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on the need to use the dictionary for checking accuracy of spelling, and to guide students to use acceptable punctuation and
capitalization conventions.
2.2.4 Narrative Texts
Based on School Based Curriculum of Senior High School 2006, narrative is one of the texts which is taught in Senior High School. Narrative texts have been
taught from Junior High School. Many students like reading narrative texts because it can entertain them through the story for examples, Cinderella, Alice in
the Wonderland, Peterpan, Timun Emas, Tangkuban Perahu, Snow White, etc. A narrative text is a piece of text which tells a story to amuse or entertain the
readers or listeners. Gerot and Wignell 1994: 204 give some characteristics of narrative texts.
1 Social function of a narrative text is to amuse, entertain, and to
deal with actual or vicarious experiences in different ways; narratives deal with problematic events which lead to a crisis or
turning point of some kind, which in turn finds a resolution.
2 Generic structure of narrative texts
a Orientation: sets the scene and introduces the participants
b Evaluation: a stepping back to evaluate the plight
c Complication: a crisis arises
d Resolution: the crisis is resolved, for better or for worse
e Reorientation: optional
3 Significant lexicogrammatical features
a Focus on specific and usually individualized participant
b Use of material processes, behavioral and verbal processes
c Use of relational processes and mental processes
d Use of temporal conjunctions and temporal circumstances
e Use of past tense
2.2.5 Teaching Writing Narrative Texts
When teaching writing narrative texts, a teacher should consider the elements of good writing text and the characteristics of narrative texts like mentioned above.
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Meyers 2005: 52 says that besides considering those elements, in writing a narrative text, the text should achieve the following goals:
1 It is unified, with all the actions developing a certain idea.
2 It is interesting, it draws the readers or audience into the action and
makes them fell as if they are observing or listening to the events. 3
It introduces the four wh- of a setting–who, what, where, and when–within the context of the action.
4 It is coherent, transition indicates changes in time, location, and
characters. 5
It begins at the beginning and end of the end. That is, the narrative follows a chronological order with events happening in a time
sequence. 6
It builds toward a climax. This is the moment of most tension or surprise time when the ending is revealed or the importance of
events becomes clear.
John 1997: 27 states that “writing a narrative text can be separated into four parts. Each of these four parts will be single paragraph.” The paragraph should be
arranged as follows: 1
The first paragraph should tell something about the characters and the setting. What kind of story were you writing? Where was the
story happened? 2
The second paragraph should describe the conflict. What was its source? Was it a conflict over two different attitudes toward the
act, two different ways of doing the same act, two different personalities?
3 The third paragraph should tell how the conflict was resolved. Was
it resolved fairly or unfairly, by whom? 4
The fourth paragraph should give the moral of the story. What did you learn from the experience? Were you able to apply what you
learned to other experiences in your life?
2.2.6 Teaching English at Senior High School
