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Personal Narrative

Learn narrative techniques with focus on developing depth through details, organization for coherence, engaging style with sensory language, and effective use of point of view. Discover how to bring your personal experiences to life in a captivating manner that resonates with readers.

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Personal Narrative

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  1. Personal Narrative Tips and Techniques

  2. FOCUS • Narrative effect is the main story, moral, or message offered. • Ask, “Why am I telling this story?” or “Why should someone be interested in my experience?” • Will the point be EXPLICIT or IMPLICIT?

  3. DEVELOPMENT • Details add depth and color to the story. • Scene method – very detailed, evocative description to immerse the reader in the situation. • Use SCENE method for one or two key areas of the story. • Summary method used to fill in the rest of the story with a brief synopsis.

  4. ORGANIZATION AND COHERENCE • Three basic parts – orientation, complication, and time structure. • Orientation establishes setting, characters, & other essential elements. • Complication involves rising conflict that leads to the climax – point of highest action. • Resolution conflict resolved and narrative effect is revealed or suggested.

  5. O & C cont’d • Time Structure – chronological or psychological. • Chronological – events described in order. • Psychological – events described according to connections between them…for example a memory. • Flashback and flash forward (show possible outcomes)

  6. STYLE • Style engages the reader. • Details should give a dominant impression of event – fear, anxiety, confidence, guilt, surprise, etc. • Language – use CONCRETE NOUNS and ACTIVE VERBS – unload forms of BE and passive voice. • Sensory language – taste, smell, sight, touch, hear the scene.

  7. STYLE cont’d • Metaphors and similes help reveal the narrative effect • He was tall versus He was as tall as a mountain. • She was beautiful versus She was a fresh flower among the dried up weeds.

  8. Point of View • Generally use first person (I, me, my, we, us, our), but third person can work. • Objective view leaves out the author’s feelings. • Subjective view emphasizes the author’s feelings toward a subject. • Use both!

  9. ARTISTIC LICENSE • Beware the exaggeration for effect! Gone awry, exaggeration will damage credibility. • Personal narrative is an academic essay, not fiction! • Adapted from Tacoma Community College Writing Center.

  10. What’s My Job? • Bring in a COMPLETE personal narrative draft on Thursday, September 5. • No more than 500 words. • Double spaced, typed. • Be prepared to share your draft in class.

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