Personal Narrative

Characteristics of Personal Narrative

Personal~having to do with oneself Narrative~telling a story A personal narrative is a story about yourself! What Does Personal Narrative Mean?

Personal Narratives are told in FIRST PERSON point of view Use pronouns like I, me, we… YOU are telling the story of what happened to you. Point of View

Focus on only ONE event in your story Do not try to tell your whole life story Focus of your personal narrative

Personal Narratives should be told in chronological order Start with what happened first, second, third, etc. Use transitions that help show the passage of time (then, later, the next day, etc.) CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

Use a sophisticated introduction technique For this assignment, you will use the technique called FLASHBACK I will teach you how to use flashback when we start the writing process Introduction Technique

Tell the reader how people reacted to the events in the story What did you and the other people DO? What did you and the other people SAY? What did you FEEL? Show us the story not just tell This is what makes the story interesting and connects the reader to the events Include reactions in your story

Reflection tells why the story is important Reflection reveals what you and the other people in the story learned from the experience Reflection indicates why the story is memorable This is what makes your writing more mature! Use reflection throughout your story, but especially at the end (as a conclusion) Include reflection in your story

Write a Personal Narrative Essay about an important, life-changing event from your life Include reactions and reflections in your essay Use flashback as an introduction technique Describe your memorable event Return to the flashback in the conclusion Follow the steps of the Writing Process Your Prompt:

1. A childhood event. Think of an experience when you learned something for the first time, or when you realized how important someone was for you. 2. Achieving a goal. Think about a particularly meaningful achievement in your life. This could be something as seemingly minor as achieving a good grade on a difficult assignment, or this could be something with more long-lasting effects, like getting the job you desired or getting into the best school to which you applied. Prompts for your narrative essay:

3. A failure. Think about a time when you did not perform as well as you had wanted. Focusing on an experience like this can result in rewarding reflections about the positive emerging from the negative. 4. A good or bad deed. Think about a time when you did or did not stand up for yourself or someone else in the face of adversity or challenge. Prompts for your narrative essay:

5. A change in your life. Think about a time when something significant changed in your life. This could be anything from a move across town to a major change in a relationship to the birth or death of a loved one. Prompts for your narrative essay:

Personal Narrative