Characteristics of PERSONAL NARRATIVE WHAT DOES PERSONAL NARRATIVE

Characteristics of PERSONAL NARRATIVE

WHAT DOES PERSONAL NARRATIVE MEAN? � Personal~having to do with oneself � Narrative~telling a story A personal narrative is a story about yourself!

POINT OF VIEW � Personal Narratives are told in FIRST PERSON point of view � Use pronouns like I, me, we… � YOU are telling the story of what happened to you.

FOCUS OF YOUR PERSONAL NARRATIVE � Focus on only ONE event in your story � Do not try to tell your whole life story

CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER � Personal Narratives should be told in chronological order � Start with what happened first, second, third, etc. � Use transitions that help show the passage of time (then, later, the next day, etc. )

INTRODUCTION TECHNIQUE � Use a sophisticated introduction technique � For this assignment, you will you the technique called FLASHBACK � I will teach you how to use flashback when we start the writing process

INCLUDE REACTIONS IN YOUR STORY � Tell the reader how people reacted to the events in the story � What did you and the other people DO? � What did you and the other people SAY? � This is what makes the story interesting and connects the reader to the events

INCLUDE REFLECTION IN YOUR STORY � Reflection tells why the story is important � Reflection reveals what you and the other people in the story learned from the experience � Reflection indicates why the story is memorable � This is what makes your writing more mature! � Use reflection throughout your story, but especially at the end (as a conclusion)

ISAT TESTING � There will be a Personal Narrative prompt on the ISAT test in March � You will be expected to write a multipleparagraph essay

YOUR PROMPT: � Write a Personal Narrative Essay about an important, life-changing event from your life � Include reactions and reflections in your essay � Use flashback as an introduction technique � Describe your memorable event � Return to the flashback in the conclusion � Follow the steps of the Writing Process