Personal NarrativePersonal Narrative

Your lifeYour life’’s directions direction

AssignmentAssignment

► To write a narrative essay to develop a real To write a narrative essay to develop a real experience or event using effective experience or event using effective technique, well chosen details, and well technique, well chosen details, and well structured event sequences.structured event sequences.

► This should cover one small event. Don’t try This should cover one small event. Don’t try to write your whole life story. You want to to write your whole life story. You want to focus on one anecdote. Think about Elie focus on one anecdote. Think about Elie Wiesel and the small anecdotes he uses to Wiesel and the small anecdotes he uses to tell give his whole story life.tell give his whole story life.

GreeksGreeks► ““Know thyself.Know thyself.””► ““The life that is The life that is

unexamined is not unexamined is not worth living.worth living.””

► PlatoPlato

Getting startedGetting started

►This is not your typical 5 paragraph essay. This is not your typical 5 paragraph essay. Paragraphs should be divided in the Paragraphs should be divided in the following situations:following situations: Changing speakers in dialogueChanging speakers in dialogue Time changesTime changes Place changesPlace changes Major event changesMajor event changes Attempting to create suspenseAttempting to create suspense Important ideasImportant ideas Thought changeThought change

Getting startedGetting started►Chronological order is not necessary. Chronological order is not necessary. ►You should have at least one paragraph (if not You should have at least one paragraph (if not

more) per event section on your pre-write more) per event section on your pre-write sheet.sheet.

►Don’t use traditional intro paragraph; go Don’t use traditional intro paragraph; go straight to the description of the event. Think of straight to the description of the event. Think of starting with a conversation (dialogue) or with starting with a conversation (dialogue) or with details of where you are at the time. Maybe details of where you are at the time. Maybe select details about places and relationships select details about places and relationships and prior events that put the incident in and prior events that put the incident in context.context.

Getting startedGetting started

► Example: Example: The garden was always a place that I The garden was always a place that I went for peace and quiet. Never being outgoing or went for peace and quiet. Never being outgoing or sure of myself, I would sit and write in my diary sure of myself, I would sit and write in my diary among the roses and periwinkles each day with my among the roses and periwinkles each day with my dog, Fido, who loves me no matter what. Fido dog, Fido, who loves me no matter what. Fido always curled at my feet without a care in the always curled at my feet without a care in the world. One day, I didnworld. One day, I didn’’t go to the garden, and t go to the garden, and everything changed for me and for Fido.everything changed for me and for Fido.

Show, donShow, don’’t tellt tell

►Use specific names of people.Use specific names of people.►Record specific gestures or Record specific gestures or

movements of people, body language.movements of people, body language.►Describe sounds, smells, tastes, and Describe sounds, smells, tastes, and

physical sensations.physical sensations.►Example: My heart pumped wildly as I Example: My heart pumped wildly as I

ran from the front porch to the horrible ran from the front porch to the horrible scene. It smelled of burning hair. I saw scene. It smelled of burning hair. I saw Bobby crouched, holding Fido.Bobby crouched, holding Fido.

DialogueDialogue

►Record accurately what others said. Record accurately what others said. ►Dialogue can reveal character and Dialogue can reveal character and

move the events of the narrative move the events of the narrative forward.forward.

►Example: (following the previous two Example: (following the previous two scenes)scenes)

““I didnI didn’’t mean to,t mean to,”” Bobby said. Bobby said. ““I just I just wanted to scare him.wanted to scare him.””

One Moment in TimeOne Moment in Time

►You are trying to recreate this moment You are trying to recreate this moment in time, not retell a story; therefore, in time, not retell a story; therefore, you must be as detailed as possible. you must be as detailed as possible.

►Pretend you are going in slow motion.Pretend you are going in slow motion.►Act as if you don’t know the outcome Act as if you don’t know the outcome

until it occurs in your essay.until it occurs in your essay.► Incorporate those thoughts, feelings, Incorporate those thoughts, feelings,

physical details, etc.physical details, etc.

Your thoughtsYour thoughts

►Allow the reader to read your mind, so Allow the reader to read your mind, so include your thoughts along the way. Ask include your thoughts along the way. Ask yourself how you felt at certain times; yourself how you felt at certain times; put your thoughts in italics so that you put your thoughts in italics so that you don’t have to use the words “I thought.”don’t have to use the words “I thought.”

Example: Example: Bobby Braden, what did you do Bobby Braden, what did you do to Fido? to Fido? I clenched my fists and tried to I clenched my fists and tried to breathe deeply.breathe deeply.

Don’t…Don’t…

►Use generic emotional terms (happy, sad, Use generic emotional terms (happy, sad, mad, etc.); use words or actions to show mad, etc.); use words or actions to show how sad or mad you were (laughter, tears, how sad or mad you were (laughter, tears, punched a wall, etc.)punched a wall, etc.)

►Attempt to capture more than a few hours Attempt to capture more than a few hours in the narrative; this will take forever!in the narrative; this will take forever!

►Give away what the event or outcome at Give away what the event or outcome at the beginning; through your description, the the beginning; through your description, the reader should be able to guess what is reader should be able to guess what is happening to you.happening to you.

DoDo

►Use one verb tense! Use one verb tense! ► Include at least one example of Include at least one example of

dialogue! Don’t forget to change dialogue! Don’t forget to change paragraphs when speakers change.paragraphs when speakers change.

►Double-check that someone could Double-check that someone could imagine being in that situation at that imagine being in that situation at that time; ask yourself about what you saw, time; ask yourself about what you saw, said, felt, etc. constantly as you finish said, felt, etc. constantly as you finish your essay.your essay.

Double checkDouble check

►That your sentences don’t sound the That your sentences don’t sound the same. Look at the first few words after same. Look at the first few words after periods; if they all look alike, add some periods; if they all look alike, add some elements or transitions.elements or transitions.

►Check punctuation, spelling, grammar. Check punctuation, spelling, grammar.

ConclusionConclusion

► Reveal the final outcome.Reveal the final outcome.►Make clear how the incident was important to Make clear how the incident was important to

you.you.► Example:Example:

All through my childhood, I felt a bit uncertain of myself. All through my childhood, I felt a bit uncertain of myself. Anything new, even if it was something as simple as Anything new, even if it was something as simple as learning a new craft at camp or going to a party where I learning a new craft at camp or going to a party where I didndidn’’t know many people always filled me with dread. t know many people always filled me with dread. Those feelings of inadequacy were never as strong after Those feelings of inadequacy were never as strong after the incident with Fido. I kept my head during a crisis the incident with Fido. I kept my head during a crisis and saved my dogand saved my dog’’s life. My love for my dog made me s life. My love for my dog made me brave, and my moment of bravery made me believe in brave, and my moment of bravery made me believe in myself to a degree I had never had before.myself to a degree I had never had before.

Prewriting RoadmapPrewriting Roadmap

Choose the incident from your Choose the incident from your brainstormed notes.brainstormed notes.

OROR

Draw a road map of your life beginning Draw a road map of your life beginning at birth and ending at the present. The at birth and ending at the present. The map should turn at significant events.map should turn at significant events.

Moved

Born Sister born

Preschool

Grade school

Fell from swing

Joined Scouts

Saved my dog

Started high school

VisualizeVisualize► Close your eyes and see the scene in your Close your eyes and see the scene in your

mind. Sketch the images as you go.mind. Sketch the images as you go.► Take time to do that now.Take time to do that now.

InterviewingInterviewing

► Talk to people who Talk to people who were involved – were involved – family members, family members, friends, neighbors, friends, neighbors, teachers. Ask how teachers. Ask how they remember the they remember the incident.incident.

Using Memory SouvenirsUsing Memory Souvenirs

►Find objects or artifacts you associate Find objects or artifacts you associate with the incident. Focus on the with the incident. Focus on the memories they bring back.memories they bring back.

ToneTone

►LightheartedLighthearted►AngryAngry►SolemnSolemn►NostalgicNostalgic

Let’s start thinkingLet’s start thinking

►Look at your brainstorming sheets.Look at your brainstorming sheets.►Choose a topic you would like to write Choose a topic you would like to write

aboutabout►Write a brief one paragraph summary Write a brief one paragraph summary

of the event.of the event.►Bracket it into parts.Bracket it into parts.►Fill out your personal narrative chart.Fill out your personal narrative chart.

ExampleExample

► I had just flown to meet Daniel and his I had just flown to meet Daniel and his family at the beach. I was tired and family at the beach. I was tired and worn from traveling, but Daniel’s worn from traveling, but Daniel’s family wanted to take a walk on the family wanted to take a walk on the beach, so we went. Daniel wanted to beach, so we went. Daniel wanted to keep walking after his family decided keep walking after his family decided to go in. We did. During that part of to go in. We did. During that part of the walk, he got down on one knee the walk, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. and asked me to marry him.

Overall eventOverall event

Parts People Actions/Words Thoughts/feelings

1. Arrival Danielfamily

Hair tangled, hugs, “glad you made it”

Happy (smiles), exhausted (heavy eyes)

2. Beach walk Danielfamily

Laughter, walking, kicking sand, making fun of Uncle Robert

Relaxed, how funny his family is, how lucky I am to get to put my toes in the sand

3. Continue walk alone

Daniel Hand holding, looking for crabs, chasing them, talking about flight

Carefree, interesting creatures crabs are, how good Houston is to tolerate me

4. Marriage proposal

Daniel Down on one knee, “will you marry me”Ring on my fingerForgetting to say yes

Is this really happening now? Excited, shocked (heart racing), what a perfect night