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Learn Index · Writing Grade 1–2

Narrative and descriptive writing

Narrative writing tells a story with a beginning, middle and end; descriptive writing uses details that appeal to the senses.

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Two kinds of creative writing

Narrative writing tells a story. It can be about something that really happened to you, or something you made up.

Descriptive writing paints a picture with words. It helps the reader see, hear, feel, smell and taste what you are writing about.

The best stories use both. They tell what happened and describe it so well that the reader feels like they are there.

Part 1: Narrative writing

What a narrative needs

  1. Characters: who is in the story.
  2. Setting: where and when it happens.
  3. Beginning: introduces the characters and setting.
  4. Middle: tells what happens, often a problem.
  5. Ending: tells how it turned out and how the character felt.

Personal narratives

A personal narrative is a true story about you. It uses I and me. Good topics are small moments you remember well:

  • The day you lost your first tooth
  • A time you got lost
  • Your first time on a bike
  • A surprise you will never forget

Choose a small moment, not a whole day. “The time my kite got stuck in a tree” is better than “my summer vacation.”

Transition words

Transition words help the reader follow the order of events.

  • Beginning: First, One day, Last Saturday, Once
  • Middle: Next, Then, After that, Suddenly, Later
  • End: Finally, In the end, At last

Dialogue

Dialogue is what characters say. It makes stories come alive. Put the spoken words inside quotation marks.

“Watch out!” yelled Dad.
“I’m okay,” I said with a giggle.

Example narrative

Last summer, my family went camping by a lake. First, we set up our tent. It kept falling down! Next, Dad and I went fishing. I felt a big tug on my line. “I got one!” I shouted. Then I pulled out a fish as long as my arm. Finally, we cooked it over the campfire. It was the best dinner ever, and I felt so proud.

Part 2: Descriptive writing

Use your five senses

Sensory details describe what you see, hear, feel, smell and taste.

Instead of: The beach was nice.

Try: The hot sand burned my toes. Waves crashed on the shore, and seagulls squawked above. The air smelled salty, and I could taste the salt on my lips.

Sense Ask yourself
See What colours, shapes and sizes do I notice?
Hear What sounds are there?
Touch Is it soft, rough, hot, cold, wet?
Smell What does it smell like?
Taste What does it taste like?

Show, don’t tell

Telling: I was scared.
Showing: My heart pounded. My hands shook, and I hid behind the door.

Showing lets the reader feel the emotion along with the character.

Strong word choices

  • Use exact nouns: poodle instead of dog.
  • Use strong verbs: dashed instead of went.
  • Use colourful adjectives: sparkling, gigantic, fuzzy.

How to write a narrative, step by step

  1. Pick a small moment.
  2. Plan on a story map: beginning, middle and end.
  3. Write the beginning. Introduce who, where and when. Try a catchy first line, like a sound (Crash!) or a question.
  4. Write the middle. Tell events in order with transition words. Add dialogue and sensory details.
  5. Write the ending. Tell how it turned out and how you felt.
  6. Reread and add one more detail you remember.

Common mistakes

  • Too big a topic. Zoom in on one small moment.
  • “And then … and then … and then.” Use different transition words.
  • Only telling feelings. Show them with actions and details.
  • A sudden ending. Then I woke up. The end. Instead, tell how you felt or what you learned.
  • No details. Use your senses to describe.

Try it yourself

  1. Add sensory details: We ate breakfast.
  2. Show, don’t tell: Lily was happy.
  3. Put these in order with transition words: We built a snowman. It started to snow. We went inside for hot chocolate.
  4. Write a personal narrative about a time you learned something new.

Possible answers: 1. We ate warm, fluffy pancakes dripping with sweet maple syrup. 2. Lily jumped up and down and clapped her hands. 3. First, it started to snow. Next, we built a snowman. Finally, we went inside for hot chocolate. 4. Answers will vary.

Tip for families

Tell stories out loud before writing them. Ask, “What happened first? What did it sound like? How did you feel?” Many young writers can tell a much better story than they can write at first, and talking it through helps the writing flow.

Quick recap

  • Narrative writing tells a story with a beginning, middle and end.
  • A personal narrative is a true story about you.
  • Use transition words to show the order of events.
  • Descriptive writing uses sensory details from the five senses.
  • Show feelings instead of just telling them.
  • End by telling how it turned out or how you felt.