Writing a Historical Narrative
Once you finish prewriting, you are ready to tell your story in writing. These activities will help you hook the reader's attention at the beginning, build interest through a sequence of events, and create a strong ending for your narrative. You'll also read another student's essay to see how all of the parts came together.
Writing the Beginning Paragraph
The first sentence in your narrative should grab the reader’s attention. It is called a “lead.”
Write a lead.
Read each lead-writing strategy and example. Then write your own.
- Start in the middle of the action:
With the mighty Rockies on the horizon, our expedition came upon a fork in the Missouri River.
- Start with interesting dialogue:
“If we make the wrong choice, the expedition is doomed,” said Captain Lewis.
- Use a startling idea:
If your life hung on a 50-50 chance, could you flip the coin?
Write your beginning paragraph.
Write your lead and give more details to establish the setting and the main problem or obstacle facing the characters.
Writing the Middle Paragraphs
Write your middle paragraphs.
Each middle paragraph should introduce a new action or part of the story in chronological order. Add facts to provide context for the events. Increase the excitement until the main action is resolved.
Here are some time-order transitions you can use to move your story along.
first
next
then
to start
finally
later
afterward
by the end
before
when
during
after
Teaching Tip
Remind students to refer to their fact sheet and collection sheet as they develop their middle paragraphs.
Middle Paragraph 1
Middle Paragraph 2
Middle Paragraph 3
Middle Paragraph 4
Middle Paragraph 5
Teaching Tip
Narrative paragraphs are often shorter than traditional paragraphs. Your students may end up needing more than five middle paragraphs to tell their stories.
Writing the Ending Paragraph
Write your ending paragraph.
End your story soon after the main action is completed or the problem is addressed for good. Try the ending strategies below. Then combine some into an ending paragraph.
- Share what the characters learned.
Our expedition would surely face more obstacles along our journey, but this moment gave me great hope.
- Sum up what the characters accomplished.
We found the correct path along the Missouri River just in time.
- Preview what will happen next.
Next stop, the Rocky Mountains!
Ending Paragraph
Reading a Historical Narrative Draft
Read a narrative draft.
Note how the writer put the parts together.
Listen to "A Fork in the River"
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A Fork in the River
Lead With the mighty Rockies on the horizon, our expedition came upon a fork in the Missouri River. Beginning Paragraph Either branch was of equal size, and our crew was divided as to which direction to follow.
“No map exists for this route, but my instincts say go south,” said Lieutenant Clark. “Which direction do you favor, Captain Lewis?”
“You have navigated us this far,” I responded. “I trust the south branch will keep us on the Missouri.”
But our Corps of Discovery crew members disagreed. They believed the north branch would lead us to our destination.
With autumn snow threatening, a wrong turn would doom our chances of crossing the Rocky Mountains before winter. The thought of another winter in the plains upset me.
Middle ParagraphsIt was during our frigid winter camp in the Dakota country that a Mandan Indian chief advised we search for the Great Falls when we reached this very fork in the river. Only then would we know for sure that we remained on the Missouri River, which would lead us to the Rocky Mountains.
Remembering his advice, I dispatched scouts along both branches of the fork in search of the Great Falls. They returned days later. Neither spotted the elusive waterfall.
We could ill afford to delay our journey any longer, so I gathered three crew members. “We shall navigate the south branch farther and will not return until we find the Great Falls,” I said.
My small crew was unhappy as we set off along the south branch. They were tired, hungry, and discouraged. We had been traveling for more than a year since our launch in St. Louis, and we had yet to cross the Rockies.
After days of searching, the mood soured further. There was still no sign of the waterfall. President Thomas Jefferson had assigned me to find a navigable path to the Pacific Ocean. I was beginning to think I failed him when a soft rumbling began in the distance.
Dialogue“Captain Lewis, might that be the Great Falls?” a crew member asked hopefully.
The rumbling grew louder and louder as we floated south. Then, at last, we saw it—the Great Falls!
I have never seen a grander sight in my life. As far as my eyes could see, the Missouri River plunged down a gigantic waterfall. At the bottom of the falls, the river crashed in an explosion of mist and bubbly white foam.
Ending Paragraph Our expedition would surely face more obstacles along our journey, but this moment gave me hope. We found the correct path along the Missouri River just in time. Next stop, the Rocky Mountains!