Narrative Essays

Purpose
The purpose of a narrative essay is to
tell a story.
Organization
Narrative essays are organized in chronological order.
They tell a story in the order that the events happened.

Like any other essay, the narrative essay should begin

with an introductory paragraph, which will set up the
event being related.

This paragraph will be followed by a minimum of three

body paragraphs.

Always end your essay with a memorable and strong

concluding paragraph.

Always remember to stick to one point throughout the

essay. Each paragraph should flow smoothly from one to
another.
Viewpoint

Because narrative essays are sometimes personal in

nature, the writer can use the first-person point of
view. All other essays require the use of the third-
person point of view.

Since narrative essays allow the writer to tell a personal

story, they can be the most enjoyable to write, so have
fun with the assignment!
What Else Does the
Narrative Essay Need?
Since this is a story, the narrative essay
needs everything a story needs (these are
known as the story elements):
Has a plot
Has characters
Has a problem
Has a climax
Often uses dialogue
Use Figurative Language
Narrate a Personal
Experience
State Your Opinion

Hooking the Reader

Use a Definition Use a Quote
Make a Bold From a
Or Challenging Famous
Statement Person
Ask a Question
????????
 What is a HOOK?

The lead or hook (beginning or introduction) establishes the

direction your writing will take. A good lead grabs the
readers attention and refuses to let go. In other words, it
hooks the reader. Below are some ideas on how to write an
interesting lead. Experiment with the different types and
choose the one that works best for you.
Types of Hooks

Questions
Announcement
Opinion
Quotation
Personal Experience
Descriptive Lead
Imagine Lead
 REMEMBER THE
RULE OF 3!
Your introduction should have at least 3 concise and clear
sentences.

You should accomplish 3 things with your introduction:

Get the readers attention

Present your topic and purpose
Connect with your audience
 Use Questions to Hook
Your Reader!
Lets Take a Closer
Look at Some Examples
Acne, baldness, sterility. Sound
attractive, fellas? Or ladies, how
about a deep voice, facial hair, and
kidney damage? All of these
appealing attributes, along with
many others, are side effects of
using steroids, yet people continue
to use them!"
Individually jot down an answer
to the following questions.

Do you hate school uniforms?

What will school uniforms do to

students sense of individuality?

Who stands to benefit from school

uniforms?

How could school uniforms prevent

gang related issues in our school?
 Discuss!
1. Take a moment to share your responses to
each question.
2. Which question(s) bring out the most
information and cause for discussion?
3. Which question(s) bring out the least
information?
4. How were some questions more interesting
than others?
5. How did some questions bring out a strong
reaction in you rather than a statement might
have? Explain why.
6. In your opinion, what question is most
effective and why?
Sample Questions to AVOID!
AVOID meaningless questions that dont ask
the reader to think critically; a question you
dont expect the reader to answer.
Examples of Meaningless Questions
Do you hate school uniforms? I do.
Do you have a favorite season? Well I do.
Have you ever wondered why people believe in
school uniforms? Well, Ill tell you.
 Another technique that
writers use to engage the
writer is to share a personal
experience in the
introduction.

Lets Look at Some Examples

10, 9, 8, 7, 6 It was my first basketball game
and I had the ball with the clock ticking away. I
was standing on top of the world. However, to
get to that point, I had to go through pre-game
jitters, the embarrassing shot, and the opponents
hard stares. Yes, it takes determination to
succeed.
Famous Hooks from
Novels
 It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single
man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want
of a wife. (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice(1813)

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it

was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of
incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the
season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was
the winter of despair. (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two
Cities (1859)

If you really want to hear about it, the first thing

you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and
what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents
were occupied and all before they had me, and all
that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel
like going into it, if you want to know the truth. (J. D.
Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye (1951)
 I was born in the Year 1632, in the City of York, of a good
Family, tho' not of that Country, my Father being a
Foreigner of Bremen, who settled first at Hull; He got a
good Estate by Merchandise, and leaving off his Trade, lived
afterward at York, from whence he had married my Mother,
whose Relations were named Robinson, a very good Family
in that Country, and from whom I was called Robinson
Kreutznaer; but by the usual Corruption of Words in
England, we are now called, nay we call our selves, and
write our Name Crusoe, and so my Companions always
call'd me. (Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe (1719)

Justice?You get justice in the next world, in this world

you have the law. (William Gaddis, A Frolic of His
Own (1994)
Write on a hook based on the
title The Blanket