Year 3 · English · Literacy
Narrative writing
Planning and writing a story with an orientation, a complication, a series of events and a resolution.
Awaiting educator review. This material was drafted by our content team with AI assistance and is waiting for review by a qualified educator. Please check it suits your child before using it. Created 10 October 2026.
Learning goals
Learners will
- Identify the orientation, complication and resolution in a short narrative.
- Plan a narrative using a simple story map.
- Write a short narrative that follows the plan.
Success looks like
- I can say who, where and when in my orientation.
- I can create a problem for my character.
- I can write an ending that solves the problem.
The big idea
A narrative is a story written to entertain. Most narratives follow a pattern that readers expect.
- Orientation: who the characters are, where they are and when the story happens.
- Complication: a problem that changes things.
- Events: what the characters do to try to fix the problem.
- Resolution: how the problem is solved and how the characters feel at the end.
Here is a short example. Orientation: Early one Saturday, Priya and her little brother Jack set off on a bushwalk with their dad. Complication: Halfway along the track, Jack realised his water bottle was missing. Events: They searched under ferns and behind rocks, and Priya retraced their steps to the lookout. Resolution: A park ranger walking up the track was carrying the bottle. 'Is this yours?' she asked, and Jack grinned with relief.
Plan before writing. A few words in each box of a story map is enough. Then write one or two paragraphs for each part.
A good complication matters to the character. Losing a water bottle on a hot bushwalk is a real problem; that makes readers want to find out what happens.
Worked examples
Labelling the parts
In the bushwalk story, which sentence is the complication?
- Look for where a problem appears.
- 'Halfway along the track, Jack realised his water bottle was missing.' This changes the story.
Answer: 'Halfway along the track, Jack realised his water bottle was missing.'
Planning a story
Plan a narrative about a lost pet.
- Orientation: Noah, his cat Pepper, a rainy afternoon at home.
- Complication: Pepper slips out of an open window.
- Events: Noah checks the garden, the shed and asks the neighbour.
- Resolution: Noah hears a meow from inside the neighbour's carport, where Pepper is sheltering from the rain.
Answer: A four-part plan ready to write as a story.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
What is the purpose of a narrative?
to entertain — Narratives are written mainly to entertain.
Which part of a narrative introduces the characters and setting?
the orientation — The orientation tells who, where and when.
In the bushwalk story, how is the problem solved?
A ranger finds the bottle. — The ranger carries the bottle up the track and returns it.
Which sentence would make the best complication?
Suddenly, the boat's motor stopped. — A motor stopping creates a problem for the characters.
Which of these belongs in an orientation?
Last summer, Zara visited her aunt's farm near Dubbo. — It tells us who, when and where.
What is the name for the part of a story where the problem is solved? Type one word.
resolution — The resolution solves the problem.
In the bushwalk story, Jack's water ____ was missing. Type the missing word.
bottle — 'Jack realised his water bottle was missing.'
What is the name for the problem in a story? Type one word.
complication — The complication is the problem the characters face.
Watch out for
- Writing 'and then… and then…' with no real problem. Every narrative needs a complication.
- Ending suddenly with 'It was all a dream' or 'Then I woke up'. Encourage resolutions where characters solve the problem themselves.
- Spending most of the story on the orientation. Keep the opening short and get to the problem.
Tips for parents
- Talk through the story map out loud before your child writes anything.
- Read the story aloud together afterwards; children often hear missing words or confusing parts.
- Focus feedback on one thing (for example, a stronger complication) rather than correcting everything.
Go further
- Retell a familiar fairy tale using the four-part story map.
- Write the same story from a different character's point of view.
- Record your child telling a story aloud, then use the recording to help them write it down.