Personal Narrative

      A Personal Narrative is a form of writing in which the writer relates an event, incident, or experience in his or her own life. It is usually focused on one idea.  The events of a personal narrative are most often presented in chronological order, the order in which they actually occurred in time. The personal narrative incorporates vivid descriptive details as well as the thoughts, feelings, and reactions of the writer. 

           

Remember the first paragraph, just like an essay, should have a grabber or an attention getting statement and it can set up your reason for writing—it could contain a controlling idea and can also state a list of topics that you will discuss in your essay (these are not bad things to practice and you should look at the student examples).   It should follow a plot with an exposition, inciting event and a resolution. 

            Some things you can discuss:

1)    Who are you and where are you from?  What is your family like?   What do your parents or relatives do? 

2)    Tell me something was important in your life (example: describe winning a race, or attending your sister’s marriage, etc.)

3)    Tell a story about your past (maybe this past summer—such as your job)?

4)    Overcoming some problem or situation (example: I had a girl in the Marshall

Islands write about battling anorexia).

5)    Take an experience from your life, an experience that taught you something about life (either about suffering, about healing, about people, about yourself) –Think about F. Scott Fitzgerald’s statement: “What most people are ashamed of usually makes a good story.” 

 

I’m looking for passion, excitement, description, dialogue, and your voice coming out and calling the reader to pay attention because what you have to say is important! 

Please use details, imagery and if possible figurative language (metaphors, similes, personification, etc.)  If you don’t know these terms do not worry, we will cover them in class during the year.  Before you begin writing I’d like you to begin by pre-writing and thinking about organization.  Never just start writing without jotting down ideas or writing out some sort of map or outline. 

The purpose of this assignment is for you to start to format letters/ideas for you to use as a senior when you apply to colleges and for scholarships.  It will also give you valuable writing practice for writing is a skill that needs constant practice and developing.    

Requirements:  Your narrative needs to be at least 3 pages long (it can be double-spaced).  There is no maximum length.  You will be graded on a rubric broken into ideas, organization, voice, word choice (usage), sentence fluidity (structure), and conventions. 

Grade:  This assignment will be worth 150 points.

Unit Learning goal: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the structure of fiction by breaking down the essential building blocks (literary elements) of short stories by plot, dialogue, imagery, character development, figurative language (metaphor, symbolism, irony), point of view, connecting these blocks to the overall meaning (or theme) of the text, and final writing a personal narrative using some of these devices. 

 

 Scale/Rubric relating to learning goal:

4 – The student can analyze the elements of a short story come up with a valid theme (or themes) of a text and relate this theme to other texts and/or movies and real world situations.  The student is able to write a personal narrative using these elements to create a text with a realistic theme that relates to the student’s life.

3 – The student can analyze elements of a short story and come up with a valid theme for a text.  The student is able to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

2 – With some direction/help from the teacher the student can analyze the elements of a short story and come up with a theme for a text.  With some direction/help from the teacher the student is able to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

1 – Even with help from the teacher the student is unable to analyze elements of a short story and come up with a theme for a text.  Even with help from the teacher the student in unable to write a personal narrative using some of these elements to create a text with a valid theme that relates to the student’s life.

PERSONAL NARRATIVES

1)   IDEAS (W2a, W3a)

Introduction to a topic, engaging and orienting the reader by setting out a problem or a situation.  This should include a controlling idea or suggested theme.

4  - A+	3 – A	2 - C	1 – NC
Topic is clear, engaging and near poetic in presentation – there is a definite controlling idea	Topic is clear and engaging.	Topic is not clear, or the introduction is not engaging as present.  There maybe no problem or situation presented or the intro rambles.	The introduction is hard to read or understand as far as meaning.

2)   Details  (W2b, W3b)

Use of narrative techniques such as dialogue, descriptions, concrete details.  This could include figurative language (metaphor, similes, symbols, personification), effective allusions, and/or effective dialect.

4   A+	3 – A	2 – C	1 – NC
Details are effective and add depth to the narrative.  There is a near poetic presentation in the use of details which could include figurative language	Details are effective and concrete	The narrative needs more details to allow the reader adequate understanding of the situation or problem	No specific details whatsoever.  Narrative is a collection of generalizations.

3)   Organization (W2c, W2f, W3c)

Use of transitions to connect idea with idea, sequencing of events or plots ideas, the presentation of ideas in a logical format.

4	3	2	1
The sequence of events and/or use of transitions to connect idea to idea adds to the text’s meaning or is innovative	The sequence of events and/or use of transitions is effective	Narrative is missing either transitions or a sequence or events are out of order for no apparent reason	Narrative lacks structure

4)   Word Choice (W2d, W2e)

Use of precise language, interesting word choice, SAT vocabulary, varied syntax

4	3	2	1
Impressive and effective vocabulary and/or word choice.  Effective and impressive syntax	Precise language/ effective vocabulary and varied syntax	Overuse of “To Be” verbs, or repetitious language.  Syntax not varied much.	No variation in syntax.  Word choice simplistic.

5)   Conventions/Spelling

4	3	2	1
No noticeable grammar errors	1-3 Noticeable errors	3 or more noticeable errors or errors that detract from readability	Narrative is plagued with grammar errors and is hard to read