There is power in storytelling. Our lives are made up of stories, and being able to frame them effectively means practicing. Enter middle school narrative writing, an essential way for students to practice such skills, along with many others.
What is Narrative Writing?
Narrative writing is when a writer tells a story that is either real or fictional.
In a story, a character encounters a problem usually resolved by the story’s end. There is a setting, often supporting characters, and some form of entertainment or interest derived from the storyline. In a narrative, the storyline – or plot – can be chronological or told inventively, but there is always a ‘story’ that is told.
Why Middle School Narrative Writing is Essential for Students
There are many benefits to narrative writing, and this includes both reading and writing narrative texts.
If you’re not sure when you might be able to include narrative writing, check out this post with guidance. Now, let’s get into the benefits of narrative writing and why it is essential for students. At the end of this post, I’ll also include the details of my complete narrative writing unit that can be used in the middle school classroom.
Encourages Students’ Creativity and Imagination
The most obvious benefit, and the one that’s probably most beneficial in writing a narrative, is that narrative writing encourages creativity and imagination. Furthermore, students develop their ability to visualize and write descriptively through narrative writing.
Whether you’re using short moments to get students to write creatively or running a unit like this one that has students work on a narrative from the first step to the last, students will flex their imaginations.
Creativity and imagination are important in so many ways, in and beyond the classroom, for students’ potential career choices. Creativity goes hand-in-hand with problem-solving, whether it’s an engineer, writer, teacher, medical professional, or a dozen other options. So, whatever you can do in middle school to foster creativity will be valuable for students’ development.
Enhances Language and Literacy Skills
You know that saying that you shouldn’t make fun of someone who mispronounces a word because they likely learned it from reading? Well, it’s a good rule of thumb and a strong indicator that students’ vocabulary can expand when reading narratives.
This is also true for literary devices, grammar, and punctuation. Narrative writing can be mentor texts (formally and informally) for students’ learning across concepts. Maybe it’s exploring the use of adjectives or similes or how a comma works within a story using FANBOYS (Coordinating Conjunctions). Read more about teaching grammar in middle school here.
Additionally, narrative writing requires inference skills – reading between the lines to gain added meaning.
Suppose you’ve included narratives by Roald Dahl, Shirley Jackson, or O. Henry, among others, in your middle school classroom. In that case, you’ve had students try to read between the lines to figure out why Mary was serving lamb or why no one wanted to win that lottery.
To include narrative writing in your classroom so your students reap the benefits, grab this 12-lesson middle school narrative writing unit that provides a structured framework to lead students through each stage of narrative composition with interactive lessons, scaffolded notes, and graphic organizers to support students at every stage of the writing process.
Aligned with Grade 6, 7, and 8 Common Core and Ontario Curriculum standards, it includes clear criteria for assessment and feedback with rubrics, exemplars, and answer keys. Plus, this unit can extend learning with bonus lessons on adding dialogue, details, imagery, and figurative language. Keep reading to learn more about this middle school narrative writing unit.
Explores Empathy and an Understanding of Self and Others
Reading narratives encourages students to examine different perspectives. It increases social and cultural awareness so students can better understand the world around them.
This is a chance for students to see themselves reflected in the characters and situations of stories, and for others, it’s a chance to experience the stories and lives of others who are not like them. In both situations, students gain perspective and understanding through well-written narratives.
On the other hand, through middle school narrative writing, students will have the chance to share their perspectives and life experiences, even in fictional narratives.
They say to write what you know. When students do that, they often incorporate personal elements that add dimension to their characters and the story’s plot. As a result, writing a creative story can encourage personal growth and understanding beyond just going through the writing process.
Develops Problem-Solving and Planning Skills
Finally, writing a narrative means developing a series of soft skills that will serve students beyond the writing process.
Students will develop their problem-solving and planning skills by brainstorming and organizing a narrative. They will likely have to troubleshoot structural issues or inconsistencies, weak storylines, lack of descriptive language, or other issues.
In each instance, students will have to work through – independently or with peer or teacher support – to find viable solutions to ensure their story’s success.
A Final Word on Middle School Narrative Writing
Including narrative writing in your middle school classroom encourages creativity, develops a wide variety of skills in and beyond the writing process, and opens up new avenues for student discovery.
If you’re struggling with teaching middle school narrative writing or including narrative writing in your classroom, here are two resources to help you.
First, this post presents four ways to improve student writing engagement. The more difficult students find a writing task, the more likely they will be unengaged. By utilizing methods of instruction that encourage engagement, you exponentially increase the likelihood that students will learn to write well.
Second is this 12-lesson middle school narrative writing unit, structured to guide your students through crafting a short story they will love to write and share with their peers. This resource is designed to guide students through the exciting process of crafting engaging narratives. Read more below.
Middle School Narrative Writing Unit
Are you looking for an effective way to teach narrative writing? This Middle School Narrative Writing Unit has everything you need to help your students craft compelling short stories. With 12 clear, step-by-step lessons, this unit will guide your students from brainstorming ideas to polishing their final drafts. Plus, it includes graphic organizers to keep them on track and focused.
Resource Includes:
- 12 Engaging Lessons
- Detailed Unit & Lesson Plans
- Scaffolded Notes
- Google Slides™ Slideshow
- Levels & Points Rubrics
- Exemplars & Answer Keys
- Graphic Organizers
- Curriculum Alignment Guides (Grade 6, 7, 8 Common Core & Ontario Curriculum)
- PDF & Google Slides™ Formats
This Middle School Narrative Writing Unit enhances creativity and strengthens critical thinking and literary skills, making it a must-have for any middle school ELA classroom.
Lesson Outline:
- Lesson 1 – What is Narrative Writing?
- Lesson 2 – Narrative Brainstorming
- Lesson 3 – Character Sketch
- Lesson 4 – Writing a Narrative Exposition (Hook)
- Lesson 5 – Plot Sequencing: Rising Action & Climax
- Lesson 6 – Narrative Endings: Falling Action & Resolution
- Lesson 7 – Revising and Editing Stations
- Lesson 8 – Publishing Days
- Lesson 9 – Celebration Day
- Bonus #1 – Adding Dialogue
- Bonus #2 – Adding Details and Imagery
- Bonus #3 – Adding Figurative Language
Here’s what teachers have said about this Middle School Narrative Writing Unit:
“Amazing resource! Really helped my students understand narrative writing and how to create creative stories. Lesson plans were very easy to follow!” – Dallin S.
“Students loved these assignments. They were able to use their creativity, and it kept them engaged.” – Lauren M.
You can find the Middle School Narrative Writing Unit on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Additional Resources
- When To Use Creative Writing Activities
- Why Teach Middle School Creative Writing?
- Pet Memes Narrative Writing Assignment
- 4 Ways To Improve Student Writing Engagement
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