1. Narrative Writing

2. Narrative Writing Narrative writing is the telling of a story.
Narrative writing can be suspenseful, scary, happy, sad, etc.

3. Add Setting, Action, Dialogue
A narrative or personal narrative should have : setting, action, and dialogue.
Once you have created the body paragraphs, you can write the lead and ending for your essay.
A lead and ending should have setting, action, and dialogue.
If you cannot get these in both your lead and your ending, definitely try to include them in your lead…because that is what will hook your reader.

4. A personal narrative tells about someone’s experience or one moment in time.
Personal narratives are written in the first person and use pronouns like I, me, and my.

5. To help the story progress in order, transition words are used.
To help your reader feel as though they experienced the story with you, sensory details should ALWAYS be used.

6. Narratives and personal narratives should include the writer’s thoughts and feelings.
Dialogue, or people speaking, helps to make personal narratives more interesting.

7. Tell Your Story Example: Weekend at Disneyland
Think of specific moments
If you tell the story of the whole weekend, you will be telling a “watermelon" story.
Tell me a small seed story instead-- tell me one moment, not the whole weekend.
For instance, if you are asked to write about a time you had fun, and you think of a time at Disneyland, think of specific moments about the weekend, not the entire weekend. If you tell the story of the whole weekend, you will be telling a “watermelon”story, and it will be too much.
You want to tell me a small seed story instead. You need to tell me one moment, not the whole weekend“small seed” story versus “big watermelon” story.

8. Tell Your Story Disneyland Canoe ride with the family
Sister got lost, but we found her
Indiana Jones with my son
Swimming at the Disney hotel
Exploring on Tom Sawyer’s Island
Sister got stuck in rock on Tom Sawyer’s Island
Choose one of these “moments” to write about as a reason why the time you spent in Disneyland was fun. Make this a small seed story--just describe the moment.
Here are some moments that I wrote down to narrow a trip to Disneyland. Some happened recently and some happened a long time ago. All could be turned into small seed stories! Choose one of these “moments” to write about as a reason why the time you spent in Disneyland was fun. Make this a small seed story--just describe the moment.

9. Example: Parasailing on St. John
Small Seed Story--Quick Rough draft telling what happened first, second, and last.
First Body Paragraph
We boarded the small ship, anticipating our parasailing adventure. The guides gave us instructions on how they would hook us up in the equipment, and because the machine was automated, there were some very precise instructions. I just hoped I could remember everything I was supposed to do so that I did not get injured like the guide mentioned. We were the second couple to ride tandem, and so we eagerly watched every move that the other couple made. Finally, it was our turn to fly.
Start at the beginning of your sketch and write. Don’t worry about the introduction or ending because I am going to show you how to write a lead and ending later. Right now, just begin your story with your first sketch.

10. Paragraph Three Second Body Paragraph:
We helped each other get hooked in the harness, sat down on the back of the boat, and suddenly we were lifting into the air. Being in the air, soaring through the sky, was incredibly fun. As I looked down, I saw giant sea turtles swimming through the crisp, bright blue water with a pod of dolphins playing nearby. It was almost soundless except the fluttering noise of the wind blowing past my ears and the parachute above. I wondered, Is this how birds feel as they fly through the air? Flying like a bird, feeling more than human, was a truly incredible moment.
Notice in italics are the feelings I am feeling--this provides internal story, which shows the reader instead of telling the reader.

11. The Introduction
Introductions to narratives/personal narratives should be engaging.
You want to HOOK your reader.
Some ways to do this are: imagery, dialogue, or action.

12. What if I deleted this part?
The Lead
What if I deleted this part?
I have had many experiences that I can describe as exciting and fun. On a warm summer day, on the Virgin Island of St. John, when I yelled “Sure let’s go parasailing!”, who would have known I was going to experience the most excitement of my life?
In this lead (introduction), I address the question, provide setting, action, and brief dialogue.
What if you took off what was in between the yellow lines? Would the narrative be better or worse? Ask the kids to look at this closely and discuss it with them.

13. The Conclusion
Again, like the lead, include setting, action, dialogue and wrap up my narrative about an exciting time of my life.
Ending:
As I flew through the air, I stated to my husband “Isn’t this one of the best moments in your life?” He agreed happily, as we slowly descended toward the ship, back to reality, with a new appreciation for adventure and excitement.

14. Put It All Together
On a warm summer day, on the Virgin Island of St. John, when I yelled “Sure let’s go parasailing!” who would have known I was going to experience the most excitement of my life.
We boarded the small ship anticipating our parasailing adventure. The guides gave us instructions on how they would hook us up in the equipment, and because the machine was automated, there were some very precise instructions. I just hoped I could remember everything I was suppose to do so that I did not get injured like the guide mentioned. We were the second couple to ride tandem, and so we eagerly watched every move that the other couple made. Finally, it was our turn to fly.
We helped each other get hooked in the harness, sat down on the back of the boat, and suddenly we were lifting into the air. Being in the air, soaring through the sky, was incredibly fun. As I looked down, I saw giant sea turtles swimming through the crisp, bright blue water with a pod of dolphins playing nearby. It was almost soundless except the fluttering noise of the wind blowing past my ears and the parachute above. I wondered, Is this how birds feel as they fly through the air? Flying like a bird, feeling more than human, was a truly incredible moment.
As I flew through the air, I stated to my husband “Isn’t this one of the best moments of your life?” He agreed happily, as we slowly descended towards the ship, back to reality, with a new appreciation for adventure and excitement
Read this to the students, or better yet, have a class set that they can work with a partner and notice the strategies that have been incorporated in this narrative essay.

15. Internal Story
The next strategy is to learn how to write the internal story
Internal story:
develops voice
shows instead of just tells the story
depicts your feelings and develops ideas
It is the “commentary” in your narrative writing!

16. Internal Story Internal story happens when you say:
I wonder… this reminds me…I thought about… I felt
It happens when you include narrative aspects in your writing.
A way to tell your story and develop your voice--the personality in your writing-- is to include internal story in your writing. Essentially, this is the commentary portion of the narrative essay. The goal is to push their thinking by extending commentary.

17. Internal Story
In a story, I can run, spin, climb, yell, dig, but I can also yearn, remember, regret, worry, and imagine
What’s the difference between the first set of verbs and the second set of verbs?
When I pause in the middle of a draft to re-read my writing, I sometimes say to myself, “Let me re-read and pay attention to whether I’ve told the internal as well as the external story.”
The internal story is how you feel.

18. Bringing Forth The Internal Story
Specifically, you should be writing not only what happens but your response to what happens.
Then, much of story will be the internal story, and not just the external one.

19. To Sum Up: Qualities of Good Narratives/ Personal Narratives
Write a little seed story; don’t write a giant watermelon story.
Zoom in so you tell the most important parts of the story.
Include true, exact details from the memory you have in your mind.
Include your response to what happened- FEELINGS!
Use dialogue, transition words, and sensory details.
NO “YOU”, (-_-) it’s not a letter or a phone call.