 Share part of the author’s life with the reader Always about the author Hence “Personal Narrative”  Putting the reader inside of a story  It is a story There is no thesis

 Chronological  Flashback Moving between the present and past  Reflective Offers new insight into a past event

 Like creative nonfiction  The reader wants to see, hear, smell, feel and taste everything Avoid “to be” verbs Don’t interpret something for the reader  Explain something and let the reader decide for themselves

 Carefully construct your dialogue Make the conversations count OR  Have your dialogue create the characters Personalities Voices Word selection of the characters Active voice (not passive)

 This choice is CRUCIAL  Determines : Involvement of the narrator with the characters  Especially in the minds of the other characters Where you are in time (past or present) How much emotion is shown  The tone you set  Most personal narratives are 1 st person LIMITED point of view

 Sets up the “feeling” that your reader will develop  Look at the story you are giving The tone should fit the subject matter  How do you want your reader to feel once they are done?

 The Diary of Anne Frank  Three Cups of Tea  Owl Moon  Into Thin Air  The Glass Castle