PERSONAL NARRATIVE

1. PERSONAL NARRATIVE “Most of the basic material a writer works with is acquired before the age of fifteen.” --Willa Cather Leibfried 2008

2. Memories List • meeting best friend • finger in chocolate • teddy bear in the mud • bike accident with brother Leibfried 2008

3. best friend school moving pets siblings vacations favorite places accidents / injuries cherished things first times family gatherings hobbies sports risks Writing Ideas Leibfried 2008

4. Meeting Best Friend Start drafting a story………………….. .………………………………………………. Leibfried 2008

5. Personal Narrative Guidelines worth 100 points Leibfried 2008

6. In the story… • focus on a single event • who, what, when, where, and why • character, plot, setting • attention-grabbing lead • dialogue (and/or inner thoughts) • imagery…show, don’t tell • conclusion: state why experience is meaningful Leibfried 2008

7. And this too… • transitional phrases/words • grammar, spelling, punctuation • typed, double spaced • size 12 plain font • title: • Personal Narrative: Your Creative Title Here • at least 2 pages long • first person point of view Leibfried 2019

8. Leads Leibfried 2008

9. Dramatic Lead • startles the reader • catches the reader’s attention Examples: • Whenever I got into trouble, my mother always had a straight look at me. I would start to cry then, not loud but in my heart. (a fourth grader) • You would usually be born from your own mother’s stomach, but not me. I was adopted. I was born from a teenager’s stomach. (Brian, a fourth grader) Leibfried 2008

10. Starting in the Middle of a Scene • dives right into a scene • creates curiosity • creates a sense of here-and-now; throws the reader into the action • may begin with dialogue (creates a desire to eavesdrop on conversation) • may begin with a sound effect Leibfried 2008

11. Examples: • “Where’s Papa going with the axe?” said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast. (Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White) • “Yes,” said Tom bluntly, on opening the front door. “What d’you want?” (Goodnight, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian) • “Crash! The baseball smashed into the big bay window.“ • Ba-room, ba-room, ba-room, baripity, baripity, baripity, baripity—Good. His dad had the pickup going. He could get up now. (Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson) Leibfried 2008

12. Leisurely Leads • begin more slowly with a description of a place, a feeling, or with a rambling introduction to the narrator or main character • might meander through several paragraphs or even pages Leibfried 2008

13. Example: From the overcast grey sky fell tiny white snow-flakes which fluttered this way and that until finally settling on some unfortunate leaf. Inevitably, the leaf would give out, and launch hundreds of tiny snow-flakes down onto the sledding ground where all would be smushed together and lose their unique identity. Finally, they would all be forgotten as they were assimilated by the thawing soil. A privileged few would be lucky enough to be carried back up into the clouds. “What happens when things die?” I thought curiously as I gazed out the back window of our station wagon. In front, Mom was saying something about being careful not to wrinkle our dresses. My dad would joke about my mom’s being a worry wart. Everyone would pretend to laugh and be cheerful. Gradually, the laughter subsided to nothing, leaving everyone fidgeting and self-conscious. The tension was unbearable. Only the annoying static crackle of the soft radio broke the deadly silence. We were on our way to my grandmother’s funeral. (Mary, an eighth grader) Leibfried 2008

14. Question Example: • “Did you know that the sucking power of an infant is five times as strong as the sucking power of an adult?” Leibfried 2008

15. Sentence Fragments Examples: • “A 42 year old man. A man of heart and soul.” • “Expensive furs. Blubber and oil.” Leibfried 2008