Personal%20Narrative

1
Personal Narrative

• Tips and Techniques

2
FOCUS

• Narrative effect is the main story, moral, or
  message offered.
• Ask, Why am I telling this story? or Why
  should someone be interested in my experience?
• Will the point be EXPLICIT or IMPLICIT?

3
DEVELOPMENT

• Details add depth and color to the story.
• Scene method very detailed, evocative
  description to immerse the reader in the
  situation.
• Use SCENE method for one or two key areas of the
  story.
• Summary method used to fill in the rest of the
  story with a brief synopsis.

4
ORGANIZATION AND COHERENCE

• Three basic parts orientation, complication,
  and time structure.
• Orientation establishes setting, characters,
  other essential elements.
• Complication involves rising conflict that leads
  to the climax point of highest action.
• Resolution conflict resolved and narrative effect
  is revealed or suggested.

5
O C contd

• Time Structure chronological or psychological.
• Chronological events described in order.
• Psychological events described according to
  connections between themfor example a memory.
• Flashback and flash forward (show possible
  outcomes)

6
STYLE

• Style engages the reader.
• Details should give a dominant impression of
  event fear, anxiety, confidence, guilt,
  surprise, etc.
• Language use CONCRETE NOUNS and ACTIVE VERBS
  unload forms of BE and passive voice.
• Sensory language taste, smell, sight, touch,
  hear the scene.

7
STYLE contd

• Metaphors and similes help reveal the narrative
  effect
• He was tall versus He was as tall as a mountain.
• She was beautiful versus She was a fresh flower
  among the dried up weeds.

8
Point of View

• Generally use first person (I, me, my, we, us,
  our), but third person can work.
• Objective view leaves out the authors feelings.
• Subjective view emphasizes the authors feelings
  toward a subject.
• Use both!

9
ARTISTIC LICENSE

• Beware the exaggeration for effect! Gone awry,
  exaggeration will damage credibility.
• Personal narrative is an academic essay, not
  fiction!
• Adapted from Tacoma Community College Writing
  Center.

10
Whats My Job?

• Bring in a COMPLETE personal narrative draft on
  Thursday, September 5.
• No more than 500 words.
• Double spaced, typed.
• Be prepared to share your draft in class.