Study Guide
Narrative Writing: Story Structure and Show, Don't Tell
Teaches Year 4 students the four parts of a narrative (orientation, complication, series of events, resolution) and the show-don't-tell…
- Difficulty
- Level 2 · Standard
- Time
- 15 min
Writing PromptYear 4Level 1 · Easier
Free Year 4 The Note in the Library Book — Narrative Writing
A mystery prompt: a handwritten note falls out of a library book, and it is addressed to you. Students plan a story with rising tension and a satisfying ending, with a focus on showing feelings through actions and using paragraphs for each stage of the story.
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- Year
- Year 4
- Subject
- English
- Topic
- Narrative Writing
- Difficulty
- Level 1 · Easier
- Estimated time
- 40 minutes
- Curriculum
- Australian Curriculum
- Questions
- 6
- Answers
- Included, with working
- Format
- PDF (A4) + print
Students will practise
- building tension towards a complication
- showing feelings through actions and dialogue
- using paragraphs to organise a story
- writing a resolution that answers the mystery
Curriculum: Australian Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.
What's next?
Completed: The Note in the Library Book — Narrative Writing
How to use this writing prompt
- Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
- Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
- Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
- Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.
Common questions
Who is this writing prompt for?
Year 4 students (typically ages 9–10) working on narrative writing. It is pitched at level 1 · easier.
Are the answers included?
Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.
How long does it take?
About 40 minutes for 6 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.
Do I need to sign up to download?
No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.
What should we do next?
Try An Australian Animal — Information Report.
Preview
Year 4 · English · Narrative Writing
The Note in the Library Book — Narrative Writing
Success Tutoring
Student name:
Date:
Plan for five minutes, write for thirty minutes, then spend five minutes editing.
The prompt
You borrow a book from the school library. When you open it at home, a folded piece of paper falls out. On it, in handwriting you do not recognise, is your name, and underneath: 'Meet me by the big gum tree at lunch tomorrow. Come alone. I know what you lost.'
Write a story about what happens next.
A good narrative has:
• An orientation that sets the scene and introduces the character.
• A complication that builds tension, with the character facing a problem or a choice.
• A resolution that answers the mystery and shows how the character has changed.
• Show, don't tell: show feelings through what characters do and say.
• Paragraphs for each new stage, place or speaker.
Plan
Spend five minutes planning. Short notes are fine.
1.Who is your main character, and what have they lost?
2.How does your character feel when they read the note? Show it with an action.
3.What happens at the gum tree? Who is there?
4.What is the complication or twist?
5.How does the story end?
Write
6.Write your story. Give it a title. Build the tension before the meeting, then give the reader a satisfying answer to the mystery.
Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.
More Year 4 narrative writing resources
Narrative Writing in other year levels
- The Door in the Tree — Narrative Writing
Writing Prompt · Year 3 · Narrative Writing · Level 1 · Easier
- Nobody Believed Me — Narrative Writing
Writing Prompt · Year 5 · Narrative Writing · Level 2 · Standard
- A Very Strange Pet — Story Writing
Writing Prompt · Year 2 · Narrative Writing · Getting started
- The Difficult Choice — Narrative Writing
Writing Prompt · Year 6 · Narrative Writing · Level 2 · Standard
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About this resource
- Created by
- Success Tutoring
- Last reviewed
- 1 October 2026
- How it was made
- Written by our team
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