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Narrative Writing Samples
See the difference the Seven Steps can make with these writing samples!
Below you’ll find a collection of resources to help unlock fun, engaging and collaborative writing lessons.
Learn the Seven Steps program with a Seven Steps membership or at Workshop One: Seven Steps to Transform Writing.
Student Samples
A trip to the zoo … gone wrong
Step 2: Sizzling Starts
| Before | I leapt out of bed that morning and hurried to get dressed because today Dad was taking us to the zoo. I was really excited because they have this big monkey enclosure there and I was mad about monkeys. I also needed to get some really good photos for my science project. |
| After | ‘Here,’ I told my sister, ‘hold my rucksack. I’m just going to get a bit closer to the monkey’s cage.’ A bit closer meant over the fence, past the sign that said ‘No entry’ and right up to the wire.
‘You’re monkey mad,’ said my sister. Well, maybe I was. But I was also desperate for an A in my latest science project. A picture of a cute monkey, smiling right at the camera, might make all the difference. |
TIP: The ‘before’ sample wastes time talking about what happens before they get to the zoo. Start with action, at the moment of change.
Improve your students’ introductions by learning the basics of Step 2: Sizzling Starts for free.
Mandy to the rescue
Step 5: Show, Don’t Tell
| Before | Mandy was always really confident and she was kind too. |
| After | The traffic lights were just starting to flash red. ‘Come on,’ cried Mandy as she charged across the street. ‘We’ll be late.’
Behind us an old lady followed. She shuffled into the intersection, head bowed, shopping bag on her arm. The lights were totally red now. Suddenly there was a loud blast of a horn. I looked back – the old lady was only halfway across and a car was edging forward impatiently. Then I saw Mandy. She stepped back onto the road and held up her hand firmly to the car. Then taking the old lady’s arm, she helped her slowly, painstakingly to the safety of the footpath. |
TIP: When you tell, you tend to say something straight out, and it’s often boring. If you show, the writing is longer but can be far more powerful and convincing.
For more before and after examples, download the resource below.
Before and After Samples
STEP Step 2: Sizzling Starts, Step 3: Tightening Tension, Step 5: Show, Don’t Tell
PURPOSE Teach
RESOURCE TYPE Writing Samples & Exemplars
YEAR F–10
RELATED The power to write
- Model how to improve a piece of narrative writing using the Seven Steps techniques.
- Annotations using Seven Steps terminology provide actionable feedback to students.
2020 Narrative Writing Competition Winners
STEP All Steps
PURPOSE Teach
RESOURCE TYPE Writing Samples & Exemplars
YEAR F–10
Competition categories:
- The Astonishing Bicycle: A story, poem or diary entry
- Mistaken Identity: A short story or script for TV or radio
- A Visit to the Past: A short story and story graph
- A Curious Creature: A comic strip or manga.
Narrative Texts Demonstrating the Seven Steps
STEP All Steps
PURPOSE Teach
RESOURCE TYPE List
YEAR F–10
- Show students examples of the Seven Steps techniques in published texts.
- This handy list is sorted by Step and annotated with notes about how each text demonstrates a particular Seven Steps technique.
- Selection includes picture books and chapter books, from classics to more recent titles.
Narrative Videos Demonstrating the Seven Steps
STEP All Steps
PURPOSE Teach
RESOURCE TYPE List
YEAR F–10
- Show students examples of the Seven Steps techniques in filmmaking.
- This handy list is sorted by Step and annotated with notes about how each video clip demonstrates a particular Seven Steps technique.
- Selection includes animated short films, movie scenes and advertisements.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone plotted on the Narrative Story Graph
AUTHOR JK Rowling
STEP Step 1: Plan for Success
PURPOSE Teach
RESOURCE TYPE Story graphs
YEAR 3–10
- Created for 2021 Book Week: Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds
- Demonstrate how this novel follows the basic narrative structure using the Seven Steps story graph.
- This resource is taken from our collection Fantasy Fiction on the Story Graph. You can access the full collection on Teacher Hub.
Dragonkeeper plotted on the Narrative Story Graph
AUTHOR Carole Wilkinson
STEP Step 1: Plan for Success
PURPOSE Teach
RESOURCE TYPE Story graphs
YEAR 3–10
- Created for 2021 Book Week: Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds
- Demonstrate how this novel follows the basic narrative structure using the Seven Steps story graph.
- This resource is taken from our collection Fantasy Fiction on the Story Graph. You can access the full collection on Teacher Hub.
Whitney and Britney, Chicken Divas plotted on the Narrative Story Graph.
AUTHOR Lucinda Gifford
STEP Step 1: Plan for Success
PURPOSE Teach
RESOURCE TYPE Story graphs
YEAR F–6
- Created for 2020 National Simultaneous Storytime
- Demonstrate how this picture book follows the basic narrative structure using the Seven Steps Narrative Story Graph.
Say Yes: A Story of Friendship, Fairness and a Vote for Hope plotted on the Narrative Story Graph.
AUTHOR Jennifer Castles
STEP Step 1: Plan for Success
PURPOSE Teach
RESOURCE TYPE Story graphs
YEAR F–6
- Created for 2020 Reconciliation Week Resource
- Demonstrate how this picture book follows the basic narrative structure using the Seven Steps Narrative Story Graph.
Searching for Cicadas plotted on the Story/Writing Graph
AUTHOR Lesley Gibbes and Judy Watson
STEP Step 1
PURPOSE Teach
RESOURCE TYPE Story graphs
YEAR F–6
- Searching for Cicadas by Lesley Gibbes and Judy Watson plotted on the Narrative Story Graph and Informative Writing Graph.
- Demonstrate how this hybrid picture book follows the basic structure for both narrative and informative texts.
- This picture book was shortlisted for the 2020 CBCA Book of the Year: Eve Pownall Award for Information Books.
One Runaway Rabbit plotted on the Narrative Story Graph
AUTHOR David Mezenthen and Mairead Murphy
STEP Step 1
PURPOSE Teach
RESOURCE TYPE Story graphs
YEAR F–2
- One Runaway Rabbit by David Mezenthen and Mairead Murphy plotted on the Narrative Story Graph.
- Demonstrate how this picture book follows the basic narrative structure using the Seven Steps Narrative Story Graph.
- This picture book was shortlisted for the 2020 CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood.
Alpacas with Maracas plotted on the Narrative Story Graph
AUTHOR Matt Cosgrove
STEP Step 1: Plan for Success
PURPOSE Teach
RESOURCE TYPE Story graphs
YEAR F–6
- Created for 2019 National Simultaneous Storytime
- Demonstrate how this picture book follows the basic narrative structure using the Seven Steps Narrative Story Graph.
Dinner Table Fight – Dreamcatcher
STEP Step 4
PURPOSE Teach
RESOURCE TYPE Writing sample
YEAR 3–6
- This short play is based on a scene from Dreamcatcher by Jen McVeity.
- Ask students to rehearse the play in groups, then discuss what the dialogue reveals about each of the characters and the plot.
Books about Natural Disasters on the Story Graph
STEP Step 1
PURPOSE Teach
RESOURCE TYPE Story graphs
YEAR F–10
RELATED Resources for schools and teachers affected by bushfires
- Reading examples can help students to learn how to tell their own stories.
- Selection of stories about natural disasters (particularly bushfires) plotted on the Narrative Story Graph.
More narrative resources
Explore more classroom resources and make narrative writing fun with the Seven Steps!
Lesson plans and activities
Explore ready-made resources and discover how to teach the key concepts behind each Step.
Picture writing prompts
These visual prompts offer fun and quick writing practice to develop your students’ writing skills, one Step at a time.
School Packages
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