Building Tension in Narrative Writing Made Simple

Plot tension is a crucial element of any compelling story. It makes readers feel curious, nervous or excited as they wait to see what comes next in the story, and how this will affect the characters they have become connected to. Understanding narrative tension is essential for both reading comprehension and creative writing, which is why it needs to be explicitly taught to our students.

This comprehensive 16-slide teaching presentation has been created by our team to introduce your students to the different strategies authors use to build narrative tension. Inside, you’ll find eight proven techniques authors use to build suspense, explained in clear, student-friendly language and accompanied by age-appropriate examples. The techniques featured in the slide deck include:

• The setting
• Conflict
• Time pressure
• High stakes 
• Foreshadowing
• Pacing
• Withholding information
• Unexpected twists

By engaging with this resource, your students will learn tips and tricks for building tension in narrative writing. The resource also contains review activities to help students revise what they have learned throughout the presentation.

How Understanding Narrative Tension Builds Stronger Readers and Writers

This resource will teach your students about the role narrative tension plays in storytelling. By working through this activity, students will start thinking more like authors and start reading like critics. Here are some of the skills they will acquire by engaging with this resource:

• Understanding Author Intent – Students will learn why narrative tension matters and how it shapes a reader’s experience.
• Identifying Techniques in Texts – Students will learn how to recognize tension-building strategies in stories they read, improving comprehension.
• Applying Techniques in Writing – Students will practice using the eight different methods of building narrative tension to make their stories more compelling.

Download This Narrative Tension Presentation

This narrative tension presentation is available in both Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides formats. Use the dropdown menu on the Download button to access your preferred version. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides presentation before accessing it.)

You now have everything you need to deliver a high-quality lesson about building narrative tension with minimal preparation time!

This resource was created by Kaylyn Chupp, a teacher in Florida and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Resources for Teaching Narrative Tension

Looking for more time-saving materials to use when exploring narrative structure and plot tension with your students? Click below to browse more curriculum-aligned, teacher-created resources from the Teach Starter team.

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Narrative Tension – Text Analysis Worksheets

Teach narrative tension with this set of three worksheets designed to help students explore how authors build suspense and keep readers hooked.

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Narrative Mood Teaching Slides

Explore narrative mood with this interactive presentation that helps students understand what mood is, why it matters and how to create it in their own writing.

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Adapt a Short Story – Change the Complication

Explore the role the complication of a story plays within narrative structure with this engaging and fully scaffolded writing project booklet.