Narrative Techniques

Imagery

100

a bright blue sky

sight

200

a rancid gym sock

smell

300

an umami flavor to a mushroom soup

taste

400

NAME TWO: scratchy shark skin strongly shines in the sunlight

touch AND sight

500

NAME TWO: You sense Mr. Ngo walking up behind you as you play Drift Hunters on your computer. His shoes squeak on the floor.

movement AND sound

Conflict

100

fighting with your brother

vs. character

200

you debate whether to return $50 you found on the ground to the lost & found

vs. self

300

taking cover as things fall over during an earthquake

vs. nature

400

NAME TWO: writing a letter to the principal about an unfair dress code

vs. society

AND

vs. character

500

NAME TWO: a trickster god steals your family and gives you three trials to complete in order to be reunited with your family

vs. supernatural

AND

vs. character

Hooks

100

What would you do if you had 24 hours to live?

question

200

FDR once said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

quotation

300

A person dies in a drunk driving accident once every 39 minutes.

statistics/facts

400

A flash -- a boom! Glass shard flew from the window. Suddenly -- tables, lamps, and chairs were thrown around. A painful sting in my leg.

stylistic fragments

500

The sound of the waterfall made a soft drumming sound that got louder and louder as I approached -- increasing like an audience erupting with applause.

imagery/vivid description

Potpourri

100

How many practice flash memoir assignments have we had?

two

200

the narrator tells you what the character's personality is

direct characterization

300

What type of ending does Edwin and Orvil have in There There?

unresolved or ambiguous

400

Often, the choice of diction influences or determines what?

tone

500

What are three purposes of dialogue?

exposition, action, and character