The document teaches students how to compose effective narrative paragraphs, emphasizing the personal narrative as a way to share meaningful life experiences. It outlines essential elements for writing such paragraphs, including the importance of planning, describing events vividly, and maintaining a chronological structure. Additionally, it provides tips on incorporating conflict and descriptive language while avoiding direct moral lessons.

1. Writing and
Composition
English 8: Second Quarter Lesson 1
Topic 1: Composing Effective Paragraph

2. Composing Effective Paragraphs
The personal narrative
can be the most
enjoyable type of
assignment to write
because it provides you
with an opportunity to
share a meaningful
event from your life.

3. Composing Effective Paragraphs
A narrative paragraph tells
a story.
Something happens first,
second, third, etc. Of
course, narrative
paragraphs are used in
fiction as a writer describes
the unfolding of events,
but they are also found
when describing any actual
sequence of activity.

4. Composing Effective Paragraphs
Personal narrative is a prose
narrative relating personal
experience usually told in first
person; its content is
nontraditional.
"Personal" refers to a story
from one's life or
experiences. "Nontraditional"
refers to literature that does
not fit the typical criteria of a
narrative

5. Think of a Memorable Event
• A learning experience that challenged and changed you;
• A new discovery that came about in an interesting way;
• Something funny that happened to you or your family;
• A lesson you learned the hard way.

6. Planning Your Narrative
Start this process with a brainstorming session, taking a few
moments to scribble down several memorable events from your
life.
Your event could be anything. If you think your life doesn't
have that many interesting events, try to come up with one or more
examples for each of the following:
• Times you laughed the hardest
• Times you felt sorry for your actions
• Painful memories
• Times you were surprised
• Scariest moments

7. Show, Don’t Tell
Your story should be written in the first-person point
of view. In a narrative, the writer is the storyteller, so you
can write this through your own eyes and ears.
Make the reader experience what you experienced
—not just read what you experienced.
Do this by imagining that you are reliving your
event. As you think about your story, describe on paper
what you see, hear, smell, and felt.

8. Describing Moods
• Don't say:
• "Everyone felt on edge."
Instead, say:
• "We were all afraid to
breathe. Nobody made a
sound."
Describing Actions
• Don't say:
• "My sister ran off."
Instead, say:
• "My sister jumped a foot
in the air and
disappeared behind the
closest tree."

9. Elements to Include
Write your story in chronological order.
Make a brief outline showing the sequence of events before
you begin to write the narrative.
This will keep you on track. Your story should include the
following
Characters Tense Voice
Conflict Descriptive
Language
Your main
point

10. Elements to Include
Characters
Who are the people involved in your
story? What are their significant
character traits?

11. Elements to Include
Tense
Your story already happened, so,
generally, write in the past tense. Some
writers are effective in telling stories in
the present tense—but that usually isn't
a good idea.

12. Elements to Include
Voice
Are you attempting to be funny, somber,
or serious? Are you telling the story of
your 5-year-old self?

13. Elements to Include
Conflict
Any good story should have a conflict, which
can come in many forms. Conflict can be
between you and your neighbor’s dog, or it
can be two feelings you are experiencing at
one time, like guilt versus the need to be
popular.

14. Elements to Include
Descriptive Language
Make an effort to broaden your vocabulary
and use expressions, techniques, and words
that you don’t normally use. This will make
your paper more entertaining and interesting,
and it will make you a better writer.

15. Elements to Include
Your Main Point
The story you write should come to a
satisfying or interesting end. Do not attempt
to describe an obvious lesson directly—it
should come from observations and
discoveries.

16. Elements to Include
Your Main Point
Don't say: "I learned not to make judgments
about people based on their appearances."
Instead, say: "Maybe the next time I bump into an elderly
lady with greenish skin and a large, crooked nose, I'll greet
her with a smile. Even if she is clutching a warped and
twisted broomstick."

17. Short Quiz
1. A type of text that tells a story.
2. What are the 2 classifications of a narrative paragraph?
3. It is a prose narrative relating personal experience usually
told in first person.
4. What are the elements to consider in writing a narrative? (6)
5. What are the 3 steps in composing effective paragraphs?
6. What tense is used if the event has already happened?
7. Provide 1 example of a memorable event.