Narrative Essays Storytelling with a Point

What Does “Narrative” Mean?  When we tell a story or write a story, we are engaging in narrative communication.  Examples include a short story, novel, relating something that happened during the day, reporting a news event, etc.  A narrative essay may be required in history to tell about a battle, in science to relate how a study was done, or in English to tell about how you came to this country or your journey in learning English.

Narrative Paragraphs  Sometimes you may just have to write a narrative paragraph.  Narrative paragraphs tell a story, and the point of the story or the purpose in telling the story is given in the topic sentence (typically the first sentence of the paragraph).  Often the topic sentence will announce the paragraph and give what is interesting or important about the story.

Typical Topic Sentences for a Narrative Paragraph  When I first stepped off the plane at the New York airport, little did I know that my life would change forever.  I went into my marriage with some preconceived ideas about how it would be, but I could not have been more wrong.  My friend Janet learned she had cancer when she was 16, and that revelation has changed the way she lives in so many ways.

Narrative Essays  A narrative essay has a point, like a narrative paragraph, but it is told in the thesis sentence with an attitude.  Like all thesis sentences for beginning college writers, you will have an essay map that tells the subtopics you will be developing in the rest of the essay.  The first subtopic is your first body paragraph, the second subtopic is your second body paragraph, and the third subtopic is your third body paragraph.

Sample Thesis Sentences I went to Europe to study seeking a big party, but when I came home I had gained a new understanding of myself, a renewed interest in my career choice, and a deeper cultural awareness about others. My first holiday in the United States, Thanksgiving, taught me the meaning of friendship, led me to be grateful for my blessings, and helped me see that I can make a home here. Notice that both of these thesis sentences have three points that will be further explained in the essay.

Descriptive vs. Narrative Essays  Main idea is to describe a setting or event so you feel as if you are there.  Uses descriptive words to make you feel as if you were there.  Often uses transitions that indicate where subjects are.  Often uses evaluation in the conclusion  Main idea is to retell a story or about a event  Uses descriptive words to create “atmosphere.”  Often uses time/order transitions  Often uses predictions, lesson learned, and warnings in the conclusion.

Reporter’s Questions  Reporters for television stations, newspapers, and the internet often ask six questions to make sure they have the full story. You should also do this when writing the narrative paragraph or essay.  The questions are “who, what, when, where, why, and how.”