2. Narration: The Basics
To begin, you should generate a list
of ideas (brainstorm) events you’d
like to remember from your life
You should answer who, what, when,
where, how about the events to
figure out which will give sufficient
details.
Generally, you want to find an event
in which you learned a lesson or
others can apply to their own lives.
3. Shaping Your Narrative
Your narrative should be a
personal experience.
You should also try to entertain
your audience with wit.
Narratives are structured around
a conflict.
You should write in the first-
person-point of view.
4. Shaping Your Narrative
With narratives essays, the thesis is
often implied and the reader must
deduce it.
The sequence of events can be
shaped to emphasize different
elements.
It may help to list the most important
incidents in the narrative on a scrap
paper
You can use flashback and jump in
and out of chronological order.
5. Pointers for Using Narrative
1. What point do you want to
make?
2. What happened?
3. Why and how did it happen?
4. Who or what was involved?
5. What is the setting and when
did the story occur?
6. What conflicts were involved?
6. Drafting the Paper
Know your Reader
Know your Purpose
Establish the setting and time of
action
Set out the characters
Clarify the action
Sharpen the plot
MAKE A POINT
7. Mentor Text
“Eleven”- Sandra Ciseneros
List the event she’s discussing
List the setting and characters
List the plot elements: exposition,
rising action, climax, falling action,
resolution
List the point the author is making
List other techniques she uses
(figurative language, dialogue,
etc.)
8. Writing Process
Step 1: Pre-writing
Brainstorm a list of events that
have taught you a lesson OR your
audience can take something from
Chose the one you can write the
most about
Quick-write about the event to get
what you want to say out. Go back
and shape it as your first draft.
