WRITING A NARRATIVE
First, let's see what you already know how to do. We will write from a prompt to gain an idea of what you know and what you will need to learn this year.
Use this rubric to evaluate your first narrative. It is also the rubric we will use throughout this unit to gauge your progress. |
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Writing a Narrative
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JOURNAL WRITINGS
We'll be writing in our journals daily to collect some potential ideas for our next personal narratives.
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More Journal Topics to Inspire Narratives
- Think back to a time that you were extremely scared. What caused it, why did it make you so afraid and how did you let go of that fear?
- Remember a time in which you felt naive. What are some of the things you know now that you didn't know in that situation? Do you ever miss not having that knowledge, why or why not?
- Have you ever been so excited that you could barely hold it in? Write about the experience and what it was that caused such anticipation. What would have to happen nowadays to give you the same level of excitement?
- Create a story about a time in which you were happy to be alive. What caused this sensation and how might you be able to use this memory when you're feeling down?
- Firsts are extremely important to us, such as losing our first tooth, our first day of school, and our first kiss. Write about one of your firsts. What was so important about this first at the time, and is it still important to you now?
- Imagine a time in your life in which you were very embarrassed. Now imagine you were 10 times as confident during the situation as you actually were. What would have happened differently in the situation and why?
- Write about a time in which someone made fun of you. How did you react and why? Do you wish you had handled the situation differently?
Click the button below for 500 more prompts.
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LESSON #1 What is a Personal Narrative?
Each student will read a sample personal narrative written by a famous young adult author. After reading the story, complete the summary sheet and prepare to share your story with your group. What do these good narratives have in common?
Read this story for a sample of a quality personal narrative. Analyze the parts that make this good.
Here are a few more sample student narratives:
The Racist Warehouse
The Climb
My Mother's Shoes
The Jacket
The Racist Warehouse
The Climb
My Mother's Shoes
The Jacket
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LESSON #2 Analyzing Narratives: Good vs. Bad
Students will read a bad narrative and analyze the qualities that make it bad. Then students will read a better narrative and analyze the qualities that make it better.
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LESSON #3 Planning to Write Your Own Personal Narrative
Watch the Intro to Personal Narrative below to grasp the idea and gain some insight. Then watch the instruction portion of Writing a Personal Narrative below in order to learn the five requirements of a good personal narrative.
Intro to Personal Narrative |
Writing a Personal Narrative |
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Mrs. Powers' First Draft
Here is my first attempt. I decided to write about the day I witnessed a plane crash.
Here is my first attempt. I decided to write about the day I witnessed a plane crash.
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LESSON #4 Starting with a PLOT / Story Structure
First, what are the elements of a story?
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Now, print the Story Map and begin writing your own story.
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ConflictBegin by deciding upon the conflict. What is the main character struggling with? Is it an internal conflict or an external one?
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PlotNext, using your story map, begin writing out the events that make up your story. Make sure that the story is leading toward a climax or big decision. Then resolve that decision in the resolution.
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LESSON #5 Making Sure You Have a THEME
Before choosing the experience for the story you will write, make sure it is an experience from which you can draw a theme -- a lesson learned by the main character (probably you). Throughout every story, the main character should grow or change in some way. Think back through your memories for a time when you had an AHA moment, when you gained a realization that you hadn't had before.
What is Theme? |
How to Write with Theme |
Next, using your Story Map and what you've just learned about theme, take about thirty minutes to write a rough draft of your own personal narrative.
Mrs. Powers' 2nd Draft
I knew that need to rewrite my personal narrative after figuring out a theme / a purpose. I knew that watching that plane crash had changed my thinking. I knew that I needed to bring that change out in my writing. Here's my next attempt.
I knew that need to rewrite my personal narrative after figuring out a theme / a purpose. I knew that watching that plane crash had changed my thinking. I knew that I needed to bring that change out in my writing. Here's my next attempt.
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LESSON #6 Creating a Descriptive SETTING
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After practicing using sensory details in this lesson, choose at least one of your settings (or perhaps one of your objects) that is important to the plot of the story and describe it with sensory details so that your reader feels like part of the story. |
Mrs. Powers' 3rd Draft
Since setting didn't play a large role in my story, I knew that I had to spend some time adding sensory details to the plane falling from the sky. I added those details into this version. I also attempted to bring my theme out even more, but I think I may have gone a little too far this time.
Since setting didn't play a large role in my story, I knew that I had to spend some time adding sensory details to the plane falling from the sky. I added those details into this version. I also attempted to bring my theme out even more, but I think I may have gone a little too far this time.
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LESSON #7 Creating Realistic CHARACTERS
Next, you will be looking carefully at your characters to ensure that you have made them realistic and have made them come to life for your readers.
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Mrs. Powers' 4th Draft
This activity helped me to realize that I had not created characters that a reader could relate to. I had just told the story. I added in thoughts and feelings and a few more physical descriptions to help my characters become real.
This activity helped me to realize that I had not created characters that a reader could relate to. I had just told the story. I added in thoughts and feelings and a few more physical descriptions to help my characters become real.
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LESSON #8 Adding DIALOGUE
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Dialogue makes a story come alive. To hear the characters' actual words allows the readers to feel a part of the story. You can add dialogue to reveal your characters' personalities. Dialogue can move the story along. Plus, dialogue can be used to paint a picture of the setting. Watch the Powerpoint, then complete the dialogue practice sheet.
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LESSON #9 Creating an Interesting LEAD
Perhaps the most important few lines of a narrative, a lead starts the writing off on the right foot. It ignites a passion in the writer to tell his/her story, and it allows the reader to become intrigued and read on.
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Adding DEPTH
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LESSON #10 SHOWING not Telling
All good writers have heard the tip to SHOW, not tell, what their characters are doing. That is our next job. Go through your narrative searching for telling sentences and turn them into showing sentences.
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Mrs. Powers' 5th Draft
Since I've been writing for awhile, I have written many showing sentences, but I found a couple that were telling and could use a little improvement. I marked them with a red X and added some showing phrases.
Since I've been writing for awhile, I have written many showing sentences, but I found a couple that were telling and could use a little improvement. I marked them with a red X and added some showing phrases.
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LESSON #11 Adding FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE and SYMBOLISM
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
Adding Figurative Language is another way to add depth to your writing. Four common types of figurative language used in writing are . . .
SIMILE - a comparison of two unlike things using "like" or "as"
Ex. She is as a rose - brilliant, delicate, and lovely.
METAPHOR - a thing regarded as symbolic of something else (uses no comparison words)
Ex. I had fallen through a trapdoor of depression.
PERSONIFICATION - giving human characteristics to something nonhuman
Ex. The sky wept as we buried my mother.
HYPERBOLE - exaggeration for effect
Ex. I'm dying of shame.
Adding Figurative Language is another way to add depth to your writing. Four common types of figurative language used in writing are . . .
SIMILE - a comparison of two unlike things using "like" or "as"
Ex. She is as a rose - brilliant, delicate, and lovely.
METAPHOR - a thing regarded as symbolic of something else (uses no comparison words)
Ex. I had fallen through a trapdoor of depression.
PERSONIFICATION - giving human characteristics to something nonhuman
Ex. The sky wept as we buried my mother.
HYPERBOLE - exaggeration for effect
Ex. I'm dying of shame.
As you can see, writers of many genres use figurative language to add depth and spice to their writings. Now it is your turn to try. Find one or two places in your narrative where you could add more detail and depth by using one of the examples of figurative language defined above.
SYMBOLISM
SYMBOLISM - when an object, person, or event represents an abstract idea different from the literal meaning.
Ex. the blooming flower could be a symbol of life and growth
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Consider the theme or So What? of your narrative. What could you use to symbolize that point? How could you weave that symbol into your narrative to add even more depth? Try it.
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LESSON #12 Creating a Powerful RESOLUTION
Mrs. Powers' 6th Draft
As I read my resolution, I realized that I had spelled out the theme, instead of allowing my audience to draw their own conclusions. I threw away the entire last paragraph and rewrote it so that my audience would have to decide the theme of the story.
As I read my resolution, I realized that I had spelled out the theme, instead of allowing my audience to draw their own conclusions. I threw away the entire last paragraph and rewrote it so that my audience would have to decide the theme of the story.
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LESSON #13 Revising for SUPER SENTENCES and SENTENCE VARIETY
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LESSON #14 Revising for WISE WORD CHOICE
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Now that we've taken the time to revise for each aspect of a quality narrative, make sure that your narrative is polished to perfection. You want readers to enjoy what you've written, not be bothered by errors. Below is the rubric by which you will be graded. Make sure you are in the SUCCEEDED column or the ABOVE and BEYOND column in all areas.