Narrative essay writing is the focus of a series of exercises that model for learners how to not only read a narrative, but how to also examine the techniques fiction writers use to create a setting, develop their characters, represent action, and establish a theme. Class members listen to examples from Grapes of Wrath, Tillie Olsen’s “I Stand Here Ironing,” and Marcus Zusak’s The Book Thief, and then respond to question about the selections. Step-by-step directions for the various activities, discussion questions, and a resource list are included in the richly detailed plan.