PN+JennyY

The Narrative Essay (aka Personal Narrative)


 * Your writing task**: Your assignment is to write a narrative about a formative moment in your life that somehow defined who you are (the event changed you or you learned about an important idea). You must include several paragraphs that reflect on how you changed or what did you learned, and WHY it is significant.

Part I: Examining an example: "A Shirt Full of Bees"
Points to contemplate:
 * a narrative tells a story
 * a narrative has a point (aka - a thesis)
 * a narrative focuses on key moments and quickly deals with necessary, but uninteresting information
 * a narrative uses a consistent POV (1st or 3rd)
 * a narrative is rich in detail (that is, important/significant/interesting detail)
 * a narrative includes an interesting/creative introduction
 * a narrative includes a conclusion that leaves the reader thinking
 * a narrative essay includes several paragraphs that reflect on WHY the event described is important
 * How did you change? What did you learn? WHY is it significant?

Part II: Prewriting (post on your PN wiki page)

 * Assignment**: Your assignment is to write a narrative about a formative moment in your life that somehow defined who you are (the event changed you or you learned about an important idea). You must include several paragraphs that reflect on how you changed, what did you learned, and WHY is it significant.

Directions: Fill in the information below as completely as possible.

Your purpose is to explain, from your POV, a moment in your life that somehow defined who you are. Be as specific as possible. Focus in on one or two main events that demonstrate the change (or idea learned). What is your specific purpose in this narrative - what change are you demonstrating (or idea learned)? As a young child I have always viewed the world inferior to me. In doing so, all things present in this world have become unintentionally lower in status. However, as time progressed during my so far short life span, I have found people with admiration and shown them respect. I went to a Christmas party and met a celebrity somehow. My specific purpose would be the realization in my narrow minded view of the world. This specifically points towards ignorance, haughtiness, and most importantly, foolish judgement.
 * Purpose:**

Who is your audience? For those that have yet to know and understand our world.
 * Audience:**

In one sentence state the main idea of this story from the 1st person POV. (This is how you changed or what you learned.) When I can even barely grasp the concept of the world, I shouldn't ever try to judge anyone without grasping them.
 * Thesis:**

Looks like: Black hair, dark sullen eyes, short, female. Age: 15 Motivation / Objective: (What do you want?) I want peace (?)
 * Description of Character** (this is you)

Where does the narrative take place? At a party hosted by close friends When does the narrative take place? Christmas
 * Setting:**

In chronological order, list the main events of the story / narrative. **Hint:** focus your narrative on the key moment where the change occurred. 1. I view world narrow-mindedly 2. I go to a Christmas Party with my family and meet many people. 3. because of the narrow minded critics of many random people that obviously do not know this one person, he becomes increasingly stressed. 4. I get to engage with him in real conversation. 5. He is pretty drunk. 6. We talk about actors and actresses and about how I was interested. 7. He recommended I never choose to be an actress for my own good. 8. Although he was drunk, I felt the strong sincerity. 9. I realize my life had been lopsided all along.
 * Plot:**

What is the major problem in the story that produces the change in you? Describe this conflict in several complete sentences. People assuming incorrect things and causing accusations towards innocent people. The major conflict would be when the man describes his pain over the absurd hatred of millions of people for something he had not done. Someone had started the rumor, and once a rumor is started it must be spread. Are there any key moments in the story where dialogue would be effective? List these moments here. When I actually get a chance to talk to the man.
 * Conflict:**
 * Dialogue:**

List any sensory details that will be important in your narrative: sight, smells, sounds, tastes, touch, and movement. Sight: party; very festive smell: alcoholic, nice food smells sounds: very loud movement: lots of movement (party)
 * Sensory Details:**

How did you change? What did you learn? Why is it significant? I believe I changed positively and took one step towards maturity. I learned many things of course. I learned to try to understand those that you do not even know, stop being a narrow minded wretch, and to not judge.
 * Reflection / Analysis section**: //(this section is critical)//

Part III: Draft 1: (750 - 1000 words)
Organization

Introduction
 * attention grabbing statement (dialogue, startling statement, question, quotation)
 * introduce the focus of the paper - change or idea learned
 * establish the narrative POV - 1st person
 * thesis should be the last sentence of this paragraph

Body Paragraphs
 * begin telling the story (narrative) of change or idea learned
 * include specific events that caused the change
 * focus on showing not telling

Conclusion (might be several paragraphs)
 * reflect on how you changed or what you learned
 * explain WHY the change or idea learned is significant
 * end with with something for the reader to ponder

Make sure your narrative essay included the following:
 * a narrative tells a story
 * a narrative has a point (aka - a thesis)
 * a narrative focuses on key moments and quickly deals with necessary, but uninteresting information
 * a narrative uses a consistent POV (1st or 3rd)
 * a narrative is rich in detail (that is, important/significant/interesting detail)
 * a narrative includes an interesting/creative introduction
 * a narrative includes a conclusion that leaves the reader thinking
 * a narrative essay includes several paragraphs that reflect on WHY the event described is important
 * How did you change? What did you learn? WHY is it significant?

Examples: Narrative essays from Newsweek

**Part IV: Revising**
[|Revising a Narrative Essay and Adding Sentence Patterns .pdf]