Writing a Narrative Paragraph
Once you finish prewriting, you are ready to write your paragraph. These writing activities will help you create a topic sentence, body sentences, and an ending sentence. You'll also read another student's paragraph to see how all of the parts came together.
Writing the Topic Sentence
Your narrative paragraph should begin with a topic sentence. It names the topic and shares a specific thought or feeling about it.
Sample Topic Sentence 1:
Whitewater rafting with my family was a crazy adventure.
- Topic: Whitewater rafting with my family
- Special Thought: A crazy adventure
Sample Topic Sentence 2:
I’ll never forget the time I saw the playful polar bear.
- Topic: The playful polar bear
- Special Feeling: Never forget seeing it
Write your topic sentence.
Respond to the first two items below, and use your responses to help you write a topic sentence for your narrative paragraph. Make a copy of this Google doc or download a Word template.
- Name your topic.
My first seashell hunt
- Share a specific thought or feeling about it.
A surprise ending
- Write your topic sentence.
My first seashell hunt had a surprise ending.
Writing the Body Sentences
Body sentences are the middle part of a paragraph. They tell what happened in your story in time order. Body sentences may also include details about the setting as well as conversations between characters.
Write body sentences.
Write body sentences that tell what happened in your story. Include some sensory details to help recreate the experience. Examples of sensory details are given below. Make a copy of this Google doc or download a Word template.
Sensory Details
Sights shiny red bucket |
Sounds crack and boom of fireworks |
Smells fishy ocean stench |
Tastes sweet juicy strawberries |
Touch sharp poke of a needle |
Sights
shiny red bucket
Sounds
crack and boom of fireworks
Smells
fishy ocean stench
Tastes
sweet juicy strawberries
Touch
sharp poke of a needle
Body Sentences
(Answers will vary.)
Teaching Tip
Remind students that narratives bring stories to life. Adding sensory details will help readers feel like they are part of the story.
Writing the Ending Sentence
Write your ending sentence.
Try these ending strategies. Then choose one or combine two to create your ending sentence. Make a copy of this Google doc or download a Word template.
- Show how the story ends.
He said, “It’s your lucky day. That’s a shark’s tooth!”
(Answers will vary.)
- Tell readers what you learned.
The best surprises are shared with someone else.
(Answers will vary.)
- Share your feelings.
It made me happy to spend time with my dad.
(Answers will vary.)
Ending Sentence
(Answers will vary.)
Read a Narrative Paragraph Draft
Note how the writer put the parts together.
Listen to "My Seashell Surprise"
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My Seashell Surprise
Topic SentenceMy first seashell hunt had a surprise ending. Early one morning my dad and I walked to the beach with a red bucket. The sand was soft and cool. Body SentencesWe collected orange, white, and brown shells of all different shapes and sizes. When our bucket was almost filled, I spotted something black and shiny pointing out of the sand. I reached down and grabbed the object right before a wave crashed against my legs. The object felt sharp and curvy. Finally, I opened my hand. “What is this?” I asked my dad. Ending SentencesHe said, “It’s your lucky day. That’s a shark’s tooth!”
Teaching Tip
Students will recognize many parts of this paragraph, such as the topic sentence, body sentences, and ending sentence. Help them see the choices the writer has made in drafting.