Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Back to Study HubBrowse Year 8 English Guides

Year 8 - English

Planning a narrative using the five part narrative structure

Myths, legends and stories that inspire

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils read and explore a range of text types in connection to classical myths and legends. They first look at poetry before doing some descriptive writing inspired by poetry and paintings. They then explore Chaucer and modern retellings of myths to inspire their narrative writing.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to plan a well-structured piece of narrative writing inspired by a character from a story you have read using single paragraph outlines.

Key Notes

  • The 5 part narrative structure divides a story into: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution.
  • Each section of the narrative does not have to have the same number of paragraphs.
  • Single paragraph outlines are a way of planning a narrative paragraph.
  • Single paragraph outlines have topic and concluding sentences written in full, and supporting detail in note form.
  • To further structure your piece, you could link the concluding sentence of paragraphs to the next topic sentence.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • miller: a person who grinds grain to make flour
  • third person omniscient: the narrator isn't a character in the story and presents the feelings and experiences of multiple characters using pronouns like 'she', 'he', 'they', 'it'
  • first person: the narrator is a character in the story using pronouns like 'I' and 'me'
  • single paragraph outlines: a way of planning a paragraphs by preparing the first and final sentences, as well the detail in the middle
  • wily: cunning

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Each section of the five part narrative structure equals one paragraph in your writing.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

The 5 part narrative structure divides a story into: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution. Each section of the narrative does not have to have the same number of paragraphs.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'miller'

a person who grinds grain to make flour.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Each section of the five part narrative structure equals one paragraph in your writing. Correction: The five part narrative structure is a helpful way to help plan plot and character. However, some sections might be longer than others. Some might require multiple paragraphs, others just one.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 8 English guide library.