Writing a Narrative

Writing a Narrative Writing a narrative essay from start to finish!

Narrative Essay Prompt *Every essay starts with the essay “prompt” or question. *Notice the prompt gives you information you can use. It tells you to write about certain things emotions, waiting in line, stress, and the test. It also organizes the essay into beginning, middle, and ending for you. *Once you have the question in mind, review the outline and essential essay elements. *Then, jot down your ideas for your essay. PROMPT: Recall the time you took your driver's test. Recount the emotions, waiting in line, the stress and the actual test itself. Tell about the beginning, middle, and ending of the experience.

THE OUTLINE • Hook: (quote, question, Statistic, description) • Thesis: What the essay is about Happens in Beginning of the Story: • First, • Then, • Next, • Add Figurative Language: • Simile/Metaphor: • Dialogue: • Onomatopoeia: • Foreshadowing/Hyperbole: Happens in Middle of the Story: • Second, • Also, • Finally, • Add Figurative Language: • Simile/Metaphor: • Dialogue: • Onomatopoeia: • Foreshadowing/Hyperbole: Happens at End of the Story: • In the end, • Then, • Also, Add Figurative Language: • Simile/Metaphor: • Dialogue: • Onomatopoeia: • Foreshadowing/Hyperbole: • Conclusion: Restate Thesis Tell what you learned or why incident is important to you.

THE OUTLINE • Hook: (quote, question, Statistic, description) • Thesis: What the essay is about Happens in Beginning of the Story: • First, Then, Next, • Add Figurative Language: • Simile/Metaphor: • Dialogue: • Onomatopoeia: • Foreshadowing/Hyperbole: Happens in Middle of the Story: • Second, Also, Finally, • Again, add figurative language. • Essays should start with a statement or description that creates interest and “hooks” the reader. • Then, the topic and thesis should state what the essay is about. • Then, in the next paragraphs, tell the story in order as it happens. Paragraph the information according to beginning, middle and ending of the story. Be sure to use transitions like first, next, and then to show the order of things happening and to smooth out your essay. • Also, as you write, include figurative language like similes (comparison with like or as), dialogue (talking), onomatopoeia (sound words), foreshadowing (hints at later events) and hyperbole (exaggeration).

THE OUTLINE Con’t • After you have told the story, then conclude by restating the thesis and telling what you learned or why the incident is important or meaningful. Happens at End of the Story: • In the end, • Then, • Also, Add Figurative Language: • Simile/Metaphor: • Dialogue: • Onomatopoeia: • Foreshadowing/Hyperbole: • Conclusion: Restate Thesis Tell what you learned or why incident is important to you.

Let’s Brainstorm • Now that you’ve reviewed the outline, make a chart or web of events in the beginning middle and ending of your story. • Beginning: waking up, driving to the test, feeling nervous • Middle: getting there, waiting in line, taking written test and passing • Ending: nerves before final driving test, taking the test, feeling relieved once I had passed

Get Writing! • Once you have your paragraphs chunked, you can get writing. • Be sure you start off by introducing your topic. Use the prompt to help you. • PROMPT: Recall the time you took your driver's test. Recount the emotions, waiting in line, the stress and the actual test itself. Tell about the beginning, middle, and ending of the experience. • If you are unable to come up with a meaningful hook, onomatopoeia works well. You could use a sound word for the alarm clock going off and then telling how you work up remembering everything going on that day. • For the thesis, foreshadowing can work well. or foreshadowing. You can say something like “I had no idea how my day would go. It turned out to be a day I’d never forget.”

Example Essay • The following is an example essay. • The blue sentences are the figurative language. • Feel free to use it to model an essay for yourself. • Remember you are not writing a book, just a short essay. • Enjoy the journey and have fun!

Introduction Beeeeeep went the alarm clock. I rubbed my eyes sleepily, dreading another day at school. Then, I remembered! It was my birthday, and I was missing school to take my driver’s test. I jumped out of bed to get ready for what was supposed to be an EASY day.

Recount the emotions, waiting in line I got ready as soon as possible, hoping to beat the long line and just get the whole thing done. Though I had read the book and practiced driving, I had a nagging feeling that things would not go as planned. I gobbled down my breakfast so fast that I almost got sick afterward. I then raced to the car like an Olympic sprinter. As mom drove me to the DMV, I studied my book even more. I got out of the car and went in. To my astonishment, the line seemed to go all the way around the building. This did little to calm my nerves. The longer I had to wait, the more I worried that I would fail miserably.

The Stress I finally got to the front of the line. When the lady behind the counter asked me for my information, my throat felt as dry as toast. I squeaked out my answers, took my seat at the computer, and started the test. My hands were shaking like leaves as I selected the correct answers. Finally, I finished. I was so relieved to find out that I had passed. “Whew! I thought. Only one more test to go.” I took another seat waiting for my name to be called for the actual driver’s test. As I kept waiting, my nerves started to falter. My hands began to shake and when the instructor called my name, I nearly jumped out of my seat.

The Actual Test Itself I quietly walked out to the car and got in. The instructor told me to start the car and drive around the block. I nervously started the car, put it in drive, and started out. As I continued to drive, I settled in and started to calm down. Before I knew it, the whole test was finished and I passed.

Conclusion • Even though I was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, the tests went smoothly. Because I had practiced and worked hard to prepare, the whole thing was pretty easy. I had my driver’s license and I was ready to ride like the wind.

Edit Your Essay with the Top 5 • Introductory word or phrase comma. Any sentence that starts with a preposition or adverb usually needs a comma if the phrase is four words or longer. An example is “At the beginning of the story,” Also add commas after your transitions such as Finally, In conclusion, Then, • Compound sentence comma. A sentence that has two complete thoughts joined by for, and, so, but, or yet requires a comma after the first sentence. Example: “He once was my friend, but now I can never trust him again.” • Interrupter comma. Any sentence that has an explaining phrase in the middle must have commas before and after the phrase. Example: “Mr. Jones, my friend, spoke at the assembly.” • Sentencing. Check for fragments and run-ons. A simple sentence expresses one complete thought. A compound sentence can express two thoughts, but be careful of run-on sentences which contain too many thoughts. Run-ons need to be separated with commas or into two sentences. • Spelling/Verb Tense. Verbs must agree with subjects in number. Do not change verb tense in your essay!!!

Summary Use the prompt to help you organize and write your essay. Review the outline so as include necessary parts of the essay. Plan the essay with a web or chart. Write the essay. Edit with the top five. Celebrate because you are done!

Writing a Narrative