Narrative Checklist

Grade 9/10
Meaning: YES STARTING NOT
TO YET
Meaning I created a narrative with characters, tension,
change, and an idea/lesson.
I developed at least one complex character.
I developed particular perspectives, or points of
view.

Development:

Elaboration I developed the action, dialogue, details, and inner

thinking to explain the issue, idea, moral, lesson, or
theme.

I incorporated sensory language throughout my piece

to place the reader in the action of the narrative.
I zoomed into a specific moment in time as opposed
to summarizing events.
I included details that clearly relate to and suggest
meaning, including subtle details or may foreshadow
or hint at symbolism.
I developed minor as well as central characters.
I developed a sense of place.
Description I developed characters across scenes, letting the
reader get to know their tendencies and emotions,
their hopes, and their troubles.
I showed how characters respond to trouble and
created characters that are complicated, changing,
and compelling.
I created a mood as well as a physical setting and
showed how the place changed or its relationships to
the characters changed.
I varied the pace to increase tension, develop
meaning, and manage time.
I matched my language and sentence structure to the
tone of parts of the story, to convey time and place,
and to develop different characters.

Organization and Style:

Organization I used narrative paragraphs and font changes to

clarify dialogue, time change, shifts in the setting or
mood, interior dialogue, and for dramatic impact.
 I may have included nonlinear parts in my narrative
structure, including shifts in time, parallel narratives,
dream sequences, multiple perspectives—but these
are clear to the reader.
Beginning I created a beginning that defines a situation, place,
atmosphere, sets it within some kind of context,
foreshadows the problem(s), and raises questions
about issues, ideas, morals, lessons, and themes.

My beginning introduces a particular narrative voice

and point of view.
Ending I wrote an ending that develops the meaning and may
act as social commentary.

I gave the reader a sense of closure by showing

character change, multiple perspectives, or if
problems are not resolved, a sense of bearing
witness.
Transitions I used transitional phrases to alert my reader to the
passage of time, to connect parts of the story, to
imply cause and effect, to raise questions and doubts,
to make allusions (as when, just as, whereby, without
realizing, afterward…)
Style I developed an appropriate tone that establishes a
parallel mood for my reader.
I used words precisely and/or figuratively to
strengthen a particular tone or meaning.
I selected vivid and engaging verbs.
I may have used analogies, figurative language,
symbolism, and allusions and considered how diction
will have an effect on my reader.

Language Conventions:

Spelling/ I used accurate spelling throughout, except when

Grammar modified for effect. I demonstrated control of
conventions of standard English grammar.
Punctuation I varied punctuation and sentence structure to
emphasize connections, strengthen tone, and clarify
relationships and meaning.