Objective: I will l earn how to organize and write a narrative essay

1. Objective:I will learn how to organize and write a narrative essay Narrative Essay

2. What is a Narrative ? • A narrative essay recreates an experience through time. • It is based on one of your own experiences, either past or present. • A narrative essay always communicates a lesson learned (a theme) • As you write remember to use vivid details to recreate the experience for the reader

3. Your essay should have a plot • Exposition (setting, characters) • Conflict (what is your struggle) • Series of events or Rising action (character faces obstacles or must make tough decisions • Climax – moment where character must decide (everything has built to this one moment). It is the most suspenseful or emotional moment • Resolution- all the loose ends of the plot are tied up

4. Step 1: Analyze the Prompt Prompt: Write a composition about the positive or negative effects of learning something new.

5. Step 2: Brainstorm events related to the prompt. My mom played Santa to poor kids Times when I learned something new I learned not to pick on somebody bigger I learned how to play tennis My uncle taught me how to fish Take a minute and think about what is the point of this experience

6. My house (cheerful, decorated, presents) Poor house (dreary, plain, no presents) Step 3: Explore your memory for details. Memorable Christmas Scenes

7. Me (happy, resentful) Mom (insightful, insistent) Poor mom (sad, glowing smile) My house (cheerful, decorated, presents) Poor house (dreary, plain, no presents) Poor kids (torn clothes, sad eyes) Modeling Autobiographical Incident Step 3: Explore your memory for details. Memorable Christmas Key People Scenes

8. Mom (insightful, insistent) Poor mom (sad, glowing smile) Me (happy, resentful) My house (cheerful, decorated, presents) Poor house (dreary, plain, no presents) Visit kids Made choice Watch kids Got doll Poor kids (torn clothes, sad eyes) Reflected and thanked mom Modeling Autobiographical Incident Step 3: Explore your memory for details. Memorable Christmas Main Events Key People Scenes

9. Me (happy, resentful) Mom (insightful, insistent) Poor mom (sad, glowing smile) My house (cheerful, decorated, presents) Poor house (dreary, plain, no presents) I learned that people can get more joy from giving than from receiving Visit kids Made choice Watch kids Got doll Poor kids (torn clothes, sad eyes) Reflected and thanked mom Step 3: Explore your memory for details. Memorable Christmas Main Events Significance Key People Scenes

10. Orally rehearse your autobiographical narrative with another person.

11. Step 4: Write an introduction. Include a grabber, some background information, and a hint of the topic. Sentence 1: Grabber Sentence 2-4: Background information (at least two sentences) Sentence 5: Hint about what the story is about Grabber Sometimes the best lessons in life come our way when we least expect them. That is exactly what happened on December 25th in my ninth year of life. For weeks my mother had scurried around our spacious home decorating each room with traditional Christmas paraphernalia. For days, Mom had stationed herself in our kitchen preparing a special feast for all of the relatives who would arrive for Christmas dinner. This was not an unusual Christmas, or so I thought. Each year seemed to be just as festive and delightful as the previous one. Background Hint

12. many gifts, doll is favorite feelings, thoughts Mom’s announcement made choice • Step 5: Draw a Flow Map • Paragraph two (rising action): write about the first event that sets up the series of events that will lead to the main point of your narrative. • Paragraph three and four?: (rising action and climax) These paragraph should detail what leads up to and is the most important • Paragraph five: (falling action) Wrap up the details of your story leading to the conclusion Early that morning Saw presents under the tree

13. my thoughts and feelings in the car many gifts, doll is favorite Conversation With Mom describe poorhouse feelings, thoughts describe poor mother describe poor kids Mom’s announcement my thoughts, feelings what Mom did kids’ reaction made choice Step 6: Flow Map the next events (these lead up to your main point). Remember to slow down the action and use precise details. Remember: Transitions (time order) Early that morning About mid-morning A short while later Took gifts to poor kids Drove back home Saw presents under the tree

14. Step 7: Write your conclusion. Sentences 1-3: State why this event was memorable. Sentence 4-5 : State or imply what happened as a result of your experience. Try to use a statement about human experience in general (theme or moral). why it was memorable Many Christmas days have come and gone since that one Christmas when we visited the poor kids. . .Yet no Christmas has been quite as meaningful as that one. No present, food, or decoration has succeeded in warming my heart like the smile of the little ragged girl who received my special Christmas doll. I learned something about life that day – real joy comes in giving, rather than in receiving. My mother taught me well. relate to human experience

15. Modeling Autobiographical Incident Step 8: Write your story using your Flow Map. Don’t just tell your readers the story. Use vivid details and descriptions to recreate the experience for the reader.