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What Is The Difference Between Narrative, Opinion, and Informational Writing?

 You may be scratching your head when it comes to all the different kinds of writing types you are responsible for teaching to your students, narrative, opinion, informational… Look no further! Keep reading to clear the air.

What is the difference between narrative, opinion, and informational writing? Read this post to get an easy-to-understand explanation & tips!

what is the difference between narrative, opinion, and informational writing?

What is the Difference Between Narrative, Opinion, and Informational Writing?

Narrative Writing

Narrative writing, in its simplest form, is storytelling. It can be fictional or nonfiction. Narrative pieces contain characters, a setting, and a conflict. They are meant to entertain the readers and share a tale.

There are two kinds of narrative writing pieces that you will have to teach your students, personal and fictional.

kindergarten narrative writing prompts worksheets
first grade narrative writing prompts worksheets
second grade narrative writing prompts worksheets
third grade narrative writing prompts worksheets
fourth grade narrative writing prompts worksheets
fifth grade narrative writing prompts worksheets

Click here to check out my narrative writing prompts.

A fictional narrative is a story that comes from your imagination. Many students will love writing fictional stories because it allows them to let their creativity flow, and they can be silly. Example: The Day the Cat Jumped Out the Window or The Monster That Lives In My Closet.

A personal narrative is a story that has happened in your life. I find that these kinds of pieces are simpler for children to write because they just have to tell you about something that has happened to them. Example: Tell me about your winter break, tell me about what you did on the weekend, etc.

what is narrative writing?

Opinion Writing

Opinion writing is when students must support an opinion they have about a topic. I think opinion pieces are a great way to get to know your student’s likes and dislikes. Some will be very passionate about things, while other students will be calmer and more reserved.

I personally believe that opinion pieces are a great way to introduce writing to students since they all have opinions about things. Don’t overthink your prompts; simple ones like, ‘Do you like cats or dogs better?’, ‘Cake or cookies?’, ‘Markers or crayons?’.

Students share their opinion and then provide reasons to support it (for example, they will share a few reasons why they think cats are better than dogs).

kindergarten opinion writing prompts worksheets
first grade opinion writing prompts worksheets
second grade opinion writing prompts worksheets
third grade opinion writing prompts worksheets
fourth grade opinion writing prompts worksheets
fifth grade opinion writing prompts worksheets

Click here to check out my opinion writing prompts.

Informational Writing

Informational writing is factual and aims to inform or explain something to the reader.

Students can have trouble with informational writing pieces because they may feel that they don’t know enough information about a subject to write a whole paper about it. Or at that moment, they can’t think of something to share about.

kindergarten informational writing prompts worksheets
first grade informational writing prompts worksheets
second grade informational writing prompts worksheets
third grade informational writing prompts worksheets
fourth grade informational writing prompts worksheets
fifth grade informational writing prompts worksheets

Click here to check out my informational writing prompts!

Informational writing pieces are often about things like animals, countries, cultures, or events. Students can also write about weather, sports, people, and places. Scientific or geographic topics often feature (for example, students write about plants or the ocean).

Sometimes students might just share facts that they know, but most often they need to research the topic and present the facts.

what is informational writing?

Similarities & Differences between Narrative, Opinion, and Informational Writings

Similarities & Differences

  • narrative and opinion pieces share information from your students, while informational works are facts about a topic
  • narrative writing has characters, a plot, a setting, and a conflict, while opinion and information do not
  • opinion and informational pieces do not allow the students to use their imagination, while narratives are a great tool to expand imaginations
  • all the writing types are wonderful tools to see into your student’s lives and get to know them better
What is the Difference Between Narrative, Opinion, and Informational Writing?

Writing Features of Narrative, Opinion, and Informational Writing

Narrative

Narrative writings may contain all or some of the following features.

  • characters
  • setting
  • plot
  • conflict
  • resolution
  • point of view
  • theme

Opinion

Opinion pieces may contain all or some of the following features.

  • introduction
  • stated opinion
  • facts/reasons to support the opinion
  • conclusion

Informational

Informational works may contain all or some of the following features.

  • clear topic or theme
  • introduction
  • descriptions or details about the topic
  • pictures
  • conclusion
writing genres - informative writing, personal narratives, fictional narratives, opinion pieces, and information writing

Examples

Narrative

Some great mentor texts of narrative writings

  • Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
  • When Father Comes Home by Sarah Jung
  • Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
  • Ralph Tells a Story by Abby Hanlon
  • Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee

Check out more mentor texts for personal narratives here and fictional narratives here.

fictional narratives mentor texts read alouds storybooks picture books 3rd grade
Personal Narrative Mentor Texts

Opinion

Some good options for mentor texts for opinion writing are

  • I Love Insects by Lizzy Rockwell
  • Don’t Feed the Bear by Kathleen Doherty
  • The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan
  • Be Glad Your Dad Is Not an Octopus by Matthew Logelin
  • The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

Check out more mentor texts for opinion writing here!

Opinion Writing Mentor Texts

Informational

These are some mentor texts that are great options for informational writing

  • Hurricanes by Gail Gibbons
  • Milk: From Cow to Carton by Aliki
  • A Frog’s Life by Irene Kelly
  • Teeth by Sneed B. Collard
  • The Reason for a Flower by Ruth Heller

Stay tuned for a list of my favorite informational mentor texts.

Resources

You may be overwhelmed with all this information and wondering how you are going to teach all these writing genres in one year! Relax! I have created tons of writing resources for kindergarten through fifth grade!

Check out my free resources here!

Click the pictures to see my writing prompts bundles to get everything you need for a whole year of writing!

Kindergarten Writing Prompts Bundle
1st Grade Writing Prompts Bundle
2nd Grade Writing Prompts Bundle
3rd Grade Writing Prompts Bundle

Have a terrific day,

P.S. If you need some Informational Writing Prompts for kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade, fourth grade, or fifth grade, check out my post here!

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Hi, my name is Alex! I love creating fun, colorful, and engaging resources for the early years. I’ve taught 3rd and 1st grade and I’m passionate about creating interactive activities that engage all learners Read More…

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If you’re looking for a cute writing craft, thes If you’re looking for a cute writing craft, these snow globe narrative writing prompts are perfect for bulletin boards and writing centers! ❄️ 

Comment below or message me if you’d like the link! I’ll also add a link to my bio and stories 🙂

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Bump is coming along 😬 I know this isn’t te Bump is coming along 😬 

I know this isn’t teaching or tpt related in anyway, but so many of you have been through this.

Any tips for 3rd trimester? Things to pack in hospital bag? Must buy things for baby? I’ve heard I should do batch cooking. 

Should I just try to enjoy my sleep while I can? 😂

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Just an FYI! Revising involves making major change Just an FYI! Revising involves making major changes to the content and editing is more sentence level changes.

For example, you might ask your students to edit their writing by checking for spelling and punctuation errors.

But for revision, they might add or remove ideas to their writing.

I hope you enjoy these writing tips! Double tap if you do 💗

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You can grab these for free at the link in my bio! You can grab these for free at the link in my bio! Or you can comment below or message me if you like the link 🙂

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I’ve been so quiet on this account lately! So ju I’ve been so quiet on this account lately! So just popping in to say hi 👋🏻 

Had my baby shower yesterday and it was great fun 👶🏻🎉

I’m having a girl in Feb and apparently unicorns is the theme for everything so I hope she likes it 😂

I’m 30 weeks this week and need to pack my hospital bag soon. Definitely give me any tips for things I’ll need! 

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If so, it’s important to start doing some lesson If so, it’s important to start doing some lessons where you explicitly teach sentence structure! 

I remember teaching writing in my first year. I was teaching 3rd grade and it just never occurred to me that I need to explicitly teach students how to write a proper sentence.

But after seeing their first writing piece, I was shocked!

Do your students struggle with this too?

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Cute craft idea for December! (If you’re allowed Cute craft idea for December! (If you’re allowed to do Christmas themed activities in your school).

Just grab white, red, and skin colored paper that you have in beige/brown etc. and let the students create their own Santa!

With younger students, you could cut some strips of white paper out or red triangles to help them. 

For older students, they could do it on their own! 

All the cutting and gluing is great for fine motor and I think this would make a pretty cute bulletin board! 

You could also make this craft more educational by having students write math facts or words on the beard strips!

Save this post so you don’t forget to try it 🙂

#christmascrafts #christmascraft #christmascraftsforkids #lettertosanta #santaletters #xmascrafts #xmascraft #writingprompts #writingteachers #writingteacher #writingworkshop #writingworkshops #writersworkshop #writinglessons #writinglesson #writingcenter #writingcenters #writingforkids #writingactivity #writingactivities #iteachwriting  #firstgradewriting #secondgradewriting #thirdgradewriting #literacycenters #literacycenter  #literacylearning #elateacher #elateachers #iteachela
Are you looking for a cute bulletin board or door Are you looking for a cute bulletin board or door decor idea for December? This letter to Santa writing craft is super cute and  fun for students to complete! 

The best news? It’s 25% off at the moment! 

There’s a link in my bio 🙂

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Freebie Alert! I’m offering these cute sentenc Freebie Alert! 

I’m offering these cute sentence building worksheets for free, so grab them at the link in my bio 🙂

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Unfollow the people who are making you feel bad! 📱

I mentioned this in my weekly email this week. It’s sooo depressing when you log on to social media and fall into the comparison trap with other sellers.

Honestly for me right now, it’s teacher IG influencers (like one who has a baby similar in age to mine and her life looks so glamorous all the time and I’m just sitting there wearing spit up and feeling less than)!

How to stop the comparison game is something that Maddy @livingnsunshine and I discuss this week on The Terrific Teacherpreneur podcast🎙

I really think that unfollowing people who make you feel bad is so important for your mental health. But also your business mindset.

If you’re always comparing yourself to other sellers, you’re less likely to thrive as a TPT seller because you’ll always be doubting yourself and holding yourself back 🥲

So I challenge you to unfollow someone this week! Comment below with an emoji when you’ve done it 👍🏻

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Just a reminder not to take on too many things! Just a reminder not to take on too many things! 

It’s tempting to do ‘all the things’ when it comes to TPT and marketing and it leads to burnout fast 🔥 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, step back from a few things.

Let me know in the comments if you’re feeling this way at the moment and what you plan on stepping back from!

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Hot pink is my brand! Right? I bet you recognize m Hot pink is my brand! Right? I bet you recognize my posts as mine straight away when you see them on here.

Anyways, when it comes to making your brand stand out… 
Consistency is key!

It’s important to use the same fonts, colors, style of photos/mock-ups, layouts, or clip art.

That way, when your new resource is released to followers or you post something on social media, people instantly know it’s you!

It’s also important to ensure that your branding is eye catching, cohesive (and make sure your colors complement each other)!

This week on the podcast, Caileigh from @thedenniscrew joins me again and we chat about branding. Be sure to check it out 🙌🏻

Tell me below, what are your brand colors?

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Make 👏🏻 A 👏🏻 Great 👏🏻 Cover 👏 Make 👏🏻 A 👏🏻 Great 👏🏻 Cover 👏🏻

Your cover on TpT is so important when it comes to getting views and therefore securing sales.

I’m pretty passionate about the importance of a good cover and that’s why I’ve been sharing tips about them in my weekly emails and it was discussed a lot last week on the podcast with @thedenniscrew (thanks for joining me caileigh)!

👏🏻 Remember to have a big, bold, easy to read title.

👏🏻 Show the product through photography, mock-ups or screenshots.

Tell me in the comments, do you enjoy making covers or is it something you dread? 

P.S. You can sign up for my weekly emails through the link in my bio! You can grab my free Pinterest cheat sheet, prioritizing tasks doc, or email definitions guide. 

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Sometimes we chase new followers instead of nurtur Sometimes we chase new followers instead of nurturing the ones we already have. 

Sometimes we fixate on how many likes, comments, saves, and shares we have, instead of appreciating that a human somewhere took the time to do them.

Sometimes we make a half hearted attempt at sharing in stories or answering messages, because we’re obsessing over hashtags or impressions.

Sometimes we get so caught up in inauthentic engagement that we barely appreciate or notice when someone genuinely engages.

This is just a reminder that this is a social platform! It’s an amazing place for you to connect with other teachers, make friends, and build relationships! If you can sell some of your products along the way, that’s an awesome bonus. 

But don’t forget to relax and enjoy the amazing connections you can make on this platform.

Instagram is like a party! Sit back and chat with some new friends instead of throwing your business cards at people 🙌🏻

Relationships over reach. 🙌🏻 
Not only is this more fun, it will probably actually help you grow more. 

Connecting with your existing followers in a genuine way will help you grow more than chasing the next fake follower.

I heard the other day that not being authentic is one of the leading reasons people unfollow others.

So let’s work on this 💗

I know I need to hear this sometimes. Do you? 

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One month of sleep deprivation, endless diaper cha One month of sleep deprivation, endless diaper changes, and trying to figure out breastfeeding. 😴🤯😭

But also one month of newborn snuggles and falling in love with little Lily. 💗

Thanks for your patience when it comes to my diminished presence on here and thanks to everyone who has messaged helpful parenting tips.

As each day goes by I feel less overwhelmed and more myself and I can slowly see myself getting back to TPT stuff eventually. But I am enjoying the break honestly.

Running a business can be so all consuming and it’s important to take a break sometimes. I’m also learning it’s important to prioritize family.

I love how TPT is passive and I can make money in my sleep (or at times when a normal person would be sleeping 😅) so I’m trying to soak up the precious time while Lily is small.

Sorry for the long caption! Just wanted to share my thoughts for today 🙂

(Psst! Took like a million photos before I got one that didn’t include crying or a bow that fell in her eyes 😂 I’m baffled at how these people get such glamorous baby pics here on the gram and act like it’s effortless 😂)

Also fun fact I look AWFUL these days and that’s why you won’t see my face much on stories 😂 who has time for hair brushing?
I love using storytelling to start my emails. I th I love using storytelling to start my emails. I think it’s a great way to connect with my audience and let them get to know me 🙌🏻

Did you catch this week’s podcast episode? I chat to Melissa @notanotherva about email marketing and we discuss welcome sequences, email content, and making your list profitable.

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Just a reminder that TPT has emphasized the import Just a reminder that TPT has emphasized the importance of PDF previews so many times!

Two thirds of buyers won’t purchase a product if there’s no preview. That’s a lot of missed sales if 2/3 people who visit your listings leave because you don’t have a preview. 😱

It’s so hard to get products seen. Whether that’s because of ranking, an oversaturated market, or how tricky marketing is. When you finally get a buyer on your listing, you want them to buy! 

So a great question to ask yourself is - do all of your resources have previews? If not, make this a long term project at the top of your to-do list this quarter or this year.

Tell me in the comments, do you need to get to work and make some previews? 😅

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The scary truth is this…it’s probably the only The scary truth is this…it’s probably the only secure thing in your business that you own! 

With the exception of having a blog/website, so much of our marketing is done on rented land (for example, social media).

We don’t own these platforms and so they come with a bit of risk. Your account could be deleted, an algorithm could change etc

With the tpt algorithm debacle, my email list has become an even more precious asset in my business. 

This week’s podcast episode is all about this topic so be sure to check it out!

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about email marketing 🙂

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