Unlike other types of texts, personal narrative essays use the first-person language and induce specific experiences instead of external research to develop content. When writing a personal narrative essay, students should master the following tips: read examples of personal narratives; focus on memorable events and moments; Tips for writing your personal narrative. Follow these tips to a write an interesting personal narrative: Start with a hook. The first few sentences of your personal narrative is what’s really going to reel your readers in. You can write vivid descriptions to paint the scene for your readers or start off with something that’s thought-provoking. Here’s an example 10/3/ · Writing the Personal Narrative 1. Start with a hook. Begin the personal narrative by drawing the reader in with a strong opening sentence. 2. Set the scene with action. Ground the reader in 75%()
How to Write a Personal Narrative
Last Updated: September 18, References. This article was co-authored by Grant Faulkner, MA. Grant Faulkner is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month NaNoWriMo and the co-founder of Word Story, a literary magazine.
He co-hosts Write-minded, a weekly podcast on writing and publishing, and has a M. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 65, times.
A personal narrative also called a personal essay, should engagingly tell a personal story. You may be writing a personal narrative for a college application, for a class, how to write a good personal narrative, or your enjoyment. A good personal narrative will entertain the reader and offer insight into an idea or theme, how to write a good personal narrative. Then, craft a strong opening for the narrative to draw your reader in. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers.
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Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Co-authored by Grant Faulkner, MA Last Updated: September 18, References. Part 1 of Think of a meaningful event in your life. A personal narrative should focus on something pivotal or meaningful in your life and also connects to the prompt you are addressing, if applicable. What events taught me something or made me realize something life-changing? These events usually make the best story ideas for a personal narrative.
For example, if your narrative focuses on your intended career path as a teacher, you could write a narrative about how a youth coaching experience showed you the importance of making a positive impact on children. Pick a personal story with a moral or lesson. A good personal essay will have an underlying moral or lesson, where the speaker undergoes a realization or change.
Think of an experience where you learned a valuable lesson that you carried with you moving forward. Or an experience where you made a moral decision that shifted you in some way. Or you may choose an experience where you made a moral decision to help someone, which then leads to positive outcomes for you and the person. Focus on an idea that fits a theme. You can also go for a story idea that centers on a theme. You can then use your personal story to explore the theme in detail and from your perspective.
Try to choose a theme that feels particular to you and your point of view. Or you may choose a theme like freedom and use to explore your struggles with freedom as a refugee. Alternatively, you can start writing out the narrative and discover the theme as you go along, how to write a good personal narrative.
Try to notice any ideas you keep coming back to as you write and see if these relate to an overarching theme. Part 2 of Use the first-person voice. For how to write a good personal narrative, the answer to the prompt or the narrative you discuss may be written in the present tense, while an anecdote or narration of a story may be written in the past tense, as it has already happened.
Have a thesis statement. Even though your essay is personal, it should still have a thesis statement. Your thesis statement should appear after the hook in the final sentence of the introduction though there may be sentences between the hook and the thesis. The thesis statement in a narrative essay can explore the events of the story in a brief way.
Or it can tell the reader about the moral or lesson learned through the personal experience. You can also how to write a good personal narrative the main theme in the essay in the thesis statement. For example, if you are writing an essay about your personal experience as a refugee, you may have a thesis statement that presents the theme of freedom. We all came to a new country carrying nothing more than hope and memories of the past.
Include supporting body paragraphs, how to write a good personal narrative. Your essay should include a body section where you present supporting evidence for your thesis statement. The supporting evidence can be in the form of commentary that addresses the prompt as well as in the events of the story you are telling.
Do this chronologically so it is easy for the reader to follow. For example, you may have three supporting body paragraphs where you tell your narrative based on the theme of your essay.
End with the moral of the narrative. Most personal narratives end with a moral or lesson stated in the concluding paragraph.
This paragraph should include a reflection on how the personal experience shifted or changed you in the present. If you're having trouble determining a moral to your story, consider why the personal event is significant how to write a good personal narrative meaningful to you. For example, you may end the essay by stating the lesson or moral you learned from the personal experience. Or you may note how the experience has positively affected your life now. Part 3 of Start with a hook.
To help you get started on your narrative, structure out your essay so you have a plan when you begin writing. Always begin your essay with a hook or an opening that draws the reader in. The hook should be short, clear, and easy to read. It should give the reader a sense of what to expect from your essay. The hook is usually not longer than 1 to 2 sentences. It starts your introductory paragraph and can take the form of a scene, question, interesting fact or statement, or even an anecdote.
Set the scene to offer specific details and strong imagery. As I listened to his muffled screams, I wondered if it was possible to simply disappear, away from my lonely home life and my failing high school grades. Pose a question if you want to get the reader thinking. Choose a question that focuses on the theme of your narrative. Address the reader directly in the question. Keep the question short and clear so how to write a good personal narrative reader can follow along.
Use an interesting fact to connect to your personal experiences. You can use an interesting fact or a funny statement that relates to the theme of your essay. Starting with an interesting fact or statement can draw your reader in and get them thinking right away.
Or you may choose a funny statement about winning and losing if your essay is about learning how to accept failure. Start with an anecdote to connect to the larger theme or story. An anecdote is often 1 to 3 sentences long and explores a lesson or moral. Or if you are writing about your personal experiences as a refugee, you may use an anecdote on a moment of acceptance you experienced in your new country. How can I determine a theme for my personal narrative if I am having how to write a good personal narrative thinking of one?
Grant Faulkner, MA Professional Writer. Grant Faulkner, MA. Sometimes themes are planned, and sometimes they're not planned. Sometimes they emerge from the story. If you're having trouble, I would write the story and explore possible themes as you write it.
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Writing a personal narrative essay
, time: 11:31How to Write a Personal Narrative With Examples - PDF | Examples
Unlike other types of texts, personal narrative essays use the first-person language and induce specific experiences instead of external research to develop content. When writing a personal narrative essay, students should master the following tips: read examples of personal narratives; focus on memorable events and moments; Tips for writing your personal narrative. Follow these tips to a write an interesting personal narrative: Start with a hook. The first few sentences of your personal narrative is what’s really going to reel your readers in. You can write vivid descriptions to paint the scene for your readers or start off with something that’s thought-provoking. Here’s an example 10/3/ · Writing the Personal Narrative 1. Start with a hook. Begin the personal narrative by drawing the reader in with a strong opening sentence. 2. Set the scene with action. Ground the reader in 75%()
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