Top 6 Best Compositions on "Practicing Writing Narrative Paragraphs Combined with Descriptive and Expressive Elements"

Describing Events and Characters in a Narrative Paragraph with Descriptive and Expressive Elements

a. I broke a beautiful vase.

On a lovely day, while cleaning and mopping the house, a sudden sound of breaking glass startled me: "Crash!" Oh no! The beautiful vase had shattered. It was my grandmother's favorite vase. She is so kind, she wouldn't scold me harshly, but I felt guilty, and the feeling of regret stayed with me, making it hard for me to relax.

b. I helped an elderly lady cross the street during a busy time.

As the afternoon sun cast long shadows on the sidewalk, the street was bustling with cars. On the opposite sidewalk, I noticed an elderly lady with silver hair, bent over, holding a cane, anxiously looking at the traffic. She was close to the pedestrian crossing but didn’t dare to cross. Seeing this, I quickly crossed the street, took her arm, and said, "Let me help you, ma'am!" She smiled warmly and said, "Thank you, dear! You are so kind!" Together, we crossed the street when the light turned green. I felt so happy, not only because I had helped someone but also because I could share my story with my mother later that evening.

c. I received a surprise gift on my birthday or during a holiday.

Today, I was turning another year older with hopes and dreams for the future. The evening was perfect. My friends came over to wish me a happy birthday, we ate cake, sang birthday songs, and I received many gifts I loved. But this year’s birthday was extra special because of one gift from someone truly special: my father. It had been three years since I last saw him. He worked in Japan, and it was difficult to meet. Under the dim light of the evening, I saw his silhouette gradually come into focus. Overwhelmed with emotion, I ran to hug him. "My little girl," he said as he lifted me up. Truly, this was the most unexpected gift of all. My father was the gift I had been longing for all these years.

Practice

Question 1 (page 84, Literature 8, Vol. 1):

As the teacher, recount the moment when Mr. Hạc came to tell the teacher he had sold the dog, showing his sorrow and distress:

When he saw me, Mr. Hạc tried to act cheerful, but then he quickly told me the story:

- Cậu Vàng is gone, teacher!

It turned out he had sold the dog he had always cherished. Mr. Hạc couldn’t hold back his emotions, and his wrinkled face showed two streams of tears. Then he broke down in sobs. I felt deeply for him, but I couldn’t help him.

Question 2 (page 84, Literature 8, Vol. 1): Compare the passage by Nam Cao with the passage you wrote:

- Nam Cao’s passage combines descriptive and expressive elements when describing Mr. Hạc’s emotions through his face and tears.

- The combination of description and expression in the narration makes Mr. Hạc’s grief over selling his beloved "Cậu Vàng" vivid and heartbreaking.

I. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE TO MASTER

1. The core elements of narrative writing are the events and characters. To write a narrative paragraph that combines description and expression, one must first identify the main event and character in the narrative.

2. Typically, descriptive and expressive elements intertwine and blend to create a lively narrative text or paragraph.

II. GUIDELINES FOR STUDYING THE LESSON

To craft a narrative paragraph incorporating descriptive and expressive elements, follow a 5-step process (apply to the examples provided in the textbook):

1. Choose the main event

(a) Dropping a vase due to carelessness
(b) Helping an elderly woman cross the street during heavy traffic
(c) Receiving a gift

2. Select the narrative perspective

- First-person (can also be third-person)
3. Decide the order of events

(a) The vase is accidentally broken
- Describe the vase before and after it was broken
- How the broken pieces were cleaned up
(b) Meeting the elderly woman wanting to cross the street
- The process of helping her across
- The emotions of the elderly woman and the helper after crossing
(c) The situation of receiving the gift
- How the gift was delivered
- The significance of the gift to the recipient

4. Identify descriptive and expressive elements to include in the narrative

(a) The appearance of the vase before it was broken
- The broken vase
- The emotions after breaking it
(b) The elderly woman's appearance
- The crowded environment with heavy traffic
- Feelings when doing a meaningful deed

(c) The description of the gift
- The feelings upon receiving the gift

5. Write the narrative paragraph by combining description and expression in a coherent way, following the above suggestions

III. PRACTICE EXERCISES

1. With the event and character: "After selling his dog, Mr. Hạc goes to inform the teacher" and the task "As the teacher, write a paragraph recalling the moment Mr. Hạc informs about selling the dog, describing his expression and sorrow," focus on the following:

- Main event: Mr. Hạc tells the teacher that he has sold his dog, Cậu Vàng.

- Character: Mr. Hạc (pay attention to his character traits, especially his deep emotional attachment to the dog, which should be reflected in his sorrow after selling it).

Specifically: describe Mr. Hạc's emotional state through his facial expressions, voice, gestures, etc., while also expressing the teacher's thoughts in this situation.

2. A paragraph from the short story *Lão Hạc* by Nam Cao describing this event:

The next day, Mr. Hạc came to my house. As soon as he saw me, he immediately said:

- Cậu Vàng is gone, teacher!

- Did you sell him?

- Yes, they just caught him.

[Mr. Hạc tried to appear cheerful, but his smile looked more like a grimace, and his eyes were filled with tears. I wanted to hug him and cry with him. At seven o'clock, I no longer felt as much sorrow for the five books of mine as I did before. I only felt pity for Mr. Hạc. I asked, merely to continue the conversation:

- Did they force you to sell him?

Mr. Hạc's face suddenly scrunched up, his wrinkles tightened, forcing tears to fall. His head tilted to one side, and his mouth twisted in a way that looked like a child crying. He sobbed...]

- The passage in square brackets [ ] clearly shows the combination of narrative, description, and expression.

- Through these descriptive and expressive elements, Nam Cao poignantly portrays Mr. Hạc's intense emotional pain at having to sell his beloved dog Cậu Vàng. In this narration, there are two layers of expression: Mr. Hạc's and the narrator's (referred to as "I").

I. Essential Concepts to Grasp

- In any narrative, there is always an interplay of both descriptive and expressive elements, which work together to make the story more dynamic and profound.

- When creating a narrative, it is important to effectively incorporate these descriptive and expressive elements to add depth and emotion to the writing.

II. Guide to Answering Difficult Questions and Exercises from the Textbook

Section I. From Event and Character to a Narrative Paragraph with Description and Expression:

Following the steps for building a narrative paragraph, students can choose one of three events and characters to focus on in their writing.

For instance, after selecting event (b) – helping an elderly woman cross a busy street, students should determine the order of events (when the event took place, the setting, and how the event unfolded). They must also decide what descriptive and expressive elements to include (for example, the state of the street, the elderly woman's appearance, the student's emotions when helping, how they felt while guiding her, the elderly woman’s reaction to the help, and the student's feelings after helping her cross the road).

Section II. Practice Exercises

1. Exercise 1:

Assume the role of Nam Cao and narrate the moment when Mr. Hạc comes to announce he has sold his dog, displaying deep sadness and regret:

Mr. Hạc rushed to my house to tell me that he had sold Cậu Vàng. Though he tried to appear cheerful, he couldn’t hide the anguish and regret that followed his decision to sell the dog. His old, pale eyes were filled with tears. Seeing his suffering, I felt deeply sorry and wanted to embrace him for comfort. When I asked, "Did they force you to sell him?" his face tightened, his wrinkled lips trembled, and his eyes welled up again. He sobbed and told me the whole story. I didn’t know what to say, so I softly reassured him that he wasn’t at fault and shouldn’t feel so guilty. He seemed to calm down, but it was clear he was still holding back his sadness. He gave a faint, forced smile, his frail shoulders trembling with each effort. I felt so sorry for him. It was heartbreaking to see him in such a state.

2. Exercise 2:

In the passage where Mr. Hạc informs about selling his dog, the author, Nam Cao, masterfully combines descriptive and expressive elements. He focuses on the depiction of Mr. Hạc's sorrowful face, with vivid details like his smile resembling a grimace, his tear-filled eyes, his face suddenly contorting in pain, the wrinkles on his face deepening, his head tilting to one side, and his mouth trembling like a child. These descriptive and emotional elements etched into the reader’s mind the image of a man suffering from deep regret, especially during that moment when he reflected: "At my age, I’ve betrayed a dog."

Text Example of Combining Description and Emotion:

The officer slammed his stick on the ground and shouted in a hoarse voice, "You! I thought you died last night, but you’re still alive? Pay the tax now! Hurry!"

Panicking, Anh Dậu quickly placed the bowl of porridge down and collapsed, unable to speak. The official’s subordinate sneered:

"He’ll be gasping for air like last night!"

He pointed at Chị Dậu:

"You postponed the tax payment until tomorrow, right? Go tell the official to get the judge to allow it! But my boss here won’t let you delay even for an hour!"

Chị Dậu trembled:

"We are struggling just to pay our own tax, not to mention my brother’s. I never intended to avoid the state tax! Please, kindly ask the official to give us an extension..."

The officer interrupted, glaring: "You dare ask for an extension on the state’s tax?"

Chị Dậu continued, desperately: "Please! We have nothing left, and though you scold us, we can endure. But please have mercy on us!"

The officer sneered: "If you don’t pay now, I’ll tear your house down! Is that all you’re going to do, just talk?"

He then turned to the official’s assistant:

"Stop talking to her, tie up her husband and drag him to the court!"

The assistant seemed hesitant to harm a sick person, unsure of what to do. Suddenly, the officer grabbed the rope from his hand and stormed toward Anh Dậu.

Chị Dậu, pale, quickly set the child down and rushed to stop the officer:

"Please, I beg you, we’ve just recovered. Please let us go!"

(Tức nước vỡ bờ)

I. From Event and Character to a Narrative with Descriptive and Expressive Elements

Exercise 1: Accidentally Breaking a Beautiful Vase

Construct a narrative paragraph using descriptive and expressive elements:

- Step 1: The main event is the accidental breaking of the vase.

- Step 2: Choose the point of view: first person.

- Step 3: Determine the order of events:

+ The circumstances of the vase breaking (time, place)

+ The vase breaking itself

+ How the broken pieces were cleaned up

- Step 4: Identify the descriptive and expressive elements to be used in the narrative:

+ The vase’s appearance before it was broken

+ The vase’s appearance after it broke

+ Thoughts and emotions after breaking the vase

- Step 5: Write the paragraph using the outlined ideas above

Exercise 2: Helping an Elderly Woman Across a Busy Street

- Step 1: Choose the main event – helping the elderly woman cross the street during busy traffic

- Step 2: Choose the point of view – first person (or third person)

- Step 3: Determine the order of events:

+ The circumstances of meeting the elderly woman who wants to cross (time, place)

+ The process of helping her cross the street

+ The emotions of the elderly woman and your own feelings after she crossed the street

- Step 4: Identify the descriptive and expressive elements to be used in the narrative:

+ The elderly woman’s appearance and demeanor

+ The surrounding busy street and traffic

+ The feeling of accomplishment after helping her

- Step 5: Write the narrative based on the outlined ideas

Exercise 3: Receiving an Unexpected Gift on Your Birthday or a Holiday

- The birthday party is full of family and friends, including parents, grandparents, and close friends...

- The room is beautifully decorated, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere (description).

- People give you lovely gifts, and you feel immense joy and gratitude towards them (description, emotion).

- The candles are lit, and you close your eyes to make a wish while the birthday song is sung.

- When you open your eyes, you see your brother, who has secretly come home to surprise you for your birthday.

- You are overwhelmed with emotion, shout in happiness (emotion), and rush to embrace him.

Practice Exercise

Exercise 1 (Page 84, Textbook, Literature 8, Vol. 1)

Assume the role of a teacher and write a paragraph describing the moment when Mr. Hạc comes to tell you he has sold his dog, conveying his emotional state of sorrow.

- Mr. Hạc often came to chat with me about his dog Cậu Vàng, and I knew he loved the dog as if it were his own child or grandchild, so I could never imagine him selling it. But this morning, when he came to my house, he quickly blurted out, "Cậu Vàng is gone, teacher!" He tried to put on a brave face, but his smile, which looked like it was about to turn into a grimace, made me feel deeply sorry for him. As we sat talking, he suddenly began to sob uncontrollably like a child. Mr. Hạc blamed himself and recounted in detail how he had sold the dog. He imagined Cậu Vàng accusing him of betraying it, and he tortured himself with the thought of "deceiving a dog." No matter how much I comforted him, he could not escape the sadness and pain of selling the dog he loved so dearly.

Exercise 2 (Page 84, Textbook, Literature 8, Vol. 1)

- Nam Cao’s passage skillfully combines descriptive and expressive elements in:

"He tried to appear cheerful, but his smile was more like a grimace, and his eyes were filled with tears. I wanted to embrace him and cry along with him."

"He sobbed and cried."

- The author’s use of both description and expression allows the reader to:

+ Vividly portray Mr. Hạc and capture the complex emotions he was experiencing.

+ Deeply feel the sorrow and self-recrimination of selling his beloved dog, Cậu Vàng.

+ Experience the emotional depth from both the character's and the narrator's perspectives.

I. From Events and Characters to Narrative Paragraphs with Descriptive and Expressive Elements.

Question 1 (Page 83, Vietnamese Literature 8, Volume 1):

- Step 1: Choose the main event

I help an elderly woman cross the street during a busy time with many vehicles on the road.

- Step 2: Choose the narrative perspective

The story is told from the first-person perspective, using 'I'.

- Step 3: Determine the sequence of events

+ How I met the elderly woman

+ How I helped her cross the street and our conversation

+ How we parted ways and how I felt

- Step 4: Identify descriptive and expressive elements

+ The elderly woman's appearance

+ The bustling street scene

+ The woman's nervousness and fear while crossing the street

+ My emotions when helping her

- Step 5: Write the paragraph

That afternoon, under the intense summer heat, after school, I hurried home with my books in hand. Just as I was nearing home, I noticed an elderly woman, her hair white as snow and her skin deeply wrinkled, standing by the roadside with a cane. Her face was tense, full of worry. She watched the busy crowd, her legs trembling as if she was about to cross. I quickly approached her and asked:

- Hello, grandmother. Why are you standing here?

The woman turned to me with a warm, kind gaze and replied:

- I want to cross the street, but the traffic is too heavy. I've been waiting for a long time, and no one has come to help me. I'm worried, and it's going to rain soon. If I don't cross now, I'll be home late.

Hearing her words and seeing her distress, I immediately decided to help. I gently took her hand and said:

- Please, let me help you cross the street.

Her face brightened, and she gratefully held my hand. We crossed the street together, the summer heat still intense. We walked hand in hand, occasionally smiling at each other. I felt a deep sense of joy and fulfillment in being able to help her.

Practice

Question 1 (Page 84, Vietnamese Literature 8, Volume 1):

When I saw the old man sitting at the table, he tried to appear cheerful. Then he immediately continued the conversation:

- Cậu Vàng is gone, Mr. Teacher.

I asked:

- Did you sell him?

The old man's face became sorrowful, and he said:

- Yes, they just took him away.

It turns out the old man had just sold Cậu Vàng, the dog he loved most. Unable to hide his emotions, his face contorted with grief, and tears began to flow. Then he started crying uncontrollably. I felt deeply sorry for him, but there was nothing I could do to help.

Question 2 (Page 84, Vietnamese Literature 8, Volume 1):

The passage from the short story 'Lão Hạc' by Nam Cao describes this moment:

"The next day, the old man came to my house... He sobbed..."

The passage combines both descriptive and expressive elements, depicting the old man's sorrow and pain when selling his dog, and his weeping.

The descriptive and expressive elements effectively illustrate the old man's gestures and the deep sorrow he felt when he had to sell his dog.

1. Constructing a Narrative Paragraph with Combined Description and Expression from Given Events and Characters

a) Choose one of the following events and characters to write a narrative paragraph that combines description and expression:

(1) I accidentally broke a beautiful vase.

(2) I helped an elderly person cross the street during a busy time with many vehicles.

(3) On my birthday (or during a holiday), I unexpectedly received a very interesting gift.

Suggestions:

Identify the event and character to narrate;
Choose the narrative perspective: first-person – 'I' or 'me';
Arrange the events in chronological order;
Determine the descriptive and expressive elements to include in the paragraph;
Write the paragraph.

2. As the teacher, write a paragraph describing the old man's sorrowful mood and face when he came to inform about selling his dog.

Suggestions: There is no need to replicate Nam Cao's exact wording. Use your own words but focus on portraying the old man's grief after selling his dog.

3. Analyze the combination of narration, description, and expression in the following excerpt:

"The next day, the old man came to my house. As soon as he saw me, he immediately said:

– Cậu Vàng has passed away, Mr. Teacher!

– Did you sell him?

– Yes, they just took him.

The old man tried to appear cheerful, but his smile looked more like a grimace, and his eyes filled with tears. I felt a strong urge to embrace him and cry with him. At that moment, I no longer cared about my five books. I felt only sympathy for the old man. I casually asked:

– Did he give in easily?

The old man's face suddenly twisted. His wrinkles seemed to merge, pushing tears from his eyes. His head tilted to one side, and his lips trembled like a child's. He cried uncontrollably…"

(Excerpt from 'Lão Hạc', Nam Cao)

Suggestions:

How is the old man's image portrayed?
How is the old man's grief after selling his dog expressed by the author?
How does the teacher respond?
How does the combination of description and expression in the narration create artistic effect?