Tips on writing a narrative essay.doc

Tips on writing a narrative essay1. Narrative, as stories,should include story conventions: setting, character, forshadowing, plot, conflicts, climax, ending2. Your words need to be vivid and colorful to help the reader feel the same feelings that you felt. (sensory details and vivid descriptions to involve the reader.)3. You should make use of conflict and sequence like in any story.4. You may use flashbacks and flash forwards and dialogue to help the story build to a climax.5. It is usually written in the first person, but third person may also be used.6. Remember, a well-written narrative essay tells a story and makes a point. (purpose, moral)Strong beginnings for narrationDialogue“Mom, can we please go to the beach today?” I begged with my puppy-dog eyes.Sound-effectsSplash! I went to the cool ocean water as I dashed into the coming waves.ActionI jumped out of the car and grabbed my surf board, unable to wait any longer to get to the sand.The following excerpt is a narrative essay from a story about a manager who was a great leader. Notice the intriguing first sentence that captures your attention right away.“Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, If I were any better, I would be twins! He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.”This excerpt from the climb also captures your attention right away by creating a sense of mystery. The reader announces that he or she has this fear and you want to read on to see what that fear is.“I have this fear. It causes my legs to shake. I break out in a cold sweat. I start jabbering to anyone who is nearby. As thoughts of certain death run through my mind, the world appears a precious, treasured place. I imagine my own funeral, then shrink back at the implications of where my thoughts are taking me. My stomach feels strange. My palms are clammy. I am terrified of heights.Of course, its not really a fear of being in a high place. Rather, it is the view of a long way to fall, of rocks far below me and no firm wall between me and the edge. My sense of security is screamingly absent. There are no guardrails, flimsy though I picture them, or other safety devices. I can rely only on my own surefootednessor lack thereof.”What conflict/tension does a story have?Man vs. nature (The priarie)Man vs. man (The most important day in my life)Man vs. socity (1984)Man vs. himself (A beautiful mind)Moral of storyWe spend a lot of time wondering what path to take in our lives. This experience taught me that sometimes, you dont really have to worry about the big decisions. At times, these decisions are made for youand that whatever happens is always for the best. At lifes crossroadsIt was the most memeorable birthday I ever had. Nothing compares to that magical moment when I experienced the wonderful miracle of birth and learned first-hand that doctors are not Gods. By all accounts, the infant should have been dead. It was then I realized that if I were to make a mistake as a doctor, this was the kind I would not mind making- to be proven wrong by a patient who turns out to be alive when I thought he was dead.A little MiracleThe most important day I remember in all my life is the one on which my teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan, came to me. I am filled with wonder when I consider the immeasurable contrasts between the two lives which it connects. It was the third of March, 1887, three months before I was seven years old.I learned a great many new words that day. I do not remember what they all were; but I do know that mother, father, sister, teacher were among them - words that were to make the world blossom for me, like Aarons rod, with flowers. It would have been difficult to find a happier child than I was as I lay in my crib at the close of that eventful day and lived over the joys it had brought me, and for the first time longed for a new day to come.The most important day in my lifeSpecific is terrific!Jimmy was a wreck, beneath his careful disguise.no amount of words could penetrate the vacant expression he wore on his face.he jumped up on the chair and stood erect pointing both index fingers into the air to conduct us and yelled, “One moretime!” we sang with all of the energy left in our souls and when were finished he out both his thumbs and shouted, “That was super!”Say: Whisper murmur grumble Stutter/stammer shout chatter bellow blurt mutter jabber exclaim cry shout Screech roar Admit Acknowledge Add Argue Boast Concede Continue Contradict Joke Maintain Pl