Narrative Topic for 8th grade students You are on your way to …. as you reach for the door knob, Charlie Gordon approaches you. He introduces himself and asks for assistance. Write a narrative introducing the reader to where you are, what your plans are and now that you have met Charlie what you two do together. Remember to mention three (essential) things that you do for/with him. NB: Remember his condition just before he left New York, from the story Flowers for Algernon. Please include a captivating title for your narrative. An introductory paragraph. The three things you would do with or for him, each on its own paragraph. Explain and give details. The concluding paragraph. Do not exceed three pages/minimum one and a half pages. Read the rest of the power-point for interesting ideas. Good-Luck(rubric is on the last slide)

Is an interesting story about the writer.Is an interesting story about the writer. Is written in the first person (using the pronouns I, me, and my.Is written in the first person (using the pronouns I, me, and my. Has a beginning, a middle, and an end.Has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Presents events in a clear order.Presents events in a clear order. Uses details to help readers see people, places, and events.Uses details to help readers see people, places, and events. Shows how the writer feels about the experience and why it is meaningful to him or her.Shows how the writer feels about the experience and why it is meaningful to him or her.

The personal narrative tells about A good timeA good time A bad timeA bad time An important timeAn important time A memorable eventA memorable event A first timeA first time A last timeA last time

Take a few minutes and write without stopping. Write about where the story takes place. Close your eyes and recall the place in your narrative. What do you see? Hear? Taste? Smell? Feel? Write about the people who will be in your narrative. Think about the way each one looks, acts, and speaks. Conversation or dialogue is a good way to draw your readers into the action. List the main events of the narrative along a timeline.

Bat Summer One warm summer night I was trying to get to sleep. I had my window open to let in the cool air. All of the sudden, I heard what sounded like a bat. My sister heard it too and ran out the door. The door slammed shut and I was alone with the bat. I threw the blanket over my heard and screamed for help. Finally, my dad heard me and came running. As the bat flew wildly around my room, my dad snuck up on it with a net. He caught the bat and then set it free outside. My room was again safe, but I never slept with the window open again.

Appeal to the reader’s senses by writing a vivid description of the scene. Make readers wonder by asking a question. Lure readers into the story quickly by using dialogue.

Supporting Paragraphs Always begin with a topic sentence. Use specific details that support the topic sentence. Use sensory words to keep the reader’s attention.Always begin with a topic sentence. Use specific details that support the topic sentence. Use sensory words to keep the reader’s attention. Wrap up the paragraph with a concluding or transitioning sentence.Wrap up the paragraph with a concluding or transitioning sentence. Remember to develop a minimum of 3 supporting paragraphs.Remember to develop a minimum of 3 supporting paragraphs.

Character development Your characters must look and sound ‘real’ or credibleYour characters must look and sound ‘real’ or credible Characters should move a story along – they need to have a specific roleCharacters should move a story along – they need to have a specific role Interactions between characters should be believableInteractions between characters should be believable There needs to be a purpose to any character traits givenThere needs to be a purpose to any character traits given Think back to the novels/short stories you have read and try to determine why you enjoyed reading some as opposed to others. What was it about the character/s, the story itself, or the imaginative world the author created?

Use transitions to guide your readers through your story!! FirstFirst NextNext LaterLater FinallyFinally More importantMore important Most of allMost of all Last but not leastLast but not least Therefore Because As a result Consequently Since For So

SimilarlySimilarly In contrastIn contrast UnlikeUnlike On the other handOn the other hand NeverthelessNevertheless In the same wayIn the same way Such as For example In other words Along with For instance Like

Conclusion Use a topic sentence for your concluding paragraph.Use a topic sentence for your concluding paragraph. Wrap up all loose ends so that the reader doesn’t have any questions.Wrap up all loose ends so that the reader doesn’t have any questions. Your last sentence should conclude the narrative. The reader knows that the story is over.Your last sentence should conclude the narrative. The reader knows that the story is over.

Read your paper aloud to yourself or a partner. Did the introduction capture you or your partner’s attention?.Read your paper aloud to yourself or a partner. Did the introduction capture you or your partner’s attention?. Is the order of events clear? Did I include transitions?Is the order of events clear? Did I include transitions? Do I use details that appeal to the five senses?Do I use details that appeal to the five senses? Is the conclusion an end to the narrative?Is the conclusion an end to the narrative? Do I have at least five paragraphs?Do I have at least five paragraphs?

When I was at school I used to sit at the back of the class. I sat there so I could do stuff. I got away with lots of stuff by sitting at the back of the class where the teacher couldn’t see me properly. I liked to make people laugh when I felt like it. A lot of people did laugh. The back desk at school was the best. Why? Because that’s where I could sit and plan my plots of mischief. It was so cool. I remember sitting behind Wayne, this huge kid with a really big head and broad shoulders. He was the best shield a guy like me could have wished for. There was no way the teacher could see past him to me. Perfect. I used to lob water balloons and itchy-itchy balls into the laps of the girls from my desk and they would think it was Wayne! It was a scream to see Wayne look up from his books and just say, ‘What? What did I do? One day, I…….

Narrative Topic for 8th grade students You are on your way to …. as you reach for the door knob, Charlie Gordon approaches you. He introduces himself and asks for assistance. Write a narrative introducing the reader to where you are what your plans were and now that you have met Charlie what you two do together. Remember to mention three (essential) things that you do for/with him. NB: Remember his condition just before he left New York.

Attribute Ideas The narrative tells about an unforgettable experience. The details make the story truly memorable. The writer tells about an interesting experience. Details help create the interest. The writer tells about an interesting experience. More details are needed. The writer needs to focus on one experience. Some details do not relate to the story. The writer needs to focus on one experience. Details are needed. The writer needs to tell about an experience and use details. Organization The organization makes the narrative enjoyable and easy to read. The narrative is well organized, with a clear beginning, middle, and ending. Transitions are used well. The narrative is well organized. Most of the transitions are helpful. The order of events needs to be corrected. More transitions need to be used. One part of the narrative is week. The beginning, middle, and ending all run together. The order is unclear. The narrative needs to be organized. Voice The writer’s voice creates an unforgettable experience for the reader. The writer’s voice sounds natural and creates interest in the story. Dialogue is used. The writer’s voice creates interest in the story. More dialogue is needed. A voice can usually be heard. Dialogue is needed. The voice is weak. Dialogue is needed. The writer has not gotten involved in the story. Dialogue is needed. Word Choice The writer’s exceptional word choice captures the experience. Strong nouns and verbs and well- chosen modifiers create vivid, clear pictures. Modifiers are used. Strong nouns and active verbs would improve sensory images. Strong nouns, verbs, and modifiers are needed to create sensory images. General and overused words do not create sensory images. The writer has not yet considered word choice. Sentence Fluency The sentences are skillfully written and original. They keep the readers interest. The sentences show variety and are easy to read and understand. The sentences are varied, but some should flow more smoothly. A better variety of sentences is needed. Sentences do not read smoothly. Incomplete and/or short sentences make the writing choppy. Few sentences are written well. Help is needed. ConventionsThe narrative is error free. The narrative has a few minor errors in punctuation, spelling, or grammar. The narrative has several errors in punctuation, spelling, or grammar. Some errors confuse the reader. Many errors make the narrative confusing and hard to read. Help is needed to make corrections.