1. Personal Narrative Essay Compose an essay relating the details of a significant event in your life. Tell your story using effective descriptions, strong word choices and appropriate voice. Your essay should have a clear beginning, middle and end.

2. Overveiw of the Personal Narrative Essay: I. Introduction Paragraph (Don’t start telling the story yet!) A. Attention Grabber B. Lead-in C. Thesis Statement II. Body Paragraphs (Here you tell the story—be precise!! Don’t ramble on about things!) A. Details B. Details C. Details III. Conclusion A. Concluding transition +closing statement B. Reflect on main points C. Restate thesis (reveal or repeat the lesson/significance)

3. Introduction Paragraph…. Sentence #1: Attention Grabber (get the reader’s attention) Sentence #2: Lead-in (transition to your main idea) Sentence #3: Thesis Statement (Main idea of the essay Your thesis should state THE EVENT and either directly state the importance or HINT at it, then you can reveal the lesson or importance in the conclusion)

4. Complete Intro Paragraph #1 Have you ever gone swimming with the dolphins? Well, I did when I visited my grandma in Florida last summer. My vacation in Florida brought many exciting adventures and new experiences that will always be special to me.

5. Complete Intro Paragraph #2 The cool blue water soothed my skin; the sun soaked my hair; the squeaky voice of my new dolphin friend filled my ears. These memories fill my head when I think of Florida. My vacation in Florida brought many exciting adventures and new experiences that will always be special to me.

6. Complete Intro paragraph #3 Dolphins only let one-half of their brain sleep at a time. This was just one of many interesting facts I learned on my trip to Florida. My vacation in Florida brought many exciting adventures and new experiences that will always be special to me. Dolphins only let one-half of their brain sleep at a time. This was just one of many interesting facts I learned on my trip to Florida. My vacation in Florida brought many exciting adventures and new experiences that will always be special to me.

7. One More Time….Intro paragraph: Sentence #1: Attention Grabber Sentence #1: Attention Grabber Sentence #2: Lead-in to Thesis Sentence #2: Lead-in to Thesis Sentence #3: Thesis (main idea) statement Sentence #3: Thesis (main idea) statement

8. Review of entire essay: I. Introduction Paragraph (Don’t start telling the story yet!) A. Attention Grabber B. Lead-in C. Thesis Statement II. Body Paragraphs (Here you tell the story—be precise!! Don’t ramble on about things!) A. Details B. Details C. Details III. Conclusion A. Concluding transition +closing statement B. Reflect on main points C. Restate thesis (reveal or repeat the lesson/significance)

9. Specifics of the Assignment Rough Draft (due 10/19)—typed or handwritten Rough Draft (due 10/19)—typed or handwritten Final Draft (due 10/24)— Final Draft (due 10/24)— –Typed, double-spaced –Times New Roman –12 point font –1” margins –MINIMUM 2 pages (FULL pages) –MAXIMUM 4 pages

10. Timeline for the Assignment Today—Choose topic from Life Map and begin brainstorming “how” you will tell your story— ORGANIZE!!!! Today—Choose topic from Life Map and begin brainstorming “how” you will tell your story— ORGANIZE!!!! Thursday—Keep writing! Thursday—Keep writing! Monday—Imagery Activity (to improve details) Monday—Imagery Activity (to improve details) Tuesday—Imagery, day 2 (to improve details) Tuesday—Imagery, day 2 (to improve details) Wednesday—Rough Draft due for Peer Editing Workshop Wednesday—Rough Draft due for Peer Editing Workshop Thursday--Revisions Thursday--Revisions

11. Grading….6 Traits, of course! Even weight to all traits: 60 points total 10Ideas and Content Even weight to all traits: 60 points total 10Ideas and Content 10Organization 10Voice 10Word Choice 10Sentence Fluency 10Conventions