Personal Narrative Important Elements D. Mock © Davis School District Farmington, UT 2011

Personal Narrative A personal narrative is a form of writing that sheds light on a true story from your life. D. Mock © Davis School District Farmington, UT 2011 Dave Kemper, Sebranek, Meyer: Write Source, A Book For Writing, Thinking, And Learning, 2006 (Houghton Mifflin) Mass: 87

Forms of Personal Narrative Throughout life we need to share experiences with others. Here are some ways that personal narratives are shared: books, newspapers, and songs. (Brainstorm as a class other ways that personal narratives are told or written.) D. Mock © Davis School District Farmington, UT 2011

Objective Today we will learn the important elements that make up a personal narrative. Today we will learn the important elements that make up a personal narrative. This is important because knowing the important elements will help you understand the narratives that you read and will help you write your own well-constructed personal narratives. D. Mock © Davis School District Farmington, UT 2011

Important Elements Setting Characters Situation (may or may not include a problem) Events Resolution Just like in imaginative narratives (make-believe stories), the important elements are characters, setting, situation that sometimes includes a problem, events, and solution, but the story is about something that actually happened in your life. The situation is usually something funny, important, unforgettable, or sometimes emotional that has happened. Tell a story to your class about a personal experience you’ve had. As you tell the story, stop and identify each of the elements (on the slide) as they occur in your story. D. Mock © Davis School District Farmington, UT 2011

Personal Narrative Click on book cover to open This is a reading from the Screen Actors Guild. You do not need the actual book. If you have the book you can choose to read the book to your class or have the reader read it to your class. The link has illustrations. When authors write personal narratives, they think about things that were funny, important, unforgettable and sometimes emotional in life. In this story we will hear from a little girl that lived when African Americans were not treated the same as White people. We will listen to the story through the eyes of a little girl as she realizes how unjust her world really is. Be ready to help me identify the important elements after you hear the story. What are the important elements? (Students chant the important elements while counting on one hand.) Listen to White Socks Only. Click on the picture of the girl to connect to the website to hear and see the story. Click on book cover to open D. Mock © Davis School District Farmington, UT 2011

In the personal narrative, White Socks, a child shares an unforgettable memory of …… Now help me identify the important elements in this personal narrative. Fill in the graphic organizer (under the document camera) with the students’ help before going on to next slide. D. Mock © Davis School District Farmington, UT 2011

Personal Narratives Remember personal narratives are about different kinds of situations Funny Important Unforgettable Emotional that really happened Remember personal narratives are about different kinds of situations that really happened. They can be about situations that are funny, important, unforgettable, or emotional. They frequently involve some sort of problem or challenge to overcome. D. Mock © Davis School District Farmington, UT 2011

Gathering Ideas Think of stories you have read and think of things that have been similar to your life Listen to others’ stories and connect them to your own life Think of situations from your life and events that have made an impact on you You will be writing personal narratives. Where do authors (and students) get their ideas? D. Mock © Davis School District Farmington, UT 2011

Make a List Funny Important Emotional Unforgettable Think of your own life. What has happened to you that was funny, important, unforgettable, or emotional? (Give a few examples of school related things that will help get the students thinking.) Fold your paper in fourths and label each column. As you are getting your paper ready, start thinking about what has happened to you that could go in any of the columns. (When students are ready, have them make their lists for about 5 minutes. Remind students that they will be sharing their lists, so they should not put anything too personal. You may wish to tell some of the things you see appearing on the students’ lists during the writing time. This may help jog other students’ thinking.) D. Mock © Davis School District Farmington, UT 2011

Share Share with a partner or in a small group A few students will share with whole class Partner/Small Group sharing – 5 minutes Whole Class Sharing – 5 minutes Have students save this list for future lessons. This is the end of this lesson on important elements. Students may need additional guided experiences with the recognizing and naming the important elements of personal narrative. D. Mock © Davis School District Farmington, UT 2011