1. Personal Narrative
English 10

2. Day 1: Sit in your Color Groups
SWBAT: understand the concept of a personal narrative and begin to brainstorm a story to write about.
Notebook catch up
Notes
Graphic Organizer
Work time
Reflection: What story are you thinking about sharing in your personal narrative. Was it difficult to come up with one or was it hard to choose which one to write about? Do you think that you will like this essay more than the others? Why?

3. What is it?
A personal narrative is a multi-paragraph story that includes dialogue, sensory details, specific action, and personal feelings.
Your story is autobiographical (it is about you)
In order to get started, you will need to tap into your memory to see what experiences you can recall
You could do a road map of your life (next slide) or just think of one event of your life that you could write about in great detail.

4. Road Map
To get started, draw a windy highway on your notebook paper. Then note the highs and lows in your life on that map, starting with your earliest memories and ending with your most recent ones. You can also consult your parents to help you tonight to fill in the potholes.

5. Gathering Grid
Choose three of the events that you experienced on your road map
Use the gathering grid to collect details for your personal narrative
Identify the event at the top of the box and then make a list of the details that describe it
Incident 1:
Details:
Incident 2:
Details:
Incident 3:
Details:

6. Personal Narrative Plan
Start by…
Then…
In your
conclusion…
picking the title that supports your topic, message, and the story. Next, write an introduction.
Quick
Sketch B M E -
help your reader remember
the message in your story.
Introduction
tell the story.
Conclusion
Direct participants to the TG page and Tool listed on the slide.
Direct participants to the handout packet and highlight the Introduction and Conclusion.
Here is a Personal Narrative plan. It brings together strategies from both expository and narrative text.
Review and elaborate on the plan and the colors.
May 2011

7. Linking the Events
You may choose to link the events that you brain stormed on the gathering grid
If you choose to do this, make sure that there is a common idea or feeling that links these events
For example:
Lessons that your brother taught you
Roles that teacher(s) played in your life
Greatest lessons that you learned from your mom

8. Writing Requirements Five or more paragraphs
Definite beginning, middle, and end
Problem and Solution
Show me—don’t tell me
Must be in 1st person
Typed—Times New Roman, 12 pt, Double Spaced
Rough Draft in your notebook with clear revisions (you can do them yourself)
Final Draft Due:_____________

9. Format Example
Introduction
Begin with an attention grabber that captures your reader’s interest.
Example: “Sometimes it takes something terrible to realize what is important in life.”

10. Format Example (Cont.) Body Paragraphs (Your Story)
Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that contains a TRANSITION that shows the order in which the events occurred (First, Later, In the end, Second, Third, etc.) and the DETAILS of your story.
Example: “The day began like any other day.” …
“Later that day, my brother began to show his true colors and expose his lies.” …
“After a day of much distress, I finally realized that I could be my own person and make my own decisions.” …

11. Format Example (Cont.) Conclusion
The conclusion is just as important as the introduction; it is the last impression your reader will get of your story.
Begin by re-stressing the importance of your thesis. Be careful not to use the exact same wording.
Example: “Although the day I found out the truth about my brother was a terrible moment in my life, it forced me to put my own decisions in perspective and helped me to realize that becoming my own person was in my best interest.” …
BE SURE TO REFLECT ON THE LARGER MEANING OF THE EXPERIENCE. IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT WAS THE POINT OF YOUR STORY? EXPLAIN THE NEW UNDERSTANDING AND WHY/HOW THIS EXPERIENCE OR EVENT HAD A PERMANENT EFFECT ON YOU.

12. Day 2-5: Sit in your Number Groups
SWBAT: begin to compose their essays
Work time outline and rough draft
Reflection: What were the greatest roadblocks that you encountered while writing your essay? How did you work through them?