1. Writing a personal narrative
NARRATIVE WRITING
Writing a personal narrative

2. WHAT IS A NARRATIVE ESSAY?
tells a story
reflection or exploration of author’s values told as a story
memorable person or event from the past
observe the present

3. POWERFUL PERSONAL NARRATIVE
Think of a person, place, or moment in your life (maybe a first or last time, or a time when you realized something) that matters, and write a story about it.

4. QUALITIES OF A NARRATIVE ESSAY
recreates an experience through time
You may write in the first person (I, me, we) because it is a story about YOU!
In addition to telling a story, a narrative essay also communicates a main idea or a lesson learned.

5. DAY 1: BRAINSTORMING!
List some ideas of people, places, or moments in your life that matter to you.

6. I DO… My first big vacation Going to England High school graduation
Going to UD
Teaching my first class ever
When my parents moved to Florida
Getting my puppy

7. WE DO…
First Day of School

8. WE DO… Period 1/2
First Day of School

9. WE DO… Period 4/5
First Day of School

10. YOU DO…

11. SELECT YOUR IDEA Look over your ideas and select your top 2.
In your journal create a page for each of your two ideas.
Focus on an episode. Don’t summarize a long stretch of time. EX: My Somerset, KY summers
Brainstorm all of the details that you can think of for each of your two ideas.
Goal: At the end of today’s brainstorming session, you will choose which idea will be best for you.

12. BEGIN ROUGH DRAFT
Using your brainstorming guide, start creating a rough draft.
Climb inside the moment as if you are there describing what is happening.

13. CRAFTING A MEMORABLE LEAD
Mentor texts
Examples
Can you adjust your introduction to make it more memorable?
Have at it…

14. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
Characters
character traits
Are your characters developed well?
Would the reader be able to identify character traits that you would want them to?

15. SENSORY DETAILS Sensory details
Can you add detail anywhere in your narrative that will help the reader “feel” what you want him/her to feel?

16. POWERFUL ENDINGS
Does your ending deliver a powerful message?

17. SELF EDIT
Go through the Narrative Writing Checklist on your own. Rate yourself in each area.
Begin to make any changes that you’d like to, based on your self-evaluation.

18. PEER EDIT Work with your partner to peer edit one another’s narrative.
Read through your partner’s narrative, making no suggestions as you read.
Read your own narrative to your partner. Ask questions and give feedback in a discussion format.
Focus on one person’s narrative at a time.

19. REVISIONS/FINAL COPY
Make any last revisions and begin your final copy.