“Those who tell the stories rule the world.”
Narrative Essay Planning and Writing The goal of a narrative essay is to tell stories. Narrative writing works best when it presents
and develops a story in an organized manner. Narrative writing should carry readers along and
make them want to know what will happen next.
A good narrative essay contains three basic story elements:
1. the setting (where and when the story takes place)
2. the characters (the people in the story)
3. a plot (the main events)
The narrative plot contains a beginning, a middle, and an end and many vivid details that
bring the story to life. To make sure that you have included these essential story elements in
your essay, making a plan for the essay is advisable. A plot diagram is the easiest way for
planning your essay.
The
exposition
and the
rising action
form part of
the
beginning of
the story.
The climax is the
middle of the story
(Heightened tension in the climax)
The
falling
action and
the
resolution
are the
ending
part of the
story; the
conclusion
of the
story.
The 5 key events can be used as topic sentences or in other words can be the starting line of
5 separate paragraphs now. (Introduction+ 3 body paragraphs + a conclusion = Essay)
“Those who tell the stories rule the world.”
Let me use this diagram to show you how to effectively tackle a narrative essay using this essay
plot diagram. For example, I have an essay title “A Frightening Experience”. Before writing
my essay, I am going to use my plot diagram to plan my essay and make sure I have included
all the essential story elements.
With my plot containing the key events now, it is easy for me to write my essay with an
introduction, 3 body paragraphs and a conclusion.
Essay Title:
A Frightening Experience
Parents never
let me stay
home alone, but
one night, the
baby sitter
cancels and
they have to.
Everything
starts of fine. I
am having a
good time.
I see a frog in the
hall. I am totally
afraid of frogs, so
I freak out.
I chase the frog
out of the house
with a tennis
racket breaking
several vases that
were dear to my
mother. But could
not catch it.
I spend the rest of
the night cleaning
up my mess and
having my mother
shout at me when
she came back.
I consider asking
to not be left
alone, then realize
the frog incident
showed me I’m
stronger than I
thought.
It is in the exposition
that the characters
and the setting is
established.
So here, my
characters are me (I)
and my parents and
my setting is my
house.
The exposition is also
known as the introduction.
This is just the first line of
the paragraph. Remember it
is now your job to add other
details to expand on these
main ideas and to write a
longer paragraph.
“Those who tell the stories rule the world.”
Now it is your turn.
Use the plot diagram to plan a narrative essay titled: “A Lesson Learnt”.
Now with your plot (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution),
write your 250-word narrative essay in the following space provided.
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“Those who tell the stories rule the world.”
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“Those who tell the stories rule the world.”
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