Narrative Essay
Step 1. Title (Fast title, can be changed later)
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Step 2. Fast Draw: ​Draw pictures of 3 events in your narrative
Step 3. Fast Notes: ​Write a few notes about the events in your pictures.
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Starting a Story
Get your story rolling
Example
Where
● Set the scene by letting your reader
know where the story takes place
● Around the corner from our school...
● Just outside the city limits…
● In the middle of the grocery store...
When
● Give your reader an idea of when your
story took place
● During the test…
● As we lined up for recess…
● By the time the movie ended...
Action Verb
● Write a sentence that describes the
action. This needs to get the attention
of the reader.
● The thief climbed the tree and hoped
nobody would notice.
● The small car crashed into the bakery.
Introduce a character
● Tell your reader about a character in
the story.
● Jan, the last person to finish the race,
was mad that she tripped over her
shoelace.
● The award winning chef was
disappointed when customers returned
their food.
Interesting Comment
● Give your reader a hint about your
story
● Learning to swim was the best thing I
ever did.
● Every afternoon, as they were coming
home from school the children used to
go and play in the Giant’s garden.
Dialogue
● This is the hardest method and is not
recommended for a short story.
● “It’s fine to leave.” My dad reminded
me.
● “Be patient. There’s plenty of time for
that.” His mom said.
Your turn
Narrative Essay
1st Paragraph
Sentence
Example
Hook
● Once upon a time…
● In a land far away lived...
A sentence that will get your
reader’s attention…
Setting
This can be one or two
sentences. It needs to tell
when​ and ​where​.
Characters
Who are all of the characters
involved? DO NOT write: the
characters involved are...
Thesis
Sentence that starts the events
of the story.
● In the hallway we raced to the
front of the line just before
recess.
● Outside the city limits…
● At the end of the movie
● As Santa landed at the bottom
of the chimney, he saw Sarah
and Sam.
● Three other boys, John,
Steve, and Adam met Carl
after recess.
● It was strangely quiet when
the Snowman left his house
that day.
● After that one fateful day in
December, Santa won’t ever
leave his reindeer unattended
again.
Your turn