Narrative Writing Be creative, be honest.

Expressive writing  Primary purpose = explore & communicate personal experience and opinions to the world.

Three examples

EX 1: expressive My first political awareness began in elementary school, when I remember wearing silver MIA bracelets with names on them. Those names were mysterious and terrifying. I staged my first political protest in sixth grade assembly. I think these early experiences had a lot to do with my political leanings today.

EX 2: expository Public protest against the Vietnam War eventually brought that war to an end.

EX 3: Persuasive The Iraq War is as much a quagmire as Vietnam. It's time for us to face reality, admit failure, and leave.

What it means  Each example is a different way to show the writer’s protest.  In an expressive piece, write for yourself  Share with audience  People love stories about people  You have an audience  Each example is a different way to show the writer’s protest.  In an expressive piece, write for yourself  Share with audience  People love stories about people  You have an audience

Qualities of good expressive writing: I. 1 st Person POV I. Appropriate voice and word choice II. Narrative devices… I. 1 st Person POV I. Appropriate voice and word choice II. Narrative devices…

Your Narrative

1. Describes a sequence of events.  Communicate the significance of the events to your audience.  Remember? PLOT! 1. Describes a sequence of events.  Communicate the significance of the events to your audience.  Remember? PLOT! Write a reflective personal narrative that:

2. Set the scene with specific times and places.  Is the story during the day? Did the weather play a role? How about the season?  The fireworks display was breathtaking. Although the rain continued to fall, it had died into a light sprinkle, making this typically scorching July evening in Phoenix tolerable, and one to remember. 2. Set the scene with specific times and places.  Is the story during the day? Did the weather play a role? How about the season? TThe fireworks display was breathtaking. Although the rain continued to fall, it had died into a light sprinkle, making this typically scorching July evening in Phoenix tolerable, and one to remember.

3. Describe w/ specific detail: sights, sounds, and smells of scenes.  These are called sensory details  Rubbing the sleep out of my drowsy eyes, the bright light of the morning sun a spotlight through the kitchen window, I smiled as I inhaled the one-and-only aroma of my father’s bacon breakfast burritos. 3. Describe w/ specific detail: sights, sounds, and smells of scenes.  These are called sensory details  Rubbing the sleep out of my drowsy eyes, the bright light of the morning sun a spotlight through the kitchen window, I smiled as I inhaled the one-and-only aroma of my father’s bacon breakfast burritos.

4. Describe w/ specific detail: actions, movements, gestures, and feelings of the character(s).  My father, with his morphine-injected face and tubes crawling out from various parts of his body, smiled at me and motioned for me to sit with him on his hospital bed. 4. Describe w/ specific detail: actions, movements, gestures, and feelings of the character(s).  My father, with his morphine-injected face and tubes crawling out from various parts of his body, smiled at me and motioned for me to sit with him on his hospital bed.

5. Use dialogue (verbal communication between more than one character).  “Are we there yet?” Bart asked. Homer replied, “no.” Bart asked again, “are we there yet?” “No!” Homer barked. 5. Use dialogue (verbal communication between more than one character).  “Are we there yet?” Bart asked. Homer replied, “no.” Bart asked again, “are we there yet?” “No!” Homer barked.

6. Use interior monologue.  As I scrambled to find my car keys, I thought to myself, “you cannot be late to class this time Tippett!”  The curator felt a surge of adrenaline. How could he possibly know this? 6. Use interior monologue.  As I scrambled to find my car keys, I thought to myself, “you cannot be late to class this time Tippett!”  The curator felt a surge of adrenaline. How could he possibly know this?

7. Use figurative language… …”like a box of chocolates.” 7. Use figurative language… …”like a box of chocolates.”

Need help getting your story started? P Pg. R36-37 in the textbook. o Breaks down three styles of narrative writing: o Chronological Order o Flashback o Focus on Conflict P Pg. R36-37 in the textbook. o Breaks down three styles of narrative writing: o Chronological Order o Flashback o Focus on Conflict

 Essay Prompt: Reflect on a time you remember demonstrating loyalty to a friend (or family member). Use vivid words and images to make your narrative came alive for your readers.