Lesson 13Introduction to the

Narrative Essay

Writer’s Prompt:

After years of leading a normal life, you discover

you have a special ability. Afraid to share this

information with anyone, you finally confide your

secret to your closest friend. To your surprise, your

friend shares some information with you—he also has a super power!

Assignments

►Narrative Essay Due Dates►Read Raymond Carver’s “My Father’s

Life,” Page 81 in Great Writing (Meaning) #3 (Language) #2

The Narrative Essay

►Double spaced►11 point Arial►1.5 to 2 pages►See topic suggestions

Assignment Review

►What is a narrative?►Why did the narrator of “Buck Fever”

quit hunting deer?

The Narrative Essay

What is a Narrative Essay?

► It’s a story – it can be real or imagined

► It connects us to other people► It can:

raise a question► What is truth? ► What would you do in this situation?► How can you make a difference?

What is a Narrative Essay?

provide an insight► We each have something in common one

with another► Sometimes it pays to be nice

offer a moral.► The root of evil is the love of money► Tell the truth► Don’t steal.

What is a Narrative Essay?

offer a challenge.► Change the world► Help others now► Feed the hungry

provide a mirror for our own lives► This sounds like me► I can relate to what the protagonist is going

through

What is a Narrative Essay?

►A narrative is a story►A narrative essay is a story that has a

specific point A narrative essay strives to teach a lesson or A narrative essay strives to make a specific

point A narrative essay is not a diary entry – the

story is linked to the purpose of the essay

How is the Narrative Essay written?►Often written in 1st person – “I or we” –

because it is based on a personal story►Can also be written in 3rd person (“they”)►Can never be written in 2nd person (you)►Has specific sensory details to get the

reader hooked on the story► Is usually developed in chronological order►Uses specific verbs to help paint a picture

and draw in the reader

Time Order

►Most narratives are written chronologically – this happened, then this, then this…

►Can be written “medias res” – in the midst of things – where readers find themselves in the heat of an event

►Flashbacks are used by skillful writers – may confuse the reader – not recommended for beginning writers

Kinds of NarrativesThe Narrative Summary

►Covers large segment of time►Writers of history, memoirs, biography

use this►Raymond Carver uses it in “My

Father’s Life”

Kinds of NarrativesThe Narrative Moment

►Covers a limited time frame►All details are explored for an intense,

comprehensive view of a flash of time

What Else Does the Narrative Essay Need?

►Since it is a story, the narrative essay needs everything a story needs (story elements) plot characters a problem a climax dialogue setting

►And it has a “Narrative Structure”

Narrative Structure or Plot Line

Resolution

Introduction

Climax

RisingAction

FallingAction

The Story of a Life in Stop Motion

“Death Calls at Dinner”

Listen for the narrative elements.

Identify some of the narrative elements of

“Death…”►Setting►Characters►Dialogue►Plot►Climax►Moral►Point of view

“Small Town Terror”

Read the essay “Small Town Terror” and be prepared to

explain the different elements which make this a narrative

essay.

Describe the narrative elements of “Small-Town Terror”

►Story?►Fiction of fact?►Does it have a point of view?►Moral? Insight? Question? Challenge?

Let’s write a story together…

Class was over and I was just entering the hallway when it happened.

Now, tell me a story.

►Tell the story about the first time you went to the movies without your parents

►Tell the story about the first time you drove a car.

►Tell the one about the worst trouble you ever got into.

►Tell the one about your first day of ninth grade (“That was me in grade 9”)

What elements did it have?

►Story?►Fiction of fact?►Does it have a point of view?►Moral? Insight? Question? Challenge?