Narrative writing is used when you write about your experiences. Besides just telling the story of what happened, you also reveal something you learned about yourself along the way. Here's an example of a personal narrative.
Tips for writing narrative essays:
1. Begin with action!
BAD EXAMPLE: One rainy day I went to the mall.
REVISION: I splashed across the parking lot, yanked open the tall glass door, and dripping wet, stepped into the mall.
2. Since a narrative essay relies on personal experiences, it often is in the form of a story. When you write a story, you must be sure to include all the conventions of storytelling: plot, character, setting, climax, and ending.
It is usually filled with details that are carefully selected to explain, support, or embellish the story. All of the details relate to the main point the writer is attempting to make..
SEQUENCE EXAMPLES: chronological, flashback, flash forward
3. Use descriptive words
BUILD EXCITEMENT : Suddenly, Just then, A moment later, All of a sudden, The next thing I knew
LITERARY TECHNIQUES: similes, imagery, vivid verbs, adjectives, adverbs,
4. Wrap up your story with an ending that shows how you grew or changed in some way as a result of your experience. You can do that in four different ways (memory, feeling, hope/wish, or decision).
MEMORY EXAMPLE: I'll never forget the time I explored the old cave.
FEELING EXAMPLE: I can still feel the chill tingling down my spine when I remember getting lost in the cave.
HOPE/WISH EXAMPLE: I hope that the next time I am out exploring, I don’t find myself in a cave!
DECISION EXAMPLE : From that day on, I decided I would never go exploring alone.
Now that you know the basics, let's practice.
1. Read this list of ways to 'hook' your reader. Then work your way through the 4 practice links at the bottom of the page. Once you think you've got the hang of writing strong opening sentences, download this Spiffy Story Starter Strategy worksheet and complete it for homework.
2. Write a story based on this PSSA writing prompt. Be sure to use an active beginning, organize your story, use phrases to build excitement, incorporate descriptive language, and an ending that shows how you've grown from the experience. Here's an example of a narrative essay on this topic (it's a download).
3. Here's another PSSA prompt. Remember to hook us into your story, sequence the events, use descriptive language, and wrap up your story with your point about how you changed because of your experience.
4. Click here to see a list of 24 other narrative writing prompts.
5. If you're ready to kick your narrative writing up a notch go to our 'Kick it Up a Notch' Writing Page.
