Writing a Personal Narrative

Introduction to Narrative Writing

Personal Narrative & The Writing Process

Things to think about...

• Why do we write? What is the importance of writing?

• What are the steps in the writing process? How do these steps help us become more effective writers?

• What are the goals of narrative writing?

Open Ended

Take the next few minutes to respond to the following quote:

"Writing is thinking on paper."

- William Zinsser

Why write?

• Why should I write? To think critically and get in touch with one's own thoughts about a specific subject matter either academic or personal.

• Why do teachers assign writing? Writing is an excellent evaluation tool, it gives us insight on your knowledge of a subject.

Open Ended

List as many steps of the writing process that you can. Briefly describe the work that goes into each of the steps.

The Writing Process

• Prewriting. Explore the possible topics before selecting one to write about. Collect details about the topic and plan how to use them when writing.

• Writing. Complete a first draft using your plan as a road map. Use this draft to get everything down on paper.

• Revising. Review the first draft and make changes to any ideas that are not clear or complete. Get a partner or parent to read your work, a fresh set of eyes can be very helpful.

• Editing. Check your writing for correctness. Proofread for errors before publishing.

• Publishing. Share your work with others!

Multiple Choice

Choose the best answer.

The main purpose of revision is to...

• select a topic to write about.

• develop a first draft.

• check for correctness.

• improve your writing.

Multiple Choice

Choose the best answer.

During prewriting, a writer should...

• share their writing with a partner.

• check for correctness.

• select a topic and gather details about that topic.

• develop a first draft.

Goals of Narrative Writing

• Ideas. Use details and dialogue to tell about a specific experience or event. Make the reader want to know what happens next.

• Organization. Open with a clear beginning that hooks the reader. Then present ideas in the order in which they happened.

• Voice. Write the narrative in a way that sounds natural- like the real you. Give the people in your narrative voice too.

• Word choice. Use specific nouns, vivid verbs, and colorful adjectives.

Multiple Select

What is a quality of writing that DOES NOT enhance word choice?

• Using vivid verbs.

• Using general nouns.

• Using colorful adjectives.

Open Ended

Why is it helpful to the reader to organize your narrative writing in chronological order?

Writing a Personal Narrative

Techiques, Tips, & Tricks

Our writing Mantra:

SHOW AND DON'T TELL

Writing techniques to accomplish our goal

• Vivid descriptions

• Zoom in specific moments

• Emotion

• Dialogue

Vivid description

Imagine you are this red panda laying on a branch. Describe the setting using the 5 senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch).

Open Ended

Vivid Description: Imagine you are this red panda laying on a branch. Describe the setting using the 5 senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch).

Emotion

Readers want to feel a connection to what you felt.

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Practice: Describe how the woman in the photo really feels with adjectives​

Open Ended

Describe how the woman in the photo really feels (use adjectives)

Introduction to Narrative Writing

Narrative Writing

​tells a story. It includes experiences or events that have been imagined by the writer. Good fiction writing uses effective narrative techniques. These include relevant descriptive details using precise words and figurative language and a structure with a series of events. They may be presented chronologically, or writers can present those events in an order that makes their story even more interesting.

The characteristics of fiction writing include setting, characters, & plot.

Narrative Writing Structure

In narrative writing, a writer creates a story out of real or imagined events. A narrative is usually organized by the plot or the series of events that take place. The plot is driven by a conflict or a problem that the characters face. Narratives are often arranged with a clear beginning, middle, and end. However, a writer may choose to structure the narrative in a logical order or mix up the sequence of events to capture the reader’s interest. Regardless of the author’s choice of how to sequence the events of a story, narratives move through five stages: Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.

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Narrative Writing Structure

1. Exposition - introduces the characters, setting, and provides background details (the conflict is introduced)

2. Rising action - develops the conflict (all events that lead to the turning point)

3. Climax - the point of highest interest or suspense (turning point)

4. Falling action - what happens after the climax

5. Resolution - how the conflict is solved

Subject | Subject

What Should I Write About?

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• A fun day with a special person

• A time you learned something about yourself or someone else

• A time you learned something new

• A visit to a new place

• ​A time where you overcame a challenge

• ​The first time you did something

• The last time you did something​

Think out loud! Speaking takes less time than talking. Talk to a partner about your idea. Do you have enough details to make it a good story?

Planning/Prewriting Stage

This week we will be composing our own narrative writing pieces. Please take the remainder of class to brainstorm and plan your writing piece. I will be coming around to assist with ideas and brainstorming!