Writing: Narrative Writing Techniques Flashcards

A student opens a story with: "The phone rang at 3 a.m. Nobody ever called at 3 a.m." Which technique is mainly being used?

Answer: A hook that creates suspense

An unusual, unsettling event at the start grabs the reader's attention and builds suspense.

Which sentence best uses 'show, don't tell' to convey that a character is nervous?

Answer: Mia tapped her pencil, glanced at the clock, and wiped her damp palms on her jeans.

Physical actions let readers infer the emotion instead of being told it directly.

In a narrative, what is the main purpose of the rising action?

Answer: To build tension through complications leading to the climax

Rising action develops conflict and tension that peak at the climax.

A writer switches from 'I walked into the room' to 'She walked into the room' halfway through a paragraph about the same narrator. What is the error?

Answer: Inconsistent point of view

Shifting from first to third person for the same narrator breaks point-of-view consistency.

Which ending is most effective for a short narrative about a character overcoming fear of swimming?

Answer: She finally dove in, and for the first time, the water felt like it was holding her up instead of pulling her down.

It resolves the conflict and reflects the character's change with vivid imagery.

Which transition best signals a jump forward in time in a narrative?

Answer: Three weeks later,

Time-based transitions help readers follow the sequence of events.

What does sensory detail add to a narrative?

Answer: It helps readers imagine the scene through sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch

Sensory details immerse readers in the setting and experience.