The Narrative Styles of Normal First and Third Grade Children

The present study assessed the oral narrative abilities of normal first and third grade children. Narratives were assessed using Applebee's (1978) system for the development of story organization. The narratives were also examined for the specific components used within the stories themselves. Findings revealed different developmental levels of narrative structure and a differentiation in the specific components within the story episodes between the groups of subjects. These findings are discussed relative to the need for establishing a data base on normal children as a precursor to assessing the stories of children with language-learning problems.