Characteristics of

Personal~having to do with oneself Narrative~telling a story

A personal narrative is a story about yourself!

Personal Narratives are told in FIRST PERSON point of view

Use pronouns like I, me, we… YOU are telling the story of what

happened to you.

Focus on only ONE event in your story Do not try to tell your whole life story

Personal Narratives should be told in chronological order

Start with what happened first, second, third, etc.

Use transitions that help show the passage of time (then, later, the next day, etc.)

Use a sophisticated introduction technique

For this assignment, you will you the technique called FLASHBACK

I will teach you how to use flashback when we start the writing process

Tell the reader how people reacted to the events in the story

What did you and the other people DO? What did you and the other people

SAY? This is what makes the story interesting

and connects the reader to the events

Reflection tells why the story is important Reflection reveals what you and the other

people in the story learned from the experience

Reflection indicates why the story is memorable

This is what makes your writing more mature! Use reflection throughout your story, but

especially at the end (as a conclusion)

There will be a Personal Narrative prompt on the ISAT test in March

You will be expected to write a multiple-paragraph essay

Write a Personal Narrative Essay about an important, life-changing event from your life

Include reactions and reflections in your essay

Use flashback as an introduction technique Describe your memorable event Return to the flashback in the conclusion Follow the steps of the Writing Process