The Personal Narrative
Mr. Czarnecki
Freshman English
Then and Now
• So far, we’ve focused on some of the tools to
write effective creative nonfiction, including:
– Imagery
– Description
– Characterization
– Dialogue
• Now it’s time to look at a specific genre of
creative nonfiction, the personal narrative.
The Personal Narrative
• Recap: Look back in your notes. What does
the “personal narrative” seek to do?
• Personal narrative: focuses on a single,
significant event or memory that connects to
a part of the writer’s identity.
• Before starting out, the writer must do two
things:
– Choose an event or memory
– Decide what about his/her identity will be
communicated known as the writer’s purpose
“Silk Parachute” by John McPhee
• Now that we know what a writer is thinking
when s/he sits down to write a personal
narrative, let’s apply it.
• As we read, actively highlight and make notes
in the margin.
• Your goal is to answer the following:
– What was the author’s purpose in writing this
piece?
– And how did he go about achieving it?
“Silk Parachute” by John McPhee
• What’s the narrative about?
• How does McPhee achieve this?
Diving Into the “How”
• The Hook: One, two, MAYBE three
• Nearly all personal
narratives have the same
Four elements:
– A Hook
– Flashback/Flash-forward
– Reflection (the dual
narrator)
– A Closing (not to be confused
with a conclusion in an analytical
essay)
• Each element should be
connected with, and
never stray from, the
writer’s purpose.
sentences at the beginning of an essay
that engages the reader while at the
same time clues him into what the essay
will be about.
• Flashback/flash-forward: A
narrative technique that allows a writer
to present past or future events during
current events, in order to provide
background for or insight into the results
of the current narration.
• Reflection: A technique in which
the writer comes through to comment
on what happened often conveying
insight into his/her thoughts.
• The Closing: brings the narrative
to an end in a way that makes the piece
feel complete while hinting at what the
take away should be.
“Silk Parachute” by John McPhee
• What’s the hook?
• Where does the author
use reflection?
• Where is an effective
flashback? Flashforward?
• What is the close?
Let’s Get Started
• Step 1: Make a list of 10 things of which you’re a
master. Include talents, skills, hobbies, qualities
of character. 10 things that you’re good at. (5
minutes)
• Step 2: Choose a mastery that appeals and freewrite about it. Describe how to do it, when you
learned it, what you accomplish, where you do it
– whatever comes to mind. (10 minutes)
• Step 3: On a new sheet, write about a person
connected with this mastery. Maybe it’s the
person who taught you how to do it, someone
you’ve done it for, or someone who discouraged
you from doing it. Include details that capture the
person’s personality or mannerisms.
Let’s Get Started
• Step 4: On a new sheet, write about a
particular scene or event that involves your
mastery and/or your person. Look for
opportunities to add dialogue, description,
and setting. (Finish for HW. Bring in typed,
double-spaced draft)
Writing Effective Reflection
• Remember our discussion of This Boy’s Life
concerning the two different versions of the main
character.
– Version 1: The adult, more mature, narrator looking
back on the events of his childhood.
– Version 2: The child, Jack, being written about and
being reflected upon.
• Narration vs. Reflection
– Narration is the telling of the events that happened
– Reflection is the narrator’s thoughts on what’s being
narrated
• TBL passage: As we read this section, underline or
highlight the reflection on the next slide.
I was standing on the road with two other boys, my news
bag still heavy with papers, when I saw him coming toward
us with his little dog Pepper. The three of us started
making cracks about him. His name was Arthur Gayle and he
was the uncoolest boy in the sixth grade, maybe even the
whole camp. Arthur was a sissy...He walked like girl, ran
like a girl, and threw like a girl. Arthur was my father’s
name, so that seemed okay to me, but the name Gayle
implicated him further into sissyhood...
Arthur was testy with me. He seemed to want something. At
times I caught him looking at me expectantly, as if I were
holding out on him. And I was. All my life I have
recognized almost at a glance those who were meant to be
my friends, and they have recognized me. Arthur was one of
these. I liked him. I liked his acid wit and the wild
stories he told and his apparent indifference to what
other people thought about him. But I had withheld my
friendship, because I was afraid of what it would cost me.
- This Boy’s Life, 107-108
Writing Effective Reflection
• Reflection is an essential element of the
personal narrative, but there are mistakes to
avoid.
– The Eureka! paragraph
– The thesis
– The black of exposition
Reflection
• What to avoid
Writing Effective Reflection
• Instead, think about your purpose. What
moments in your narrative do you need to
reflect upon or explain to convey your
message?
• There is an art to this and it is not easy, so be
open to your groups suggestions about
adding, removing, or developing your
reflection.