An Example of Narrative Text

Text organisation		Language features
Orientation	John slumped in the armchair, his arms crossed and his face with with a gloomy frown. He was a new kid in town, but no-one knew he was even there. John didn’t like anybody and they didn’t like him. All day he sat in the armchair, staring out the window.	who? where? mental process action verb
Complication	Through the window he saw a gigantic hollow tree in vacant lot. The tree seemed to call him. He stood slowly up, then started to walk towards the tree. Its branches were very thin and its roots dug into the ground like claws. The tree had thorns all over it. John tried to turn away from the tree but he couldn’t. A mysterious force was pulling him into the hollow.	linking words specific participants
Resolution	John never reappeared ... but no-one noticed or cared.

(Adapted from Derewianka, 1990)