Personal Narrative Beginnings

Reaction Opening a narrative with a character thinking about or reflecting on the event This can cause the reader to want to know more about the situation the speaker is thinking about

Reaction Example “My clothes have failed me. I remember the green coat that I wore in fifth and sixth grade when you either danced like a champ or pressed yourself against a greasy wall, bitter as a penny toward the happy couples.” ~ The Jacket by Gary Soto What do you think this speaker will tell us about?

Action Opening a narrative with the main character doing something This puts the reader in the middle of the action

Action Example What does this opening tell us? She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it but hammer and nails. It had a long strap, and she carried it slung across her shoulder. It was about eleven o’clock at night, and she was walking alone, when a boy ran up behind her and tried to snatch her purse. The strap broke with the single tug the boy gave it from behind. But the boy’s weight and the weight of the purse combined caused him to lose his balance so, instead of taking off full blast as he had hoped, the boy fell on his back on the sidewalk, and his legs flew up. The large woman simply turned around and kicked him right square in his blue-jeaned sitter. Then she reached down, picked the boy up by his shirt front, and shook him until his teeth rattled. ~ Thank You, Ma’am by Langston Hughes

Dialogue Opening a narrative with the main character speaking to another character This allows the author to describe something through the character’s perspective, as well as giving clues about that character

Dialogue Example What does this opening tell us? “Where’s Papa going with that ax?” said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast. “Out to the hoghouse,” replied Mrs. Arable. “Some pigs were born last night. “I don’t see why he needs an ax,” continued Fern, who was only eight. ~ Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

What have we seen so far? Look over the personal narratives we’ve read so far. What leads do they show? Rewrite the first paragraph to show a different lead (in your notebook).

Your Turn Look over your personal narrative draft. Revise your opening to use one of the three lead types. The goal is to have a strong opening that engages readers and makes them want to continue reading. What effect would you like your readers to experience?