Personal Narrative
A good personal narrative is a powerful story that the writer creates. The writer uses his or her "voice" in the text to create that unique storytelling experience that clearly defines who they are. In other words the audience of readers should know it is you because they can pick up on your personality in how the text is written. Just because you went to Knott's Berry Farm on Saturday does not mean there is a story there. Even if you had a blast. That is why you have to pick out that "small seed" moment like when your father fell out on the Calico River Rapids ride. That doesn't usually happen, right? So that's a good story right there. People would naturally want to hear more and have questions. If you end that story with an important message like, "...and that's why you are supposed to wear the lap belt," then you have a powerful ending that we can all learn from.
1) Think of a person, place, or moment in your life that matters and write a story.
A) Ask what is my story really about? Include descriptions, dialogue, and inner thinking that
convey that meaning.
2) Focus on one episode and write with detail.
3) Help readers picture the episode with the small actions of the moment.
A) Zoom in on small powerful details that capture big moments and feelings.
B) Elaborate on important scenes
C) Include new scenes:
i) Remembered from the past
ii) Imagined but necessary to help the reader understand your story better
4) Use the exact dialogue unique to each character.
A) Characters use words, phrases, and tone that show their personalities.
B) Explain why characters act the way they do.
7) Climb inside the moment and write within the narrator's point of view.
8) Craft a memorable lead to begin your narrative.
9) Craft an ending that delivers a powerful message:
A) Something you learned or you now understand better as a result of the experience
10) Be sure to write your story with your own unique voice.
11) Use the "Narrative Writing Checklist" to ask and plan your next steps as a writer.
A) Ask what is my story really about? Include descriptions, dialogue, and inner thinking that
convey that meaning.
2) Focus on one episode and write with detail.
3) Help readers picture the episode with the small actions of the moment.
A) Zoom in on small powerful details that capture big moments and feelings.
B) Elaborate on important scenes
C) Include new scenes:
i) Remembered from the past
ii) Imagined but necessary to help the reader understand your story better
4) Use the exact dialogue unique to each character.
A) Characters use words, phrases, and tone that show their personalities.
B) Explain why characters act the way they do.
7) Climb inside the moment and write within the narrator's point of view.
8) Craft a memorable lead to begin your narrative.
9) Craft an ending that delivers a powerful message:
A) Something you learned or you now understand better as a result of the experience
10) Be sure to write your story with your own unique voice.
11) Use the "Narrative Writing Checklist" to ask and plan your next steps as a writer.
Narrative Writing Checklist
The Narrative Writing Checklist (5th Grade) below can help the writer
make sure that he/she are writing a narrative essay.
make sure that he/she are writing a narrative essay.
Personal Narrative Writing Posters from Class
Using Quotations in Personal Narratives
How-to-Write Dialogue
When writing dialogue in your narratives or other fictional stories, it is important to begin a new paragraph each time the speaker changes. We start a new paragraph by hitting return and then tab one time. See the example below:
Fall is such a beautiful time of year because like most Californians we have suffered through the extreme temperatures of summer. The fall temperature is much cooler. The freshness of the air seems to be cleaner and less stuffy than the sweltering heat of summer, and some of our trees leaves start to change color in preparation for the winter months.
"I like the fall because we start a new school year," Geraldine said.
"That's true," said Niko, "but I love the fall because it is football season."
"Oh, that's right," Geraldine remembered that her mother signed her up for flag football this year at Peck Park. She was nervous about running around on the field especially when it was so hot this past summer. She asked, "Are you playing football, Niko?"
"No, I wanted too, but it was going to conflict with baseball. I told my parents that I'll just play baseball this fall."
"The team is going to miss you this year," Geraldine replied.
Niko said, "Yeah, but at least I'll still have time to play and collect some of the orange maple leaves from my front yard. Last fall I didn't get a chance to play in the collected leaves my father rakes up and I was kind of bummed about it."
"We should totally do that this year!"
"Absolutely," Niko said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. "Let's put it in the calendar."
"I like the fall because we start a new school year," Geraldine said.
"That's true," said Niko, "but I love the fall because it is football season."
"Oh, that's right," Geraldine remembered that her mother signed her up for flag football this year at Peck Park. She was nervous about running around on the field especially when it was so hot this past summer. She asked, "Are you playing football, Niko?"
"No, I wanted too, but it was going to conflict with baseball. I told my parents that I'll just play baseball this fall."
"The team is going to miss you this year," Geraldine replied.
Niko said, "Yeah, but at least I'll still have time to play and collect some of the orange maple leaves from my front yard. Last fall I didn't get a chance to play in the collected leaves my father rakes up and I was kind of bummed about it."
"We should totally do that this year!"
"Absolutely," Niko said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. "Let's put it in the calendar."
Mr. Miller's Narrative Process Example #1
ROUGH DRAFT #1 FOR CONTENT: IN THIS DRAFT, I AM LOOKING TO CHANGE SOME OF THE CONTENT TO MAKE THE STORY BETTER. AS I READ THIS DRAFT, I DECIDE ON WHAT I LIKE AND WANT TO KEEP, AND THAT WHICH DOESN'T SOUND GREAT OR TAKES THE READER AWAY FROM THE STORY.
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ROUGH DRAFT #2 FOR CHECKING GRAMMAR. I THINK THE SECOND DRAFT IS A BETTER STORY THEN ROUGH DRAFT #1. I MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO IT, SO NOW BEFORE PUBLISHING MY STORY I NEED TO MAKE SURE I FOLLOW ALL THE GRAMMATICAL RULES AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.
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THE FINAL DRAFT
Mr. Miller's Narrative Process Example #2
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ROUGH DRAFT FOR CONTENT
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CONTENT EDITED AND PROOFREAD FOR ERRORS
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Notice that the Final Draft is typed and double-spaced, the font is Ariel and size 12, I have added a title to the story, included some more authentic details, checked for spelling and punctuation, and it's presented in pristine condition.
Mr. Miller's Narrative Process Example #3
ROUGH DRAFT FOR GRAMMAR AND CONTENT
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I worked on this draft on google classroom and then began to proofread my copy by hand. Interestingly, when I read the story to my own child, she said that she did not understand it. That is a big reason why I included the Author's Note at the very beginning of my final draft.
A Science Fiction Sample based in San Pedro
and the Great Los Angeles Air Raid
and the Great Los Angeles Air Raid