Personal Narrative
description
Transcript of Personal Narrative
Santa Barbara City College: CLRC Writing Center
Abney & Guastella
Personal Narrative
Personal Narratives are written about something important to the writer that will be conveyed to the reader.
It is a story about a MOMENT or EVENT in your life- Not your whole life story!
Includes: IncidentReactionReflectionReflection
What is a Personal Narrative?
Personal Narratives are told in FIRST PERSON point of view
Use pronouns like I, me, we…YOU are telling the story of what happened to
you.
Point of View- POV
IntroductionThe beginning of
your story it is where you set your tale up.
Main elements are set up
Introduction: HOOKHook: The starter of
your story. Catch the readers attention.Some examples are:
relevant quotation, fact, or definition. NOTE- Stay away from questions.
Introduction: SET THE SCENE
Set the Scene: Provide background information. What does the reader need to know?
Different from an argumentative or expository.
Can either tell the events of storyMoral or lesson learned.Identify a theme that connects the story to a
universal experience.
Introduction: THESIS STATEMENT
Characters The characters are
the people (and sometimes animals) in the story. Personal narratives are told by the writer and are about the writer.
Setting The setting is the
time and place of the story.
Begins the telling of the story. Includes the rising action, climax and falling
action.
Body
Include LOTS of details and descriptionsThis helps the reader understand writer’s
experiencesUse the senses: Sight, Smell, Taste, Touch,
Hearing.Example: I walked into the kitchen and could feel
the business of the kitchen: the mixers roaring as they prepared the batter and the oven exuding heat, creating an aroma of delectable treats, sweet to the nose.
Body: SHOW, DON’T TELL
The writer’s experiences act as the evidence. Events of your story should connect back to
your thesis statement
Body: SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
The passing of time is always evident in the plot and often in the characters and the setting.
Should follow chronological order: First, Next, Then, and Finally
Body: MOVEMENT THROUGH TIME
The plot is the sequence of events in the story. In personal narratives, the events in the story support and enhance the meaning.
Plot
There will be change in a personal narrative. Either the characters, the setting, or the events change. Often characters learn something or change as a result of the situation or a conflict and resolution, but not always.
Change
Tell the reader how people reacted to the events in the story
What did you and the other people DO?What did you and the other people SAY?This is what makes the story interesting and
connects the reader to the events
Include REACTIONS to your story
This is where you end the storyDoes not summarize information.Synthesize and connect back to thesis.Includes the falling action and the resolution
How did the story end?
Conclusion
What lesson id you learn?How has what happened affected your life
now?
Look back and analyze. Reflect.
Conclusion: MORAL
Reflection tells why the story is importantReflection reveals what you and the other
people in the story learned from the experienceReflection indicates why the story is memorableThis is what makes your writing more mature!Use reflection throughout your story, but
especially at the end (as a conclusion)
Include REFLECTIONS to your story