Chapter 5 of 9
📖 Continuous: Narrative
5 min+20 XP
Narrative essays tell a story. You'll typically choose from 2-3 narrative prompts. Write 350-500 words with a clear beginning, rising action, climax, and resolution.
Narrative Structure
🌅
Exposition
📈
Rising Action
⚡
Climax
🌈
Resolution
Show, Don't Tell
TELLING (Weak)
"I was very scared."
SHOWING (Strong)
"My heart hammered against my ribs as cold sweat trickled down my spine."
Singapore Settings Make Great Stories
Set your narrative in places you know well — East Coast Park at dawn, a crowded MRT during peak hour, the void deck during a thunderstorm. Authentic local details add richness and originality.
🧠Quick Check
Which opening is most effective for a narrative essay?
AIt was a dark and stormy night. I was walking home.
B"Run!" The word sliced through the humid Singapore air as I stumbled out of the MRT station.
CThis essay is about the time I got lost in Chinatown.
📖Key Takeaway
Start with action or dialogue, not description. End with reflection, not summary. Show don't tell. These 3 rules separate Band 1 from Band 2.