Narrative vs. Expository
Writing Trait/Strategy:
text structure; organization
Mentor Text Suggestions:
Narrative vs. Expository Companion Books
|
Narrative |
Expository |
Description:
To help students see the difference between narrative and expository text, begin by reading aloud two companion books about the same topic—one narrative and one expository. Example: Miss Spider’s Tea Party by Kirk, Neeley and White (narrative) and Spiders by Gail Gibbons (expository). Discuss the text features of each and record students’ observations on chart paper. Lead students to conclude that the narrative (story) has characters, setting, problem, solution and the author’s purpose is mainly to entertain. Conclusions about the expository (informational) text should include that it uses facts to explain, describe, persuade, instruct, or retell. The author’s purpose is mainly to inform the reader rather than entertain. During subsequent read aloud sessions, ask students to identify whether the text is narrative or expository and to give their supporting reasons.
Tags: Expository Writing, Mentor Texts, Organization Trait, Writing Minilessons
November 11th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
[...] students are aware of the differences between narrative and expository text, it is important for them to be exposed to the text features nonfiction writers use to most [...]