Personal Narrative

Personal Narrative One Pager Narrative Essays in a Jiffy!

Look at the picture. What do you see?

Now Read the Quote. What is it talking about? • “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” William James

Now read the prompt. What is it asking you to do? • Write a personal narrative about a time that you helped another person and made a difference for them.

BRAINSTORM • I remember when I helped my friend pass history class by completing her part of a project. • Another time, when I was at camp I helped the little girl table at the dining hall clean up and showed them how to do it. • One time at school, there was a new student and I went out of my way to get to know her. Now she is my best friend. • I noticed in the cafeteria that a table did not get picked up, and I helped. • As a camper, I helped a girl make it down the zip line at camp. • NOW YOU BRAINSTORM USING A BUBBLE MAP

Check your ideas. How to tell if your idea will work for this prompt: • Did you help someone? • Did it make a difference? • Was it a positive type of helping? • Any ideas that do not answer yes to all three questions cannot be used. • I chose… As a camper, I helped a girl make it down the zip line at camp.

Identify the conflict of the story • Who is being helped? • Why do they need help? • So it is person v. _______________ • _______________ v. ______________ • For my story it is Janie (camper) v. The zip line!

How can you fit your situation on the plot diagram? • Start with the climax. • In this case the climax is the moment you either offered to help, or the person asked for help. • Write this at the peak of the plot diagram. Answer who needed the help and how did you help them. • The climax for me is when Janie finally made the decision to jump from ledge and go down the zipline.

TAKE A MOMENT Complete your plot line.

FOCUS YOUR PAPER WITH 575-PADS • 1st paragraph = 5 sentences, exposition and initial incident • 2nd paragraph = 7 sentences, rising action and climax • 3rd paragraph = 5 sentences, falling action, resolution, restate prompt • P = past tense • A = Adjectives (20) • D = dialogue, 2 people talking • S = similes (at least 2)

Focus your narrative. • First Paragraph: 5 Sentences • Answer the prompt and begin telling the background information to your story. Include the following: • Who was involved? • When did it happen? • Where did it happen? • What was the event?

My First Paragraph • Exposition, Initial Incident • “AAAAAAAH!!!! This is so scary!” shouted Janie from the zip line at the top of the oak tree. This was my third summer at camp, and I had been on the zip line at least 100 times. Janie had made it to the top without a problem, but now she was stuck and could not make herself jump out of the tallest tree at camp. I knew because I was an experienced camper I should help her then she would see that she could overcome anything!

Now write your first paragraph. • Use your plot line to help you. • You should include the exposition and the initial incident. • Remember it should be 5 sentences! • Begin with dialogue, a quote, or description to engage your audience. • Elaborate on your plot line: • Who was involved? • Where did it happen? • When did it happen? • What was the event?

Elaborate on your narrative. • Second Paragraph: 7 Sentences • Begin telling your story in chronological order. • What happened first? • give 1 supporting details • What happened next? • give 1 supporting details • What happened after that? • give 1 supporting details WHAT WAS THE MOST EXCITING MOMENT?!

My Second Paragraph • Rising Action (6 sentences) • Climax (1 sentence) I looked up through the green leaves at Janie high up on the ledge. I hollered up to her quivering body, “You can do it Janie!” She looked down at me, and I could tell that she was the most frightened she had been in her entire life. Some of the other campers started laughing, and I shot them a disapproving look. I didn’t think it was cool to make fun of a first year camper who was afraid of heights. I told her that I would I would count to three and all she had to do was close her eyes and jump.She was crying, but I explained that it was almost over! “1…2…3… JUMP!”

Now write your second paragraph. • Look at your plot diagram • Elaborate on what is there. • Include your rising action • What happened first? • What happened next? • What happened after that? • Climax – What is the height of the tension?

Finalize your Essay. • Third Paragraph: 5 Sentences • Falling Action • 1 supporting detail • Resolution • 1 supporting detail • Reflection (lesson learned)

My Final Paragraph • Falling Action, Resolution, Reflect the prompt • Janie actually jumped off of the ledge! Her tiny body zoomed down the zip line to the other tree and the camp counselor waiting below. She screamed the entire way in glee, and she was so happy that she did it! She thanked me and gave me a big hug for helping her.I realized that I made a huge a difference in her summer by helping her down that zip line, and that it is a gift to help others.

Now write your final paragraph. • Look at your plot diagram • Elaborate on what is already there. • What happened once the tension broke? • What did you learn from the experience? • How does all this relate back to the prompt?

Editing: P – Past tense • Check for past tense verbs. • “AAAAAAAH!!!! This is so scary!” shouted Janie from the zip line at the top of the oak tree. This was my third summer at camp, and I had been on the zip line at least 100 times. Janie made it to the top without a problem, but now she was stuck and could not make herself jump out of the tallest tree at camp. I knew because I was an experienced camper I should help her then she would see that she could overcome anything! • Change verbs not in past tense to past tense unless they are in dialogue or are conditional verbs (should, could, would, can).

Revising: A – Adjectives & Adverbs • Check for 10 adjectives, describing words in the entire essay. • I looked up through the green leaves at Janie high up on the wooden ledge. I hollered up to her quivering body, “You can do it Janie!” She looked down at me, and I could tell that she was the most frightened she had been in her entire life. Some of the other campers started laughing, and I shot them a disapproving look. I didn’t think it was cool to make fun of a first year camper who was afraid of heights. I told her that I would I would simply count to three and all she had to do was firmly close her big blue eyes and jump. She was crying, but I explained that it was almost over! “1…2…3… JUMP!” • Add extra if necessary!

Revising: D - Dialogue • Make sure you have Dialogue (someone talking to someone else) • “AAAAAAAH!!!! This is so scary!” shouted Janie from the zip line at the top of the oak tree. This was my third summer at camp, and I had been on the zip line at least 100 times. Janie made it to the top without a problem, but now she was stuck and could not make herself jump out of the tallest tree at camp. I knew because I was an experienced camper I should help her then she would see that she could overcome anything! • I looked up through the green leaves at Janie high up on the wooden ledge. I hollered up to her quivering body, “You can do it Janie!” She looked down at me, and I could tell that she was the most frightened she had been in her entire life. Some of the other campers started laughing, and I shot them a disapproving look. I didn’t think it was cool to make fun of a first year camper who was afraid of heights. I told her that I would I would simply count to three and all she had to do was firmly close her big blue eyes and jump. She was crying, but I explained that it was almost over! “1…2…3… JUMP!” • If you need to add dialogue add it now!

Revising: S – Similes (try for 2) • You need at least 2 similes. (Comparisons using like or as) • Janie actually jumped off of the ledge like an acrobat swinging naturally on a trapeze! Her tiny body zoomed down the zip line to the other tree and the camp counselor waiting below. She screamed the entire way in glee, and she was as happy as a child at on Christmas morningthat she did it! She thanked me and gave me a big hug for helping her. I realized that I made a huge a difference in her summer by helping her down that zip line, and that it is a gift to help others. • You may need to add similes like I had to!

Editing • Now hand your paper to a neighbor to check for 5 periods, 7 periods, and 5 periods. Do you need to add more sentences? • Your neighbor also needs to check for: • Spelling • Commas – Compound sentences joined by commas and FANBOYS • I realized that I made a huge a difference in her summer by helping her down that zip line, and that it is a gift to help others. • She screamed the entire way in glee, and she was as happy as a child at on Christmas morning that she did it! • She looked down at me, and I could tell that she was the most frightened she had been in her entire life. • Janie made it to the top without a problem, but now she was stuck and could not make herself jump out of the tallest tree at camp.

Now Check for INFORMAL language like… • So I at camp for the hundrethmillioneth time and Janie stuck up in da tree agin. I was like OMG she is so lame and she wouldnt even jump. We were all lookuing at her up their like she was dumb and stuff and were like JUMP ALL READY. She is dum. But she didnt jump so we all shouted 1 2 3 and she jumped. And we were like thank goodness because she is being lame and like YOLO. Newayz we where so happie wen it was finally over because it was like a week or something before she finally did it. And everyuone else wanted to go and stuff. She was cool like fo’real when she got done. And happeie. I learned helping ur peeps hurry is kinda o-some because then i get to go up their. She would of gone faster if she knew wuttwuz up.

Now WRITE a FINAL DRAFT! • Writing process: • Brainstorming (pre-writing) • Rough Drafting • Editing and Revising • Final Drafting

Personal Narrative