Narrative Essay and Presentation
Every time you tell a story about something that has happened, you narrate. We can tell stories to entertain if the events and characters and details are amusing or scary or heart-wrenching. We can tell them to recount history or offer testimony in court or convince parents to extend our curfews. Narration, if you really think about it, is what makes us human: We are the embodiment of all of our stories.
Now, composing a narrative essay for academic purposes takes from our personal experiences for the purpose of supporting a central idea. Have you noticed that each of the texts we've read in class have been personal narratives?
Now, composing a narrative essay for academic purposes takes from our personal experiences for the purpose of supporting a central idea. Have you noticed that each of the texts we've read in class have been personal narratives?
Deadlines
Point ValuesEssay: 50 formal points
Presentation: 15 formal points |
OverviewPersonal Narrative Essay
Presentation
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Choosing a Prompt
Choosing the topic for a personal narrative can be daunting. Ordinarily, students must probe hundreds of experiences in search of a story that carries some significant perspective or point of view, but you're given several choices, which will help to filter specific topics. All prompts ask you to choose to discuss a personal experience that yields a central idea, or thesis.
Narrative Writing Prompts:
Narrative Writing Prompts:
- The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
- Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
- Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
- Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Planning and Prewriting | |
File Size: | 48 kb |
File Type: |
Structure
Structuring a narrative essay typically involves the standard components of an essay: an introduction, body, and conclusion. A personal narrative is no different. Most of the prompts include guiding questions which essentially create an outline. For example, the first prompt asks students to recount an experience, reveal the personal effects of the experience, and share what was learned. In this case, the outline might be organized like this:
In class, we will determine how the following essays we've read would address specific prompts. After breaking down the organization of these essays, you will be able to use the essays to model your outline. Therefore, we will not be assigned a generic essay.
- Introduction
- First detail of experience
- Second detail of experience
- Third detail of experience
- Analysis of the effects of this experience
- Synthesis of what you learned
In class, we will determine how the following essays we've read would address specific prompts. After breaking down the organization of these essays, you will be able to use the essays to model your outline. Therefore, we will not be assigned a generic essay.
Personal Narrative Essays
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Teaching Chess, and Life | |
File Size: | 44 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Structure Samples for a Personal Narrative
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Presentation and Note Cards
Presentation Guidelines and Note Card Format | |
File Size: | 30 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Optional Visual Aid
Optional Visual Aid | |
File Size: | 15 kb |
File Type: | docx |