2. First-Person Participant
The narrator is the central character and is directly
involved in the action.
Example: I was riding my moped down Maple Street
when I swerved, lost control, and sailed into a group
of ladies coming from the store. I hit one.
C
N C
C
3. First-Person Observer
The narrator is a minor character not directly
involved in the action who relates what he observes
about the character and the action.
While I was stopped for a light at the corner of Elm
and Maple, I saw a man on a moped run into the
crowd.
C
C
C N
4. Third-Person Limited
The narrator is outside the story and relates it by
limiting the viewpoint to one character’s perspective.
Jeff whizzed down Maple Street, proud of his new
moped. On the curve at the corner, he lost control
and ran into some ladies coming from the store.
C C
C
C N
5. Third-Person Omniscient
The narrator is outside the story but is able to penetrate the
thoughts and describe the actions of the characters as the
need arises.
Three people awoke that morning happy to be alive. Jeff
had a new moped, Mrs. Bixby was going shopping with
friends, and Mr. Fox had finished payment on his silver
Camaro.
C
C
C N
6. Practice
Mary stayed up almost all night studying for her
calculus test. For breakfast, she had a granola bar
and a Red Bull. However, the caffeine was not
enough to keep her awake. She was so tired she fell
asleep halfway through the test and ended up failing.
Though she was disappointed in herself, she
promised her teacher she had learned a lesson. She
would never put off studying until the last minute
again.
7. More Practice
I was up all night studying for my calculus test. For
breakfast, I decided to drink a Red Bull to help me
stay awake. It didn’t work, for I fell asleep during the
test. I failed, but I learned a valuable lesson. I will
never put off studying until the last minute again.
8. Which one is this?
While I was taking my calculus test, I noticed the girl
sitting next to me nod off. She fell asleep halfway
through class and must have failed the test.
9. And, finally…
Mr. Low and Mary woke up on Friday morning in
two very different moods. Mr. Low felt refreshed and
was looking forward to his weekend plans while
Mary was extremely tired and grumpy. During the
calculus test in his 3rd hour class, Mr. Low was
disappointed to see Mary, one of his favorite
students, fall asleep.
10. Changing the Point of View
Make a t-chart and label the left side “first person”
and the right side “third person.” Using the left side,
present the two scenarios in first person. Then,
convert them to third person on the right side. Be
creative when illustrating the impact of changing the
point of view.
You are a celebrity. You are being bothered by a fan who is
trying to get an autograph.
Leaving school, you notice a crowd gathered in the middle of
the parking lot. Curious, you join it to discover that a
millionaire is passing out hundred-dollar bills.
