Course Information Course: English I A 2016 Unit: 2. LITERARY NONFICTION Assignment: 21. Project: Narrative Essay Project: Narrative Essay Objectives Use the writing process to plan, draft, revise, and edit a narrative essay. Use narrative techniques to develop experiences, events, and characters in a narrative essay. Sequence events so they build to a coherent whole. Use vivid, sensory detail to convey experiences, events, setting and characters. Create a conclusion that follows from, reflects upon, and/or resolves experiences or events conveyed in the narrative. Share writing with and respond to the writing of others. Use technology to product, publish, and update writing. Vocabulary point of view the perspective in which a story is told, which determines how it will be conveyed to the audience first person narrative point of view the point of view in which the plot and sequence of events are revealed using “I” or “we” tone the attitude or feeling the author portrays toward a topic style the choice and variety of words an author puts together in a sentence, to communicate most effectively to the intended audience Vocab Arcade Narrative Essay When you’re writing a narrative essay, you’re telling a story about a personal experience from one person’s point of view. It can be written from your own perspective or that of your character’s, but it’s written in the first person narrative point of view. In this excerpt from the Frederick Douglass narrative “Learning to Read and Write” it is easy to see that the piece was written in a first person narrative point of view. “I lived in Master Hugh’s family about seven years. During that time, I succeeded in learning to read and write. In accomplishing this, I was compelled to resort to various stratagems. I had no regular teacher. My mistress, who had kindly commenced to instruct me, had, in compliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by anyone else.” By using this perspective, Douglass was able to convey his own deep, internal thoughts and feelings, while also maintaining himself as the main character telling the story. Can he reveal the thoughts and feelings of other characters? Yes, but only from his perspective and what he “thinks” they may be thinking. The Elements of a Narrative Essay 1. Definite Purpose: Decide on the purpose of your essay before you start. This will be the thesis or lesson for your essay. For example, in his narrative, Douglass had the purpose of raising the awareness of the reader regarding the lasting effects of slavery on all those involved, whether the oppressor and the oppressed. Do not leave the reader guessing about the purpose of your narrative! Introduce your purpose in your introduction. In the introductory paragraph of “Learning to Read and Write”, Douglass introduces his purpose of raising awareness regarding the effects of slavery on his mistress and himself right at the end of the introductory paragraph. I lived in Master Hugh’s family about seven years. During that time, I succeeded in learning to read and write. In accomplishing this, I was compelled to resort to various stratagems. I had no regular teacher. My mistress, who had kindly commenced to instruct me, had, in compliance with the advice and direction of her husband, not only ceased to instruct, but had set her face against my being instructed by anyone else. It is due however, to my mistress, to say of her that she did not adopt this course of treatment immediately. She at first lacked the depravity indispensable to shutting me up in mental darkness. It was at least necessary for her to have some training in the exercise of irresponsible power, to make her equal to the task of teaching me as though I were a brute. (p. 101) 2. Make it a story: Your narrative will need to engage the reader, and the best way to do that is with a story. That means that your narrative should include characters, setting, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Most of the time it will follow a chronological sequence. Remember, all elements of your story should point back to your purpose. 3. Use figurative language: Use a clear and concise, descriptive style that says more than just the words alone. The use of imagery, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, allusion, and alliteration will make your narrative come to life. This excerpt from “The Sacred Grove of Oshogbo” by Jeffrey Tayler contains a vivid picture of an interesting encounter with an unknown man. Tayler’s descriptive language really makes you feel like you are there. As I passed through the gates I heard a squeaky voice. A diminutive middle-aged man came out from behind the trees – the caretaker. He worked a toothbrush-sized stick around in his mouth, digging into the crevices between algae’d stubs of teeth. He was barefoot; he wore a blue batik shirt known as a buba, baggy purple trousers, and an embroidered skullcap. I asked him if he would show me around the shrine. Motioning me to follow, he spat out the results of his stick work and set off down the trail. 4. Use the word “I”: This is your chance to use the word “I” in your writing! With that said, be careful not to overuse it. When it’s possible to use another word, do so, as it further defines your writing style and the diversity keeps your reader engaged. 5. Develop your characters: Even though this essay will be told from your own perspective or that of your main character’s, that’s not the only perspective to be considered. Develop your other characters, too. Just think – if Douglass had not introduced his master’s wife, whom he calls “the mistress,” we’d have missed one of his main points. 6. Get organized! Use a graphic organizer to plan out your essay before you start. You always need to organize your thoughts, just like author Douglass did, when planning and writing a book or essay. You’ll need to have a clear introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Just answer the questions on this organizer to get started. Your introduction will set the tone for the remainder of the essay by revealing your purpose. Your conclusion will remind readers of your purpose at the end, as it resolves experiences or events conveyed in your narrative. Remember, you’re in control of this essay, so you can take it anywhere you want to go, and your audience will follow. Plan your trip! It will not slow you down, and it will make the ride much more enjoyable for everyone. Click here to view the graphic organizer. 7. Edit: Even though you think you’re done, your editing work has just begun! Editing is an important step that can’t be ignored if you want to write a strong essay. Follow these five steps to edit your paper thoroughly: Read your whole paper from beginning to end. Review your paper by starting with the END, and reading each paragraph back to the BEGINNING. This will give you a whole new look at your paper, and you may catch some syntax errors and even improve your word choice. Complete the pop quiz to self-evaluate your work. Ask a friend or family member to peer-edit your paper, based on the rubric provided. Revise, that is, make the necessary revisions to your paper. 8. Name it: Your title is what your readers will see and hear more than any other words in your essay. It should reflect your purpose, your overall tone, and connect two key words from your final sentence. This is a way of taking your reader in a “full circle,” an effort that will remind him/her of your purpose in a creative way reflecting your own personal writing style. You may find that you’ll need to add words and ideas carefully to your final sentence in order to accomplish this. That’s fine! This should be the last thing you do. As you read this excerpt from “Learning to Read and Write,” notice Douglass’s final sentences and how they connect to his title. I continued to do this until I could write a hand very similar to that of master Thomas. Thus, after a long, tedious effort for years, I finally succeeded in learning how to write. (p.105) Directions In the space below you’ll write a 1,000 word narrative essay in the first person point of view. Please follow the following steps as you write your essay: Use the organizer to plan your story. Write your rough draft. Self-edit your rough draft based on the rubric provided. Ask a peer or another person to edit your work based on the same rubric. Revise your work one last time. Submit your essay. Choose from one of these two writing prompts: Pretend you are one of your parents or grandparents. Write a first-person version of a real story you’ve heard this person tell you. You may need to interview him or her for necessary details. Pretend you are your favorite pet. Write a first-person story through the eyes of your pet about a wild adventure he or she went on. Click here to view the rubric for this assignment. Question #1Essay In the space below, write a 1,000 word narrative essay in the first person point of view.