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Personal Narrative

Personal Narrative. Tips and Techniques. 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?. DEVELOPMENT.

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Personal Narrative

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  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 cont’d • Time Structure – chronological or psychological. • Chronological – events described in order. • Psychological – events described according to connections between them…for 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 cont’d • 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 author’s feelings. • Subjective view emphasizes the author’s 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. What’s 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.

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