Objective: I will learn how to organize and write a narrative essay

What is a Narrative ?.A narrative essay recreates an experience through time. It is based on one of your own experiences, either past or present. A narrative essay always communicates a lesson learned (a theme) As you write remember to use vivid details to recreate the experience for the reader

Your essay should have a plot Exposition (setting, characters) Conflict (what is your struggle) Series of events or Rising action (character faces obstacles or must make tough decisions Climax – moment where character must decide (everything has built to this one moment). It is the most suspenseful or emotional moment Resolution- all the loose ends of the plot are tied up

Step 1: Analyze the Prompt Prompt: Write a composition about the positive or negative effects of learning something new.

Step 2: Brainstorm events related to the prompt. Times when I learned something new My mom played Santa to poor kids My uncle taught me how to fish I learned how to play tennis I learned not to pick on somebody bigger Take a minute and think about what is the point of this experience

Step 3: Explore your memory for details. Memorable Christmas Scenes My house (cheerful, decorated, presents) Poor house (dreary, plain, no presents)

Modeling Autobiographical Incident Step 3: Explore your memory for details. Memorable Christmas Scenes My house (cheerful, decorated, presents) Poor house (dreary, plain, no presents) Key People Me (happy, resentful) Mom (insightful, insistent) Poor kids (torn clothes, sad eyes) Poor mom (sad, glowing smile)

Modeling Autobiographical Incident Step 3: Explore your memory for details. Memorable Christmas Scenes My house (cheerful, decorated, presents) Poor house (dreary, plain, no presents) Key People Me (happy, resentful) Mom (insightful, insistent) Poor kids (torn clothes, sad eyes) Poor mom (sad, glowing smile) Main Events Got doll Made choice Visit kids Watch kids Reflected and thanked mom

Step 3: Explore your memory for details. Memorable Christmas Scenes My house (cheerful, decorated, presents) Poor house (dreary, plain, no presents) Key People Me (happy, resentful) Mom (insightful, insistent) Poor kids (torn clothes, sad eyes) Poor mom (sad, glowing smile) Main Events Got doll Made choice Visit kids Watch kids Reflected and thanked mom Significance I learned that people can get more joy from giving than from receiving

Orally rehearse your autobiographical narrative with another person.

Step 4: Write an introduction. Include a grabber, some background information, and a hint of the topic. Sentence 1: Grabber Sentence 2-4: Background information (at least two sentences) Sentence 5: Hint about what the story is about Sometimes the best lessons in life come our way when we least expect them. That is exactly what happened on December 25 th in my ninth year of life. For weeks my mother had scurried around our spacious home decorating each room with traditional Christmas paraphernalia. For days, Mom had stationed herself in our kitchen preparing a special feast for all of the relatives who would arrive for Christmas dinner. This was not an unusual Christmas, or so I thought. Each year seemed to be just as festive and delightful as the previous one. Grabber Background Hint

Step 5: Draw a Flow Map Paragraph two (rising action): write about the first event that sets up the series of events that will lead to the main point of your narrative. Paragraph three and four?: (rising action and climax) These paragraph should detail what leads up to and is the most important Paragraph five: (falling action) Wrap up the details of your story leading to the conclusion Saw presents under the tree Early that morning many gifts, doll is favorite feelings, thoughts Mom’s announcement made choice

Step 6: Flow Map the next events (these lead up to your main point). Remember to slow down the action and use precise details. Saw presents under the tree Early that morning many gifts, doll is favorite feelings, thoughts Mom’s announcement made choice Took gifts to poor kids About mid-morning describe poorhouse describe poor kids describe poor mother kids’ reaction my thoughts, feelings what Mom did Drove back home A short while later my thoughts and feelings in the car Conversation With Mom Remember: Transitions (time order)

Step 7: Write your conclusion. Sentences 1-3: State why this event was memorable. Sentence 4-5 : State or imply what happened as a result of your experience. Try to use a statement about human experience in general (theme or moral). Many Christmas days have come and gone since that one Christmas when we visited the poor kids...Yet no Christmas has been quite as meaningful as that one. No present, food, or decoration has succeeded in warming my heart like the smile of the little ragged girl who received my special Christmas doll. I learned something about life that day – real joy comes in giving, rather than in receiving. My mother taught me well. why it was memorable relate to human experience

Modeling Autobiographical Incident Step 8: Write your story using your Flow Map. Don’t just tell your readers the story. Use vivid details and descriptions to recreate the experience for the reader.