THE NARRATIVE ESSAY:IT DIFFERS FROM A SIMPLE STORY!

Catherine WishartLiteracy Coach

Adjunct InstructorBurlington County College

Copyright 2007 by Catherine Wishart. All rights reserved.

CORNELL NOTES

You will need to take Cornell Notes on this presentation (own paper)

You will be graded on the completeness of your note-taking

Remember, you may abbreviate or even use symbols/pictures for your note-taking

WHAT IS A NARRATIVE ESSAY?

A narrative is a story also could be considered reflection or an

exploration of the author's values told as a story.

has a specific point A narrative essay strives to teach a lesson or A narrative essay strives to make a specific point

A narrative essay is not a diary entry – the story is linked to the purpose of the essay

WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A NARRATIVE ESSAY? Often written in 1st person – I or we –

because it is based on a personal story Can also be written in 3rd person Can never be written in 2nd person Has specific sensory details to get the

reader hooked on the story Is developed in chronological order Has verbs that help paint a picture and

draw in the reader

WHAT IS 2ND PERSON POINT OF VIEW?

The second-person narrative is a narrative mode in which the protagonist or another main character is referred to by employment of second-person personal pronouns and other kinds of addressing forms, for example the English second-person pronoun "you".

EXAMPLE OF 2ND PERSON

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go."(Dr. Seuss, Oh! The Places You’ll Go! 1990)

WHAT ELSE DOES THE NARRATIVE ESSAY NEED? Since this is a story, the narrative essay

needs everything a story needs (these are known as the story elements): Has a plot Has characters Has a problem Has a climax Has dialogue Has a lesson learned in conclusion

NARRATIVE WRITING

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79puzoKTJsQ(Penguin)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeLcq9HYAvA(STARR production)

PLANNING THE NARRATIVE ESSAY Brainstorm for a personal story or

observation that illustrates or proves the thesis statement

Outline or web the important parts of the story to be told

Write an introductory paragraph that includes the hook, and then write the story

Because this is a story, use as many paragraphs as necessary to tell the story

Write the conclusion that reflects on a lesson learned or theme.

STEP ONE: BRAINSTORM