Directions: In this unit, you will be writing a narrative essay. A narrative is basically a story. It can be personal using a first person point of view (me, my, I) where you are the main character in the story. Or, it can be a third person point of view (he, she, it, they) where you are an outside narrator and not part of the story. Here is an intro video on narratives.
Whichever point of view you take, the events should be told in order (beginning, middle, and end). You will need to have characters, a setting, conflict, dialogue, and a resolution/ending. To engage readers, narratives are full of descriptive details, sensory language, suspense, and dialogue. Your story can be fiction (made-up) or nonfiction (true). You can make it science fiction with robots and space travel or fantasy with talking animals. It’s YOUR story! Here is an example of my personal narrative.
If you are really stuck, here’s a Roll-a-Story graphic or some story starters to help you! Or, you can even use this prewrite packet to walk you through the story process!
To write your narrative, you will:
Brainstorm a list of ideas for a story with characters, conflict, and a setting Lesson 12
Use the graphic organizer to tell the story in sequential/chronological order.
Write your draft. (You should work on your draft but you will NOT submit a rough draft.) Lesson 13
Edit and Revise.
Submit your edited, final draft into the drop box for Unit 6 Lesson 14 (May 16th)
Student Self-Edit Checklist
Format - (You will not need a works cited page for this paper.)
the font is Size 12 or 14, Times New Roman or Arial.
It has a great title that cleverly relates to my essay. It is centered on the page.
It has my first and last name in the top left corner with the date and assignment.
In the body of my paper, my paragraphs are indented. When using dialogue, I start a new paragraph each time the speaker changes.
In the body of my paper, there are no large gaps between paragraphs.
it must have at least a full, typed page for my story.
ORGANIZATION
the paper begins with an attention grabbing introduction.
The whole thing is organized from beginning to middle to end.
use transition words to show how ideas connect.
the conclusion explains the significance of this event. My paper has a good ending.
SENTENCE FLUENCY
Every sentence in my paper is grammatically correct.
Sentences begin in different ways.
use long and short sentence lengths.
including engaging sentences that use sensory details.
the essay sounds good when read aloud. Another person can easily read this story.
CONVENTIONS
The capitalization in my essay is correct. The beginning of every sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a punctuation mark. Proper nouns and the word “I” are capitalized throughout my paper.
corrected run-on sentences by adding end punctuation, a comma and conjunction, or a semicolon.
Dialogue is punctuated properly. New speakers start a new line for the dialogue.
edit this paper. I have done my best to ensure the mechanics (spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar) are correct.
Narrative Essay Rubric
Introduction:
- The introduction is attention-grabbing and sets the stage for the story. (10 points)
Organization:
- The story is organized in a clear, sequential manner, with a beginning, middle, and end. (10 points)
- Transition words are used effectively to connect ideas. (5 points)
- The conclusion ties up the story and explains the significance of the event. (10 points)
Sentence Fluency:
- Every sentence is grammatically correct and flows well. (10 points)
- Variety in sentence structure and length is evident. (5 points)
- Engaging sentences with sensory details are included. (5 points)
Conventions:
- Capitalization is correct throughout the essay. (10 points)
- Correct punctuation is used for dialogue. (10 points)
- Run-on sentences are corrected and proper grammar is used. (10 points)
Overall Creativity and Engagement:
- The story is engaging and holds the reader's interest. (10 points)
- Imagery and descriptive language are used effectively. (10 points)
Total: 100 points
Please refer to this rubric as you work on your narrative essay and make sure to incorporate all of the elements mentioned to earn the maximum points. Good luck with your writing!