Narrative Topic for 8th grade students
You are on your way to …. as you reach for the door knob, Charlie
Gordon approaches you. He introduces himself and asks for
assistance. Write a narrative introducing the reader to where you are,
what your plans are and now that you have met Charlie what you two
do together. Remember to mention three (essential) things that you
do for/with him.
NB: Remember his condition just before he left New York, from the
story Flowers for Algernon.
Please include a captivating title for your narrative.
An introductory paragraph.
The three things you would do with or for him, each on its own
paragraph. Explain and give details.
The concluding paragraph.
Do not exceed three pages/minimum one and a half pages.
Read the rest of the power-point for interesting ideas.
Good-Luck(rubric is on the last slide)
• Is an interesting story about the writer.
• Is written in the first person (using the pronouns I, me,
and my.
• Has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
• Presents events in a clear order.
• Uses details to help readers see people, places, and
events.
• Shows how the writer feels about the experience and
why it is meaningful to him or her.
The personal narrative
tells about
•
•
•
•
•
•
A good time
A bad time
An important time
A memorable event
A first time
A last time
• Take a few minutes and write without stopping.
• Write about where the story takes place. Close your
eyes and recall the place in your narrative. What do you
see? Hear? Taste? Smell? Feel?
• Write about the people who will be in your narrative.
Think about the way each one looks, acts, and speaks.
Conversation or dialogue is a good way to draw your
readers into the action.
• List the main events of the narrative along a timeline.
Bat Summer
One warm summer night I was trying to get to sleep. I had
my window open to let in the cool air. All of the sudden, I heard
what sounded like a bat. My sister heard it too and ran out the
door. The door slammed shut and I was alone with the bat. I
threw the blanket over my heard and screamed for help. Finally,
my dad heard me and came running. As the bat flew wildly
around my room, my dad snuck up on it with a net. He caught
the bat and then set it free outside. My room was again safe, but
I never slept with the window open again.
• Appeal to the reader’s
senses by writing a vivid
description of the scene.
• Make readers wonder by
asking a question.
• Lure readers into the
story quickly by using
dialogue.
Supporting Paragraphs
• Always begin with a topic
sentence. Use specific details
that support the topic
sentence. Use sensory words
to keep the reader’s attention.
• Wrap up the paragraph with
a concluding or transitioning
sentence.
• Remember to develop a
minimum of 3 supporting
paragraphs.
Character development
• Your characters must look and sound ‘real’ or credible
• Characters should move a story along – they need to
have a specific role
• Interactions between characters should be believable
• There needs to be a purpose to any character traits
given
Think back to the novels/short stories you have read
and try to determine why you enjoyed reading
some as opposed to others. What was it about the
character/s, the story itself, or the imaginative
world the author created?
Use transitions to guide
your readers through your
story!!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
First
Next
Later
Finally
More important
Most of all
Last but not least
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Therefore
Because
As a result
Consequently
Since
For
So
•
•
•
•
•
•
Similarly
In contrast
Unlike
On the other hand
Nevertheless
In the same way
•
•
•
•
•
•
Such as
For example
In other words
Along with
For instance
Like
Conclusion
• Use a topic sentence for your concluding
paragraph.
• Wrap up all loose ends so that the reader doesn’t
have any questions.
• Your last sentence should conclude the
narrative. The reader knows that the story is
over.
• Read your paper aloud to
yourself or a partner. Did
the introduction capture you
or your partner’s attention?.
• Is the order of events clear?
Did I include transitions?
• Do I use details that appeal
to the five senses?
• Is the conclusion an end to
the narrative?
• Do I have at least five
paragraphs?
When I was at school I used to sit at the back of the class. I sat there so
I could do stuff. I got away with lots of stuff by sitting at the back of the
class where the teacher couldn’t see me properly. I liked to make people
laugh when I felt like it. A lot of people did laugh. The back desk at
school was the best. Why? Because that’s where I could sit and plan my
plots of mischief. It was so cool. I remember sitting behind Wayne, this
huge kid with a really big head and broad shoulders. He was the best
shield a guy like me could have wished for. There was no way the
teacher could see past him to me. Perfect. I used to lob water balloons
and itchy-itchy balls into the laps of the girls from my desk and they
would think it was Wayne! It was a scream to see Wayne look up from his
books and just say, ‘What? What did I do?
One day, I…….
Narrative Topic for 8th grade
students
• You are on your way to …. as you reach for
the door knob, Charlie Gordon approaches
you. He introduces himself and asks for
assistance. Write a narrative introducing the
reader to where you are what your plans were
and now that you have met Charlie what you
two do together. Remember to mention three
(essential) things that you do for/with him.
• NB: Remember his condition just before he
left New York.
Attribute
Ideas
Organization
Voice
Word Choice
Sentence Fluency
Conventions
25-24
23-22
21-20
19-18
17-16
15-14
The narrative tells
about an
unforgettable
experience. The
details make the
story truly
memorable.
The writer tells
about an interesting
experience.
Details help create
the interest.
The writer tells
about an interesting
experience. More
details are needed.
The writer needs to
focus on one
experience. Some
details do not relate
to the story.
The writer needs to
focus on one
experience.
Details are needed.
The writer needs to
tell about an
experience and use
details.
The organization
makes the narrative
enjoyable and easy
to read.
The narrative is
well organized,
with a clear
beginning, middle,
and ending.
Transitions are
used well.
The narrative is
well organized.
Most of the
transitions are
helpful.
The order of events
needs to be
corrected. More
transitions need to
be used. One part
of the narrative is
week.
The beginning,
middle, and ending
all run together.
The order is
unclear.
The narrative
needs to be
organized.
The writer’s voice
creates an
unforgettable
experience for the
reader.
The writer’s voice
sounds natural and
creates interest in
the story. Dialogue
is used.
The writer’s voice
creates interest in
the story. More
dialogue is needed.
A voice can
usually be heard.
Dialogue is
needed.
The voice is weak.
Dialogue is
needed.
The writer has not
gotten involved in
the story. Dialogue
is needed.
The writer’s
exceptional word
choice captures the
experience.
Strong nouns and
verbs and wellchosen modifiers
create vivid, clear
pictures.
Modifiers are used.
Strong nouns and
active verbs would
improve sensory
images.
Strong nouns,
verbs, and
modifiers are
needed to create
sensory images.
General and
overused words do
not create sensory
images.
The writer has not
yet considered
word choice.
The sentences are
skillfully written
and original. They
keep the readers
interest.
The sentences
show variety and
are easy to read
and understand.
The sentences are
varied, but some
should flow more
smoothly.
A better variety of
sentences is
needed. Sentences
do not read
smoothly.
Incomplete and/or
short sentences
make the writing
choppy.
Few sentences are
written well. Help
is needed.
The narrative is
error free.
The narrative has a
few minor errors in
punctuation,
spelling, or
grammar.
The narrative has
several errors in
punctuation,
spelling, or
grammar.
Some errors
confuse the reader.
Many errors make
the narrative
confusing and hard
to read.
Help is needed to
make corrections.