Narrative Essay
The Narrative Essay
*What is a Narrative Essay? • Narrative writing tells a story. In essays, the narrative writing could also be considered reflection or an exploration of the author's values told as a story. The author may remember his or her past, or a memorable person or event from that past, or even observe the present. • The author may write about: -An experience or event from his or her past. -A recent or ongoing experience or event. -Something that happened to someone else, such as a parent or a grandparent.
*Basic qualities of a narrative essay: • A narrative essay is a piece of writing that recreates an experience through time. • Unlike other essays, you may write in the first person (I, me, we) because it is a story about YOU! • In addition to telling a story, a narrative essay also communicates a main idea or a lesson learned.
*First steps for writing a narrative essay:
• Identify the experience that you want to write about. • Think about why the experience is significant. • Spend a good deal of time drafting your recollections about the details of the experience. • Create an outline of the basic parts of your narrative.
*Writing about the experience:
• Using your outline, describe each part of your narrative. • Rather than telling your readers what happened, use vivid details and descriptions to actually recreate the experience for your readers. • Use descriptive language. This is made possible by using figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification), sensory words (words using your 5 senses), and vivid words (“the author ‘stood timidly,’ or “my grandmother looked at me with great concern as if I were the only person in the world that mattered.) • Don’t tell. Show. It’s not interesting to read about the garage sale. But it is fascinating to see, feel and experience one. Don’t be greedy on
*What is a Narrative Essay? • Narrative writing tells a story. In essays, the narrative writing could also be considered reflection or an exploration of the author's values told as a story. The author may remember his or her past, or a memorable person or event from that past, or even observe the present. • The author may write about: -An experience or event from his or her past. -A recent or ongoing experience or event. -Something that happened to someone else, such as a parent or a grandparent.
*Basic qualities of a narrative essay: • A narrative essay is a piece of writing that recreates an experience through time. • Unlike other essays, you may write in the first person (I, me, we) because it is a story about YOU! • In addition to telling a story, a narrative essay also communicates a main idea or a lesson learned.
*First steps for writing a narrative essay:
• Identify the experience that you want to write about. • Think about why the experience is significant. • Spend a good deal of time drafting your recollections about the details of the experience. • Create an outline of the basic parts of your narrative.
*Writing about the experience:
• Using your outline, describe each part of your narrative. • Rather than telling your readers what happened, use vivid details and descriptions to actually recreate the experience for your readers. • Use descriptive language. This is made possible by using figurative language (similes, metaphors, personification), sensory words (words using your 5 senses), and vivid words (“the author ‘stood timidly,’ or “my grandmother looked at me with great concern as if I were the only person in the world that mattered.) • Don’t tell. Show. It’s not interesting to read about the garage sale. But it is fascinating to see, feel and experience one. Don’t be greedy on