Identify the author's writing style. Look for distinguishing characteristics that the author uses, for example highly descriptive paragraphs, telling the story in first person or writing dialogue to reflect regional accents. Ask yourself if those qualities added to the story or if they took away from the reading.
Compare the author's writing to works of similar authors. For example, if you're studying George Orwell's novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four," compare Orwell's narrative style to that of his contemporaries who wrote comparable books, such as Ray Bradbury and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Ask yourself if the author's writing sticks to the conventions used by other authors or if the narrative style is unique.
Think about what the author is trying to accomplish with his writing. Did he succeed in effectively telling the story or could it have been told in a way that would have been more effective? Were there sections that confused you or did the style or writing draw you in and keep you interested? Keep in mind that your reaction to the work will influence your analysis and evaluation of the narrative style.