Narrative Writing

Show me. Don’t tell me.Based on Gretchen Bernabei’s Reviving the Essay

Bank of Experiences:

A moment when you were proud of someone else

A moment when you were proud of yourself An amazing moment A tough moment A moment you fought and won A moment you learned a valuable lesson A moment when you fought and lost

Connecting Life Experiences to Life Truths

Write events from your “Bank of Experiences” next to the life truth(lesson) that they connect to

An event can connect to more than one life truth Getting a tattoo might connect to the life truths

of: I made a serious mistake Where I was (my surroundings) affect my life It was important for me to accept

responsibility

Selecting Life’s Moments

Circle the three moments from your “Bank of Experiences” that apply to the prompt:Write an essay explaining what

tragedy can teach you about yourself

Writing a Kernel Essay

For each moment you circled:Write the moment, explain how it relates to the prompt, and answer the seven questions below in seven complete sentences

Where were you? What were you doing? What happened first? What happened next? What happened next? What happened next? What was the last thing that happened? What were your final thoughts? What did you learn?

Elaborate on the kernel essay: Just like kernels of corn need heat, salt, and butter to become

great popcorn, the kernel essay needs details and more explanation to become a great essay.

Select the kernel essay you think you can write the most about On your own paper, add one to three more sentences to each

of your seven kernel sentences. Skip lines as your write, this will make your revision easier.

Make each kernel sentence the start of a new paragraph. This means INDENT (about the width of your pinky finger).

Write in TRIPLE SLOW MOTION, carefully selecting each detail to connect to the prompt

Next Steps Mark this essay FIRST DRAFT Circle each noun. Change general nouns(man,

room) to more specific nouns(robber, bedroom). Add at least one descriptive word to every third noun(tall robber).

Circle each action verb. Change general action verbs(walked) to more descriptive action verbs(tiptoed).

Add two similes to the essay. Rewrite your essay, mark this essay SECOND

DRAFT

Peer Editing and Revision

Write your name at the top of the essay

Circle in BLUE any possible mistakes (spelling, grammar, capitalization)

Circle in gold (YELLOW) any descriptions that are “pure gold”

Circle in BROWN any descriptions that are kind of poopy and need work.

Last Steps

Correct any possible mistakes that were identified during peer review

Elaborate on any descriptions that were circled in brown

Read over essay using the self-check list

Rewrite essay and turn in final draft