Personal Narrative

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Personal Narrative

• An Introduction
• by Mrs. Lori Wells

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Personal Narratives

• A personal narrative re-creates a specific
  experience or event in the writers life.
• To write an effective narrative, select an
  experience that you feel strongly about. If you
  dont find your experience to be all that
  interesting, imagine how your reader will feel!

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PersonalNarrative, Memoir or Essay?

• Personal narrative- focused on a significant
  event.
• Personal memoir- focused on a significant
  relationship between the writer and a person,
  place, or object.
• Personal essay- focused on belief or insight
  about life that is significant to the writer.

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Personal Narrative vs. Memoir

• A personal narrative has a more narrow focus than
  a memoir. Lets look at a handout that displays
  the differences between the two.
• Why is Alexies An Indian Education considered
  a personal narrative rather than a memoir?
• Why is it not considered a personal essay?

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Characteristics Take Notes!

• Were going to review the key characteristics of
  a personal narrative. Please take notes on your
  Characteristics of a Personal Narrative chart.

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Conflict

• As with any story, your personal narrative must
  have a conflict.
• Arguably, the most interesting personal
  narratives have an external conflict.
• It is likely that since your narrative is
  personal, you will have an internal conflict as
  well. Why?

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Characters

• Your narrative must have characters, including
  you, the narrator.
• Question Is it okay to have just two characters
  in your narrative?
• Answer Yes! As with any other story element,
  just be sure that your characters drive your
  narrative rather than hinder it. (Too many
  characters will overwhelm a short piece of
  writing.)

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Characters

• Who is your protagonist?
• Do you have a antagonist? Do you need one?
• Question Are your characters flat or round? What
  is the difference, and why does it matter?

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Dialogue

• A well-written personal narrative includes
  meaningful dialogue.
• As the writer, you must ask yourself when should
  I narrate a passage, and when should I allow my
  characters to speak?
• Where does Alexie include dialogue? Do you agree
  with his choices? Why or why not?

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Be Selective with Details

• Although you are telling a story, you will still
  be using sensory details to paint a mental
  picture for your readers.
• It is important to include specific details.
• However, a reader doesnt need to know every
  little thing.
• Select details that are important to retelling
  the story.

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Imagery

• Any good story must include imagery. Sensory
  details help your reader connect to your story
  and understand your observation about life, or
  theme.
• Find an example of imagery in Alexies An Indian
  Education. How does it connect with one of the
  narratives themes?

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Transitions

• As with any strong piece of writing, be sure to
  transition between your ideas. Otherwise, the
  connection between your ideas will not be clear
  to your reader. Transitions also improve the flow
  of your narrative.

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Point of View

• A personal narrative is typically told through a
  1st-person point of view.
• The narrator has a persona, or a personality or
  voice, that is displayed and developed throughout
  the narrative. In some ways, you are playing a
  role in your own narrative as you tell your
  story.
• Do you have to be a reliable narrator? Why or why
  not?

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Diction Tone

• You set a tone through the language that you use.
  
• Your diction, or word choice, reveals your
  attitude toward your subject (event, character,
  etc.)
• Diction comes in many forms nouns, verbs,
  adjectives, adverbs, and figurative language.

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Tone

• What is the tone of the following passage? In
  other words, how does the narrator feel about her
  uncle? Provide evidence for your claim.
• Uncle Roger slumped into the room with a scowl
  and plopped into his recliner. He winced as he
  gripped the arms of his chair and leaned back to
  a reclining position, his filthy slippers
  displayed just inches from our plates on the
  coffee table.

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Tone

• The previous passage has been revised to include
  a different tone. What is the tone in this
  version? Provide evidence to support your claims.
• Uncle Roger strolled into the room and lowered
  himself into his recliner. He winced as he
  gripped the arms of his chair and leaned back to
  a reclining position, his feet shaking in his
  well-worn slippers.

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Foreshadowing

• While a personal narrative doesnt have to be
  suspenseful, a skillful narrative includes subtle
  hints about future events.

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Audience Awareness

• A skillful writer must always think of his or her
  audience.
• What are the underlying assumptions that the
  author makes about the readers understanding of
  society or the world?
• What does someone have to believe to accept the
  story as true?
• What assumptions does Alexie make about his
  reader? Explain.

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Structure

• What organizational structure should a personal
  narrative take?
• Does it have to be organized chronologically?
• Does it have to include flashbacks?
• Can you begin a personal narrative in the middle
  of the action?

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Theme

• What is the theme of the personal narrative?
• Is the theme explicitly stated? Does it have to
  be? Can it be?
• How does a writer imply a theme through a
  personal narrative?
• What are some possible themes for Alexies
  narrative?