Indenting a Narrative
7TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS
4 Basic Rules for Indentation
#1. Time Moving Forward
Straightaway, my vehicle’s headlights came to life. The auto-drive system carefully reversed the patrol car and eagerly sped me toward the domestic disturbance. � Before long, my patrol car had arrived at the front gates of the Hadley home.
#2. Creating Suspense/Emphasis
I quickly stood and turned around, trying to find the source of the evil-maniacal laughter. My sense of sight was subdued by the darkness, but I could certainly feel . . . something. � Something wicked and very dangerous. � “Show yourself!” I ordered. “I’m an officer for the Omaha Police Department, and this is no joking matter!”� I nervously awaited a response.
Silence.
#3. Dialogue (External & Internal)
The boy was still there, staring at me with his hollow eyes. He hungrily licked his lips and gazed at my stun gun. A knowing smirk began to form on his evil face.
“Disarm him,” the boy calmly ordered.
What the . . . Who?
Before I could even figure out who or what he was talking to, a ball of electric blue light came barreling right toward me from the ceiling above. I didn’t even have time to react.
#4. Change in Setting
Finally! An open room! I screamed in my mind. That must be the location of the hyperbaric chamber! I said to myself as I blindly ran toward the open doorway.� Lunging inside, I took a moment to wipe my brow with the back of my hand. I glanced at my surroundings and the first thing I noticed was the room’s shape: an octagon. Oddly, the walls didn’t seem to be walls at all. They were eight enormous crystalized plasma screens; each one glossy white and yearning to be activated with the swipe of a finger.