Writing a narrative essay

What is a narrative essay? Tells a story Comes from personal experience Written to give a lesson or a moral

Includes Imagery – sight, sound, taste, touch, smell Characters – Dialogue Setting Beginning, middle, end Conflict Feelings / Emotions Lesson or Moral (Purpose)

Prompts Write about a time when you faced a challenge, including how you dealt with the challenge and what the outcome was. Write about a time when you taught something to someone. Write about an event in your life that taught you an important lesson.

Step 1 - Brainstorming Brainstorm several ideas for each prompt Don’t choose the easiest to write Choose the one that will be the best story

Step 2 – Meditation Prewriting Write down as much about the event as you can remember. Describe the setting and characters with as much sensory detail as possible (imagery). Include dialogue when appropriate. You do not have to remember it word-for-word. Make up what you don’t remember.

Step 3 – Formatting the Introduction Attention Grabber (1-2 sentences) Information about the topic (2-3 sentences) Explanation of the topic OR Background information Thesis Statement (1 sentence) Moral or lesson

Attention Grabber An interesting fact A quote from a famous person or from someone you know A funny anecdote A sensory rich description

Attention Grabber - NOTS Do not begin your narrative essay with: A generic statement or question Jumping into the story – This is NOT a short story! Hello, my name is __________, and I am going to tell you about… This is an essay about the time I… I am going to write about… Let me tell you about…

Attention Grabber Modeling: “All liars will have their part in the lake of fire,” hissed my Aunt Renee as she stuck her finger in my face, her long red fingernail just under my nose. I stood there, terrified to move, terrified to admit the truth.

Information About the Topic Provide the background information the reader will need to understand the story: Who are the major characters? When and where is it taking place? Include sensory details to help the reader visualize what happened. Don’t give away too much of the story.

Introduction to the Topic Modeling: I grew up in a large extended family. My aunts and uncles were surrogate parents when mine weren’t around. My mother’s sister was my second mom. When I was six years old, my Aunt Renee lined up the six kids present: three of hers, my two brothers, and myself. I had a choice: lie and go to Hell or tell the truth and face the consequences.

Thesis Statement Last sentence in your introduction paragraph Statement of purpose Tells your reader WHY you are writing this essay. Sets up the format for the essay Sequential OR Reasoning

Thesis Statement Modeling: I learned an important lesson that day, and I am reminded of it every time I am tempted to lie to get out of trouble.

Complete Introduction Modeling: “All liars will have their part in the lake of fire,” hissed my Aunt Renee as she stuck her finger in my face, her long red fingernail just under my nose. I stood there, terrified to move, terrified to admit the truth. I grew up in a large extended family. My aunts and uncles were surrogate parents when mine weren’t around, and my mother’s sister was my second mom. When I was six years old, my Aunt Renee lined up the six kids present: three of hers, my two brothers, and myself. I had a choice: lie and go to Hell or tell the truth and face the consequences. I learned an important lesson that day, and I am reminded of it every time I am tempted to lie to get out of trouble.

Step 4 – Writing Body Paragraphs Minimum of 3 paragraphs Tell about the event in the order in which it happened (chronological) Give vivid descriptions, using sensory details (imagery) May include dialogue Make sure you include conflict – this is what makes a good story.

Body Paragraphs Modeling: I grew up with all brothers. Although I didn’t consider myself a tomboy, I wanted to do everything they got to do. My parents weren’t into the feminist movement, and girls weren’t supposed to ride dirt bikes, shoot guns, or play cowboys and Indians. The girls in my family were given quiet things with which to play, like tea sets, dolls, and art sets, while the boys had fun with loud toys, like pop guns, lassos, and bows and arrows. I wanted the boys’ toys.

Body Paragraphs Modeling: One Saturday afternoon, I was staying with my two cousins, playing Barbies quietly. My brothers and my other cousin Skip were having fun with their new pop guns outside. I was jealous. I loved the loud noises and the mini-explosions they made. My aunt had gone to the store, and we were left to our own devices for at least an hour.

Body Paragraphs Modeling: In those days, caps came on a paper roll, about twenty per roll. To shoot off caps without a cap gun, one must hit the cap with something hard on a hard surface. While the boys were inside getting a snack, I snuck outside and stole a roll of caps. While swiping the roll, I picked up a sharp rock.

Body Paragraphs Modeling: Now, I need to say my aunt Renee loved the nicer things in life. She had an entire room in her house where no one was allowed to step foot. It was filled with the “good” furniture and was always spotless. This would be the perfect spot to hide, or so I thought.

Body Paragraphs Modeling: I made my way to the “good” living room and settled in for some tomboy fun. Keep in mind, I was six years old. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I didn’t realize I could cause real damage. I set about popping the caps with the sharp rock on Aunt Renee’s NEW cherry wood coffee table. My heart thumped with each tiny explosion, and I was fixated on the little fireworks display that came each time I hit the rock on the roll.

Body Paragraphs Modeling: After my shenanigans, I thought I’d better get back to the Barbies before my cousins realized I’d been gone. I was thrilled with myself; after all, I had pulled one over on the boys. Later that day, I found out I had not pulled one over on Aunt Renee.

Body Paragraphs Modeling: She lined us up in the good living room, right in front of the evidence I had left on the coffee table. The spot glared at me, all charred and scarred up, hurt by my silence. “Who is responsible for this?” she asked as she walked slowly up the line, looking into each child’s eyes for evidence of a lie. No one would fess up. Please let her blame one of the boys, I begged God, knowing He wouldn’t support me.

Body Paragraphs Modeling: Tears welled up in my eyes and threated to spill out. I could feel the blood rushing up my chest and into my cheeks. I knew she knew. I had to make a choice. I had done something horribly wrong that had made a permanent mark. Would God forgive me if I told a lie? Would Renee forgive me if I told the truth? I knew the punishment for lying. I wasn’t sure of the punishment for admitting my crime.

Step 5 – Writing the Conclusion State the lesson learned State how this lesson has impacted your life today Answer the question “So what?”

Step 5 – Writing the Conclusion Be focused – You do not need a full paragraph. Three or four sentences is enough. Do not say “In conclusion…” This is your last impression – make it a good one.

Conclusion Modeling: I lied. I was six years old, and I was more afraid of my aunt Renee than I was of God or Hell in that moment. I was six years old, but I still remember that moment like it happened this morning. I was six years old, but I still feel guilty for my lie. To this day, whenever I feel tempted to lie to get out of trouble, I remember that moment, and I remember that it’s better to tell the truth and accept the consequences than to live with the guilt for the rest of my life.