What Are the Main Qualities of a Narrative Essay: Tips to Remember

In a narrative essay, the author should tell a story or report about an event. This story or event might be from the author’s past or be absolutely fictional. The main idea is to educate the readers about something through the narration. To write a narrative paper that will bring you a high score, you should learn the major qualities of the narration.

  1. Good character descriptions and a colorful setting.
  2. Your narration will feel alive if you create good characters and setting. It’s advisable to make every character contribute to the development of your story. The qualities of characters should be demonstrated by their actions rather than by the author’s explanations. Dialogue also plays an important part in showing the personality, mood, or development of a character. To create a decent setting, you should use details like sounds, tastes, smells, and colorful visual descriptions.


  3. Writing techniques.
  4. Good character description and a decent setting aren’t enough to compose a brilliant narrative paper. You should also use various literary techniques. Metaphors and similes are great examples of figurative language that can make your narration stronger and more interesting. Poetic comparisons make it easier for some readers to understand what the author is trying to say. Humor is also a good way to keep your readers entertained.


  5. Chronological sequence.
  6. A narrative essay should always be written chronologically. Use transition words to show the passage of time. The most common transition words are: “before”, “first”, “meanwhile”, “later”, and “afterwards”. Sometimes, writers use flashbacks to give context to particular parts of their stories. It’s advisable to use such techniques very carefully in so as not to confuse your readers.


  7. Moral of the narration.
  8. At the end of your paper, it’s necessary to demonstrate the moral of your story. In this part of your essay, you should discuss what lessons your readers may learn after they’ve read your narration. You may also add how this story influenced your own life and decisions you make.

It’s also advisable to follow this structure when composing your narrative paper:


  • Orientation.
  • Here you should describe where and when your story is taking place and what characters are participating in it.


  • Problem.
  • In this part, you should write about the problem that the characters face and how they try to solve it. This usually reflects real life problems.


  • Resolution.
  • The final part of your story should describe the resolution of the problem. Write whether the characters succeeded in their endeavors or not.