EDRG 3344 Blog 8

What is a narrative? Explain the Components.

1. Narrative writing tells a story or part of a story. The story can be true or made up. It’s normally written in first person.
2. The story shows a sequence of events occurring over time. The length of time isn’t important, but provides for a sequence of events.
3. The narrative must contain a clear beginning, middle, and ending.
4. The story should be designed to appeal to an audience other than the writer.


Explain the Writer Workshop Experience.

1. Students are divided into groups of 3-5.
2. In turn one person at a time reads their work while the others listen. Their writing should be put away so they aren’t tempted to look at it until it’s their turn to read.
3. Following the student reading the others provide feedback using the “sandwich theory”. One at a time, the listeners make comments. The first comment is positive in nature stating what they liked about the work. The second is a question or suggestion designed to improve the writer’s work. The third comment should also be positive statement designed to help the writer. The comments should address word choice and character/events development.
4. After everyone has commented the next person in the groups reads their work and the steps repeat.
This workshop usually occurs while the works are in draft form and before the writer revises his paper.

Discuss the process and “sandwich theory”.

I thought the process worked really well in our classroom. Most of the comments about my story were positive and I felt my home group thought it was amusing to listen to. It also gave me a chance to reflect and focus my thoughts on the story allowing me to realize I didn’t have an adequate ending.
The “sandwich theory” method of critiquing a person’s work ensures that most of the comments are positive. It provides the writer with confidence and a peace of mind type feeling when sharing work with others. I think it’s important to try and keep critique positive especially when dealing with children and young adults.