This document provides information about narrative paragraphs, including what they are, examples of good and bad topics, and how to structure a narrative paragraph. A narrative paragraph tells a short story or describes an event from the writer's own life. It should include three parts: an introducing topic sentence, body sentences with details that recreate the experience for the reader, and a concluding sentence that reflects on the experience. The document also gives examples of narrative paragraph topics, such as a UFO sighting, a frightening experience in the forest, and a strange occurrence in class. It provides questions to help writers identify personal experiences that could be turned into narrative paragraphs.

1. Narrative Paragraphs

2. WHAT IS A NARRATIVE PARAGRAPH?
 Narratives tell stories. Everyone has read stories,
watched them on television or heard them from
other people. A narrative paragraph tells a short
story or describes an event.
 In other words, it is a story about a personal
memory.
 It’s about a time so important that you don’t
ever want to forget.

3. What Would Make a Good Narrative and
What Wouldn’t?
 Good Choice
 A house fire
 A car accident
 A death
 Getting lost
 A scary time
 Bad Choice
 Getting out of bed
 Eating dinner
 Meeting your
friend

4. A Personal Narrative is...
 a story that really happened ( a true story).
 a story that happened to or observed by the
writer.
 a story that makes the reader think or feel
the same as the writer felt at that time
 a story that shows strong feelings.
 It presents the events in a clear order, usually
according to when it happened.
 a story that is written in the first person. Use
these words:
I, me, my, us, we

5. Common time transitions
 Before
 After
 During
 First
 Next
 Second
 Then
 Finally
 while
 Later
 At last
 Last
 Eventually
 Meanwhile
 Since
 Now
 Soon
 when

7. 2
3
5
4
6
7
8

8. Writing a Narrative Paragraph
A narrative paragraph has 3 parts:
1. The topic sentence – introduces the
experience
2. The body sentences – share details that
re-create the experience
3. The concluding sentence – reflects on the
experience

9. A UFO Sighting
I never believed in aliens before one night
last year. It was a cold, dark winter evening, and I
was walking home from a friend’s house. I stopped
to tie my shoe. When I looked up again, I saw a
round object coming toward me. It was very large
and shiny. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
Before I could shout or run, the object suddenly
moved and then disappeared. After the object
disappeared, I ran all the way home and called my
best friend. When she picked up the phone, I couldn’t
say anything. I knew she would think I was crazy. I
never told anyone about my UFO sighting.

10. Ask yourself questions:
1. When was an important time in my life?
2. What has happened in my experience that I would
enjoy writing about?
3. Is there an event in my life that other people
would enjoy hearing about?
4. How did I feel about a particular experience?
5. Who was involved?
6. Why do I remember this event so strongly?
7. What effect did it have on me?
8. Did anything change because of this experience?
9. What interesting experiences do I know of that
happened to other people?

11. A Fright in the forest
I grew up in a small town in the countryside. Near my
house was a large forest, and my parents told me not to
play there. One day, I was playing in the forest with some
of my school friends. Suddenly I felt very cold and scared
……………………………………........................................
.......……… After that day, I never went back to the forest.
A Strange Day in Class:
I have been studying English for a few years and I
really enjoy the classes. One day something unusual
happened in class. The teacher was explaining grammar
when I saw something strange……………………........
………………………………………………………………
……………….. I heard everyone laughing. I woke up and
realized it was a dream.

12. 1. Write about a recent experience or
incident you witnessed that left a strong
impression on you.
2. Write about an event when you were
proud of someone in your family.
3. Think of a time when you had to do
something against your wishes.
4. Think of a memorable experience you have had
– it could be frightening or amusing.