Planning and writing a narrative: Part 3. Writing the orientation.
We know that the basic structure of a narrative looks like this: orientation
problem, solution. In this video we are going to focus on the orientation.
The orientation is really important because this is where we get to share with the
reader the 'where' the 'when' and the 'who'.
A good writer will always plan out their narrative first. Now, there are many ways
to do this but I'm going to make notes on this planning sheet. I'm going to
write a story about two friends who build a treehouse. Now, although this
video is focusing on planning and writing the orientation, it is important
to have some ideas as to the problem and solution. I think an exciting problem for
this story could be a big storm coming through, trapping the friends in their
treehouse. I've thought of a few options for the solution: they could bunker down
in their treehouse and wait for the storm to pass or they could manage to
climb down the tree and make it safely back in the house. I'll write them both
down so I don't forget them when I'm up to writing the solution. Now back to the
orientation. I've got a basic idea, but I should add some detail that I can use
when I start writing. I need to think about how I'll introduce the characters
and the setting to the reader. The setting will be in a park behind one of
the friend's houses, perhaps in the late afternoon so it can get dark later in
the story. The characters are two friends. I'll call them Jenny and Scott. The story
will start with them collecting the tools and materials they need to finish
their tree house. Before I start writing I'm going to add
some phrases that I might like to use in my writing that will help me to be more descriptive.
I don't need to use them all, but it is handy to have them written down.
Notice that I haven't used complete sentences in my planning.
I'm just getting down my ideas using words and phrases that I'll be able to
refer back to later.
Now I've planned out my orientation, I'm
ready to start writing. I'm going to keep the planning sheet next to me as I write
because it's important that I use it to help me.
Okay, I've finished writing the orientation. Pause the video here if you'd like to
read it, otherwise let's go through it together. Let's see where I have
introduced the setting: the reader can tell that the story is set in the
backyard. There is a tall oak tree and in the tree is a treehouse I also let the
reader know that the tree house is high up in the air. I think this makes it more
exciting and it could come in handy later in the story. I've also shown the
reader that the story is taking place in the evening. Here I have introduced the
characters. These are just their names but I have also given the reader a few
more details about the two characters. I used direct speech to show that Jenny is
competitive and that Scott is perhaps a bit anxious to get the treehouse finished.
I used descriptive verbs like spilled and gazed to help build a vivid
image in the reader's mind about the action that was happening.
I used the noun groups 'evening sky' and 'tall oak tree' to help the reader really
'see' the setting. Can you see some pronouns I used to help make my writing
cohesive? Here are just a few, and here is a time connective.
I also use direct speech to give the characters a little personality, but I
was also careful not to use too much.
I have tried to entertain the reader and I'm off to a good start, but I don't
think my orientation is quite finished. I might add a few more interesting and
exciting events that help the reader get to know my characters and remember, just
because this is the orientation, doesn't mean that we shouldn't include some
interesting and exciting events. In the next video, we will be looking at how to
plan and write the problem of a narrative.
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