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Biographical Narrative Essay. Ms. Wellmeyer. Step 1: Pre-Writing Select a Person. Important!!!. When you see text in YELLOW , either follow the directions or copy it. First, Select a person…. Think of someone important to you Someone you have known for a long time
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Biographical Narrative Essay Ms. Wellmeyer
Important!!! When you see text in YELLOW, either follow the directions or copy it
First, Select a person… • Think of someone important to you • Someone you have known for a long time • Write their name on the top of your paper • You may use their actual name (Mary) or a title (Mom) or nick name (Bugs)
Think about the person • Think about the following: • What does the person look like? • Why is this person important to you? • What have you experienced together?
Now write… • Write in detail at least one specific incident that characterizes your chosen person • characterizes means: an incident that is an example of what this person is like, or what this person means to you
Ms. W’s Example • Dad… • We went camping and I made him blow up my air mattress because I refused to sleep on the ground • He got so light-headed because we were way up high in the mountains • And I ended up sleeping in the car because I was cold and it rained
More to write… • Write down physical characteristics about the person • Especially ones that contribute to the person being unique or different • Examples: type of clothes, a particular hat, friendly eyes, big nose, etc…
Ms. W’s example • My dad… • Big belly • Always wears golf shirts • And weird golf hats from the “shark” guy • Prickly beard • Strong • Funny laugh…almost like a snicker
More writing… • List a few more things that makes the person important to you • Example: ability to listen, ability to make you laugh, always there for you • What has this person done to affect you
Ms. W’s example • Always caring • Tries to help me out • Stayed up all night to wash paint off my car…let me go to sleep • Took me out to a “business lunch” so I could see what he did for a living • Helped me with all of my science projects in elementary school
Must-Haves… The following are things you MUST write in your essay in order to get a passing grade (make sure to write them down)
1. well-described incident (one or more) showing the personality or character of the person a. Describe the setting of the incidents Example: It was so cold that evening that I could see the air flow from my lips. I pressed my cold hand into the open pocket of my dad’s feather jacket.
2. dialogue (if possible) to make the character “alive” and “talking” Example: “Are you cold?” he had asked. “No” I whispered from my half-frozen lips.
3. Specific names of people, places, objects, and actions Example: His name was Ed, or Eddie, according to my grandmother.
4. A clear indication of the significance of the person a. in other words, do not hide the reasons why this person is important to you…tell it directly Example: I admire my father because he was always there and put my feelings before his own.
5. Let the reader know how you feel about the person….and directly write it. Example: I love my dad; he is the greatest person in my world. He is intelligent, caring, and honest. He is the reason I am the person I am today.
6. Use transitions to let the reader know you are changing subjects, continuing on with the story, concluding an idea, etc… First, Second, Next, Furthermore, Moreover, However, One time, In fact, Like I said, Although, Another, Nowadays, Eventually, etc…
Student Example… I admire my cousin David because he is very funny, and it seems like nothing can get him down. He doesn’t care what others think about him, and when I asked him why, he said, “That’s just the bottom line, ‘cause I said so!” Because of that attitude, someone could walk up and give him the worst insult ever and he would make a joke out of it. In fact even though he does not remember it, he made up his first joke when he was five.
David, a.k.a ‘Bro’ He has brown eyes and dark brown hair, and he dreams of becoming a comic. He even made up his own super hero and sidekick. He is always trying to come up with good, new material. Sometimes he amuses me and others with funny little routines he has made. My favorite one is about killing cockroaches. Besides that, his style of dressing is all his own. He buys his clothes at discount stores and his shirts are always striped with weird colors. “He looks like a comic I guess, he could be one” says my friend Anne.
David and I bonded when he started going to the same school as me. He entered when I was in the fifth grade and he was in sixth. We started hanging out together. He always came up to my house after school and would teach me stuff about his favorite cartoons, and he would tell me jokes. I started referring to his as my big brother in the seventh grade, because he is like the big brother I never had. Now I just call him ‘bro.’
Moreover, David is very important to me. Without him I would not have all the friends that I do. David spends his spare time playing his Game Boy Color and acting aloof. That gives the impression he doesn’t care, though, if he tried, he is quite intelligent and he helps me out a lot. He teaches me how to work my Game Boy and how to play and win the games.
In addition, he is teaching me how to work my cell phone. When I call him on the phone, he always answers it with “Hey, hey, hey, oh.” The way he says it seems to get a smile out of me. When he calls me sometimes he tries to make me think he is someone else, so he will not say the usual things. But I always know it is him because of his voice. Like me, David loves animals, and every few years he changes his favorite animal. First it was bears. Then it was eagles. And now he likes tigers.
I hope this is enough to prove to you that David is the greatest cousin ever and that people understand what a great cousin I have. I think I am very lucky. I hope I never lose him. I know that he and I will be friends forever.
Tips to remember… • You are having a conversation with the person reading your essay. • Use first person… • I think that, • My dad and I, • I feel that, • Now you see what I mean when I say…
Paragraphs • This is a more informal way of writing, so your paragraphs DO NOT have to be exactly 4-5 sentences long • Each paragraph should have ONE topic or idea • Paragraphs can be long or short
However, • Avoid the following things when writing your biographical narrative: • Do not use only long or short paragraphs…use a mixture of both • If your paragraph reached 8 sentences, it is too long. Break it into 2 paragraphs
Intro. Paragraph • This paragraph should introduce the person you are writing about • Something to show the reader that this person is interesting or important • Examples: • When my dad was in high school… • I admire my cousin David… • My brother is a great person… • Right across the street from me lives Sue...
Body Paragraphs • These paragraphs get into the story and are about the person • Have at least ONE big, important story AND many little ones and smaller facts • Think about how you would explain this person to a friend…and write that way • Have a conversation with the reader
Final Paragraph • Remind the reader what you really think and feel about the person you wrote about • Restate the traits, qualities, personality, interesting facts, etc. about your person
A final note… Even though this writing should be informal, try to tell a story from beginning to end. Do not randomly say things. If you are describing an event, describe it in one paragraph then move on. Do not remember something you forgot to mention earlier and just write it in—the comment should “fit” in your essay.
Create some type of outline where you decide where and when you are going to write Ms. W’s example • Example Outline • Paragraph 1: introduce my dad • Paragraph 2: talk about his weird clothes & car • Paragraph 3: camping trip • Paragraph 4: how I felt after the trip • Paragraph 5: the ice cream incident • Paragraph 6: why he is special, conclude
Writing Steps • Write • Read • Re-read • 2 others read • Revise
Assignment • You will write a biographical narrative about an ordinary person that you admire. • Must be typed • 12 point font • Times New Roman • Double-spaced • Dark blue or black ink • 1” borders
To receive full credit: Turn in these items in the following order: • Final copy, typed • Notes from this Power Point • Your rough draft with 2 signatures with comments
