Personal Narrative Writing

English 1Belfield

What is a Personal Narrative?

Definition: A story, written in first person point of view that relates a single, specific event or incident and then reflects on the importance of that single event.

What are the ingredients of a fabulous PN? Ingredient #1

INCIDENT: Think of a single, specific incident that

has happened to you personally. Establish the setting – where & when? Build the characters – who is involved? Build the plot of the event step by step

– rising action, climax, falling action

Ingredient #2 LANGUAGE:

As you build the setting, characters, and plot, use rich, descriptive language for the reader!

Include literal and figurative language: Details Similes Metaphors Personification Symbols Sensory detail Imagery, etc.

Ingredient #3

DIALOGUE: A personal narrative includes dialogue

Dialogue means characters in the story have conversations with one another or themselves.

Use quotation marks to show a character is speaking.

Use tone and diction choices that communicate the characters’ age, education level, social status, relationships with one another, etc.

Ingredient #4 REFLECTION:

As the narrator, explain the significance of this single event or incident. If you were assigned a topic to write, here is where you would relate the incident to the assigned topic.

What life lesson did you learn from this event?

How did it change you as a person? How was someone else’s life changed? This is the theme portion of your story!! Without meaningful reflection, it’s just a

story; it’s not a personal narrative!

Show; don’t tell!

Huh?? What does THAT mean?

SAMPLE: I walked into the classroom and sat down. I was tired and wanted to go

home. The teacher was mean.

Think -

Does this really make the reader feel involved in the story? Can you picture the action happening, or are you just being told a couple of events. Is it creative? Does it use rich

language? NO!Write –

Rewrite the sentences to make them SHOW the reader what is happening. Add dialogue. Add adjectives and adverbs. Add detail. Add figurative language. NOW you’re showing!