amusing, if you’re telling a
Consider the larger context. What broader issues are involved in your narrative? What
else has been said and written about this topic? Even if your narrative is personal,
how might it speak to some larger topic—perhaps a social or political one? Considering
Consider your medium. Often you won’t have a choice—but if you do, think about
which medium best suits your goals and audience. The kinds of details you include,
the language you use, the way you present materials from sources, and many other
Consider matters of design. Does your narrative need headings? Is there anything in
the story that could be conveyed better with a photograph than with words alone? Will
embedded audio or video clips help you engage your audience? Often in academic