Unit 7 Portfolio Assignment“Writing a Narrative”─

6th Grade Language Arts & 6th Grade Gifted & Talented Language ArtsWillamette Connections AcademyMrs. Love & Mr. McKenzieUnit 7, Lesson 29

1

OverviewYou will be writing five paragraphs about a event, person, or reflection from your life in anarrative way.

Goals1. Students will be able to narrate an event from their life using sensory details, diving

right into the moment to do so.

2. Students will be able to write a narrative essay with a clear introduction, supportingdetails, and conclusions.

Step one/Day one: (30 min. to 45 min)

First,● Go through the hand-out below called “developing powerful, personal narratives,”

and watch the video related to choosing a topic for narrative writing.

Next,Complete your heart map and your writing territories areas based on the instructions inthe handout.

Step two/Day two: (45 min. to one hour)

First,Look over your heart map and writing territories that you created yesterday. Then, circle3-5 that you would really like to write about that answer the following questions:

● Which one do I have a lot to write about?● Which one would be the easiest to write about?● Which one would be the most interesting for someone to read about?

2

Next,Set the timer for 15 minutes and write what’s called a “flash draft.” A flash draft is there youput pencil to paper (or fingers to computer) and just start writing-- not worrying aboutspelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. You just write and write and tell your story.

After that,Analyze your flash draft and the content of your writing. Did you run out of things to say?Did you enjoy writing about that topic? Do you think you would have more to say if you hadmore time? This practice is important to determine what your actual narrative essay will beabout (the flash draft practice was not your actual narrative portfolio, but just anopportunity to free-write).

Step three/Day three: (30-45 min.)

First,Look over what you wrote yesterday. Is this the same topic you’d like to write about foryour narrative portfolio, or would you rather choose something different? Today you aregoing to work on your actual narrative writing portfolio piece, so choose wisely!

Next,Choose your narrative writing topic. Then refer to the narrative writing graphic organizerbelow to help organize your writing. Fill in the blanks and details about the 5 Ws youlearned about earlier this week: Who was there, what happened, where did it happen,when did it happen, and why did it happen? Also be sure to include sensory details andrefer back to the slides you looked at on Monday regarding sensory details and descriptiveinformation.

After that,Begin working on the introduction and first body paragraph of your narrative writing piece,paying special attention to starting right in the moment as your introduction, vs. “I’m goingto tell you a story about a time when I _____________.” (Refer back to the narrative writingslides from Monday for this.

3

Step four/Day four: (45 min. to one hour)

First,Look back at what you wrote yesterday to see if there is anything you would like to changeor adjust with your writing.

Next,Complete your next two paragraphs, continuing to tell the story and build upon the lessonslearned in the narrative writing instruction slides.

After that,Work on your conclusion-- ending the story in a satisfying way.

Once you are finished and you have proof-read and polished your narrative writing, uploadit to the DropBox to turn in!

See below for lesson instructions, graphic organizers,and checklists.

Developing Strong Reading and Writing SkillsMiddle School Literacy

Writing Territories: Where ideas for

personal narrative writing come from

Activity #1: Heart Mapping

My Heart MapFor this activity, please draw a big heart on a piece of notebook paper in your writer’s notebook. Spend 10-15 minutes adding to it-- anything and everything that you love, that is meaningful to you, important dates, memories, etc.

Items from my heart map include special people, dates, events, favorite “things,” favorite places, etc., that help jog my memory for small moments that matter that I might want to write about.

Activity #2: Writing Territories

My Writing Territories Next, turn the page and write a heading that says “My writing territories.”

This list should include broader topics-- maybe challenges you have gone through, places where you spend a lot of time, things that you would have a LOT to talk about, themes of your life, etc. Spend 10-15 minutes adding to that list.

My writing territories are larger “areas” of my life-- things I am interested in, longer events or moments, things that I can always refer back to and write about in different ways.

Writing territories are less of “small moments” and more of larger areas or “territories” that I can always draw upon to write powerful, personal narratives.

Sometimes small moments can be found in writing territories, though!

Personal NarrativeWriting from experience

Steps for writing powerful, personal narratives:1) Identify small but significant moments from your life that matter. Tell that

story. Zoom in on the details with a magnifying glass. 2) Use sensory details. Immersing yourself in the moment describing sights,

sounds, textures, tastes, 3) Creating compelling external dialogue: Including what was said as well as

how it was said. 4) Identifying important internal dialogue-- what were you thinking? What do

you think you were thinking?5) Include the lesson learned or the takeaway at the end of the narrative-- was

it a lesson, an idea, a learning experience, or a life-changing moment?

Skill #1: Answering the 6 W’s in note taking:

What, who, where, when, why, and what if.

What is your topic going to be?

(Choose just one thing this time from your heart map or writing territories list.)

Who was there with you?

What happened?

Where did it take place?

When did it happen?

What if…?

Why did…?

Narrative Writing: Beginning in the moment

Instead of, “I am going to tell you a story about a time when I…”

Your introduction and lead sentence should dive right into the moment.

“Splash!” I shivered as my body hit the icy water.

Organize the details from your story in order:

I gasped for air, realizing that the water was much colder than I expected. I quickly kicked my legs behind me as I swam as fast as I could towards the shore.

What happened next?

I immediately felt a moment of regret, even though I knew that I could not lose this dare. I heard laughing and cheering from the shore, where my friends were all waiting for me.

What happened after that?

As soon as my toes touched the rocky shoreline, I darted towards my warm, fuzzy, navy-blue towel that I had set on the largest boulder closest to the rock I jumped from. However, I discovered almost immediately that it was gone.

And what happened after that?

“Hey!” I shouted towards my friends who were hanging out beneath the shade of the trees. “Who took my towel?”

“Calm down, Superman.” Jake replied. “It’s right under your nose…”

“I….need...itttt...pppppleeeasseee!” I begged.

Conclusion:

Jake chuckled and walked behind the tree, emerging with my blue towel in hand.

“We didn’t want you to get too much of a big head,” he laughed, “So we thought we’d play a little trick on you.”

“Nnnnoottt ffffunnnyyy!” I shivered, as I grabbed my towel and wrapped it around my chilled body. I wondered whether or not it was actually worth it to prove how “tough” I was, when all I ended up with were some icy bones and unimpressed friends. Why was I always trying to act so cool?

Adding Dialogue

Rules for dialogue in a story:

1) Place quotation marks (“ “) only around what a character SAYS.2) Use a capital letter after beginning quotation marks.3) Insert punctuation before ending the quotation marks.4) Use juicy or vibrant words instead of “said” to indicate who is talking (replied,

muttered, yelled, whispered, repeated, said, etc.)5) Indent on a new line for a new paragraph each time the speaker changes.

Hey stop that I said. What’s wrong Sarah said. I was working hard to study for my big test. I need to study I said. Why don’t you want to play with us Sarah said. I do, I just really need to get a good grade tomorrow. Suit yourself Sarah said. It is hard to make sacrifices sometimes I thought.

Show, don’t tell

Telling:

“A red ship approached our island.”

Showing:

“I remember the day the Aleut ship came to our island. At first it seemed like a small shell afloat on the sea. Then it grew larger and was a gull with folded wings. At least in the rising sun it became what it reall was-- a red ship with two red sails.

Telling:

“The wild dogs came that night.”

Showing:

“The wild dogs came again that night. Drawn by the scent of fish, they sat on the hill, barking and growling at each other. I could see the light from the fire shining in their eyes.”

Telling: “I ate some yummy food.”

Showing: (Practice writing your idea down)

Telling: “We bought some food.”

Showing: (Practice writing your idea down)

Your turn!

Choose a topic from your heart map or writing territories to write a personal narrative draft about.

What story do you want to tell? What message do you want readers to leave with?

Name:_________________________ Personal Narrative & Realistic Fiction Organizer

©ColorWithKona

Beginning(Hint to the Problem)

Ending(Lesson Learned)

Middle(Rising Action)

Middle(Falling Action)

Climax(A-Ha! Moment)

Take yourreader on a ride,a roller coaster!

Narrative Writingchecklist

I have… I deleted some words that were not necessary

I added some words that give detail and description

I changed some words so that they are more specific and clear for my reader

I rearranged some words, moving them to a place in the paragraph where they fit better

I underlined words that I was not sure I spelled correctly

I corrected the words that were not spelled correctly by writing them above the word I already underlined

My writing… Sounds right after it is read aloud.

Has punctuation marks where they are needed, including commas at the pauses.

Has capital letters at the start of every sentence and for the names of people, places, and the title.

Is arranged in paragraphs. Each paragraph is about a different topic or event.

Has a variety of sentences – some are short and simple, others are longer and more complex.