Support Strategies for Narrative Writing DRAPES Support Strategies for Narrative Writing

D is for Dialogue Dialogue makes your experiences immediate and dynamic. “If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all,” my mother warned me throughout my childhood.

D is for Dialogue A professional's opinion could be from anyone such as a doctor, your parents, or The President of the United States. A Direct Quote: In a recent interview, Doctor Smith said 'Hats help prevent disease!’ If you use a quote, be sure to put it in quotation marks. Reword the statement into the sentence: Doctor Smith claimed that hats are good for people.

R is for Rhetorical Question Use rhetorical questions. These are questions which can make the reader think, but not one they have to answer, such as "How could someone refuse a free television?” Because the question makes readers think, they will probably want to read on. These are good to have in an introductory or conclusion paragraph. In the body paragraphs you want to answer questions rather than ask them.

A is for Analogies Use similes and metaphors to emphasize your point. A simile compares two things with "like" or "as", such as "The water is as clear as glass”. A metaphor says that something is something else, such as "The mean dog is a demon".

P is for Personal Experience Write about something that has happened to you when your experience is related to the essay's main idea. The experience should be strong enough to bring the reader to agree with you.

E is for Examples Include real-life examples of the issue that make your position more convincing as well as examples that make the opposing positions look weak and flawed. Examples and personal experiences often are written together.

S is for Statistics Use percentages and ratios to support your position. Remember to tell where these statistics came from. "According to a recent poll by students at Harvard, hats are 16% more popular than watches on campus."

Nonfiction Forms Three Types of Personal Essays The difference depends on the connection between the thesis and support.

Personal Essay Focuses on belief or insight about life that is significant to the writer Emphasizes ideas (spiritual or philosophical) over experience.

Personal Narrative Focuses on a significant event Emphasizes one brief moment or a short-lived experience.

Personal Memoir Focuses on a significant relationship between the writer and a person, place, or object Emphasizes a long-term experience shared by the writer and a place or person.