Autobiographical Writing Personal Narrative Open up your Writing

Autobiographical Writing (Personal Narrative) Open up your Writing Notebooks and think about a time when…. . -you were excited -you were nervous -you were scared

What is a Personal Narrative? http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=i 1 V Zw. ULQ 9 UE A personal narrative is when you write about yourself and specific experiences that you have encountered.

Autobiographical Writing ü Autobiographical Writing Handout üReview Page 1

Autobiographical Writing ü Autobiographical Writing Sample ühttp: //eolit. hrw. com/hlla/writersmodel/p df/W_S 0801. pdf? Web. Logic. Session=Q hzx 0 Up. ELNmxostoouz 8 Ptun. TC 7282 b 88 xxi 4 HL 8 wyc 3 K 7 pz. Fgng|190561003 42224463/167838195/6/6000/6 ühttp: //www. iss. k 12. nc. us/writing/sampl e_p. htm

Autobiographical Writing ü Autobiographical Writing Handout ü Review Page 2 and 3 ü Format: ü Heading (typed, if you type your final draft) ü Title ü Typed or Handwritten (blue or black ink if hand written) ü DOUBLE SPACE!!!

Pre-Write ü Choose an event to write about! ü Think about the elements of PLOT: ü ü ü Conflict Rising action Climax Falling action Resolution

2 nd Day - Rough Draft INTRODUCTION (1 st/2 nd paragraph): 1. Attention-grabbing hook - The hook is the very first sentence in the essay, and a good one creates a lasting impression with the reader! (3 – 5 sentences) 2. Exposition: ü Give background information ü Introduce the conflict, setting, and characters (set the scene) ü Thoughts and feelings ü 7 sentences

Types/Samples of Hooks ü Types of hooks: ü Quote – it can be a direct quote from a book, TV show, movie, a famous person, or you! ü Onomatopoeia – a word that makes sounds. Could be animal sounds or car sounds (i. e. Bang! Woof!). ü Poem – use a poem from a famous author or make your own. ü Song – Use a line or two from your favorite song…make sure it relates to your essay! ü Interjection – express emotions (i. e. Aha! Stop! Help! Wow!) ü Dialogue – 2 or more people talking

Sample Introduction Conquering Your Fears Everyone, well almost everyone, I’ve ever known has thought of their years in elementary school as their favorites. I, on the other hand, do not feel so fondly about elementary school, especially third grade. That was a year I will never forget. I was only eight, but I remember it like yesterday. I was sitting in the doctor’s office when they gave my parents and me the shocking news. “I’m sorry to tell you this, but your daughter’s condition is getting worse. The only way to fix it is by surgery. ” Those words ripped into me like a serrated knife into a crisp, cold apple. It was a horrible sinking feeling that seemed to possess my whole body—a feeling so terrifying that even the bravest person alive could not possibly endure it. I knew I had been “sick, ” and I knew it had been serious, but never, even in my nightmares, did I think of surgery. You see, I was born with a condition that affects your kidneys; it is called bilateral reflux. The only way I would live was to have reconstructive surgery.

Your Turn ü Please take 10 – 15 minutes to write your Introduction and Exposition – the beginning of your narrative.

Middle of Narrative ü Rising Action – building suspense ü Use of dialogue ü Climax – the most interesting point in the story **Remember to include DETAILS and your THOUGHTS/FEELINGS! **MUST be 7 sentences!!!

Sample Middle The next thing I remember, it was seven o’clock in the morning and I was at the hospital. I met with the doctors; rather, the doctors met with me. Everyone tried to comfort me, but nothing helped. As far as I was concerned—and I was concerned!— I’d be a nervous wreck for the rest of my life; that was, if I had a “rest of my life. ” It was now time for surgery. They sent a surgical nurse down to my room with a gurney. Being the scared little girl that I was, I thought the moment I got up on it, they would hurt me. So I decided that my teddy bear, Rainbow, and I would follow along behind it, very defiantly, with my parents. When the doctors saw me walk in, they started to laugh, and I realized that everyone else who had seen me probably had laughed too. What was comic relief to them was no comedy at all to me. So I simply put my nose into the air and kept walking. The nurse prepped me and had me lie down on the operating table. The doctor asked me what “flavor” of anesthesia I wanted; I thought for a while and answered, “Strawberry. ” He then asked me to count backward from one hundred as he lifted the mask over my face. I woke up a few hours later, feeling woozy and very sore. I saw my parents and drifted back to sleep.

Your Turn ü Please take 10 – 15 minutes to write the middle of your narrative.

End of Narrative/Conclusion ü Falling Action – suspense eases ü Resolution – reveal the outcome ü Significance of the experience **MUST be 7 sentences!!!

Sample Conclusion I remained at the hospital for one more week. It was not the best time I ever had, but it wasn’t the worst either. The highlight of my recovery was a special visit from two of my favorite cartoon characters. That was wonderful. My experience has taught me a lot. I discovered that, in order to reach the top, you must learn to climb the mountain and, in order to conquer your fears, you must face them first. In a way I am thankful for my surgery, because I conquered a lot of my fears. I’m not telling you to go out and have surgery, but if you do, it’s probably not going to be as bad as you expect it to be.

Your Turn ü Please take 10 – 15 minutes to write you’re the end of your narrative/conclusion.