Narrative Writing Toolkit | Success Criteria, Exemplar PPT & Handout | Y7–9

This engaging and practical narrative writing bundle is designed to make success visible and explicit for students across the entire writing process. Using Success Criteria Checkpoint Cards, an A-exemplar Model PPT, and a student-facing exemplar handout, this resource supports students to understand what quality writing looks like, why it works, and how to apply it to their own narratives.

The structured checkpoints provide clear learning expectations and promote strong student ownership of writing. Lyn Sharratt highlights the power of success criteria, stating that “When students can see and articulate what they are learning, achievement soars” (Sharratt, 2019). By making narrative writing transparent and purposeful, students are empowered to set goals, monitor progress, and refine their work with intent.

The Narrative Writing Exemplar Model PPT and student handout work together to support explicit teaching through the Gradual Release Model (GRM). Teachers can model and deconstruct high-quality writing, before students actively apply the success criteria directly onto the exemplar text — bridging the gap between seeing quality and creating it independently.

What’s included in this resource?

1. Exemplar Narrative Model PPT
A high-quality, levelled A-exemplar narrative designed for whole-class modelling, guided analysis, and explicit teaching.

2. Student Exemplar Handout
A student-friendly version of the A-exemplar narrative that allows learners to highlight, annotate, and apply the success criteria directly to the text, strengthening assessment literacy and transfer to their own writing.

3. Success Criteria Checkpoint Cards

✅ Sizzling Start – Engaging the reader from the first sentence

✅ Complication – Building tension and conflict

✅ Turning Point – A shift in action that captivates the audience

✅ Exciting Ending – Creating a cliff-hanger, or resolution

How can this resource be used?

• Independent Writing Checklist – Students use checkpoint cards to self-assess and refine drafts
• Exemplar Deconstruction – Model and unpack success criteria using the PPT and handout through GRM
• Learning Wall / Flip Chart – Display success criteria or create an interactive flip chart
• Application Tool – Students actively highlight and annotate success criteria within the exemplar text
• Peer & Teacher Feedback – Supports targeted feedback and structured reflection

Why will teachers & students love this resource?

✅ Takes the guesswork out of narrative writing
✅ Saves planning time with ready-to-use, high-impact resources
✅ Builds assessment literacy by making quality visible and concrete
✅ Empowers student ownership through goal-setting and self-monitoring
✅ Flexible and versatile for modelling, guided practice, independent writing, and feedback.

Curriculum Alignment | Years 7–9 | ACARA v9.0

This resource directly supports key Australian Curriculum v9.0 English outcomes:

• Text Structure & Organisation
  (AC9E7LA03, AC9E8LA03, AC9E9LA03)
• Language Features
  (AC9E7LA05, AC9E8LA05, AC9E9LA05)
• Creating Texts
  (AC9E7LY06, AC9E8LY06, AC9E9LY06)
• Editing & Refining
  (AC9E7LY05, AC9E8LY05, AC9E9LY05)