ENGL 1301 Narrative Topics 1
Provides students with a list of topics for the narrative essay.
Directions: Write a 2-page essay (minimum) that either supports or opposes one of the
following familiar sayings. There should clearly be a thesis (main idea) somewhere in
the introduction to show the direction your essay is headed. You must illustrate your
point by using a detailed account of an incident that proves your thesis and includes at
least five lines of dialogue. Indent each line of dialogue. Mention the saying in the
introductory paragraph and create your own title. Reminder: The topic (saying) should
be short ( a fragment) and clever, but it cannot be the saying. Since this is a personal
experience, your point of view is “I,” but you will have other characters in your story.
Finally, your conclusion should show closure by telling readers the lesson you have
learned. Remember to use the present perfect tense (I have learned ...)
1. “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”
2. “It isn’t what you know; it’s who you know.”
3. “Smiles are great investments: the more you collect, the better you feel.”
4. “If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you'll never enjoy the sunshine.”
5. “If it isn't broken, don't fix it."
6. “The person who lies down with dogs gets up with fleas.”
7. “Nice people finish last.”
8. “The greatest remedy for anger is delay.”
9. “You get what you pay for.”
10. “Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.”
11. "There are no shortcuts to any place worth going."
12. "Borrowing is the mother of trouble."
13. "To forget a wrong is the best revenge."
14. "You can lead a fool to wisdom, but you can't make him think."
15. "Forewarned is forearmed."