How to write a Narrative Essay|Definition|Elements|Format

What is a Narrative Essay?

Narrative essays are written in story form, including details and descriptions of the setting, characters, and events. Narrative Essays utilize dialogue between characters to show how different characters respond to each other or events. A Narrative Essay is a story that includes reflection and analysis. Narrative Essays can be written in a variety of styles. Narratives typically follow chronological order. Narratives are about personal experiences or events that happened directly to the writer, or they can be told from the point-of-view of a character within the essay. Narratives include descriptions of people’s actions and emotions along with motivations for those actions. Narratives use dialogue between characters to show how different characters respond to each other or events. Narrative essays must have a clear beginning, middle, and end. It can be one event, person, or issue that changed the author’s life forever.

Elements of a Narrative Essay

It usually has these five elements:

Plot: This is what happened.

Setting: Where did it happen?

Characters: Who was involved in the Narrative?

Conflict: What problems or struggles were occurring during the Narrative? How were they resolved?

Resolution: What has changed as a result of the Narrative? Is everyone happy now? Did anything particularly important happen afterwards to further explain why this Narrative was significant to your life/happened when/where it did?

How do you write a Narrative Essay?

Here are some steps on how to write a narrative essay:

1) Choose an experience that is important enough that you want to share it with others either through writing or talking about it.

2) Narrative essays should be between 3 and 5 paragraphs long. The first paragraph should introduce the experience and set the scene for what you’re going to be describing.

3) Narrative essays must incorporate dialogue, enough so that it is vivid and engaging, but not too much to put off a reader who doesn’t enjoy such writing styles. Dialogue makes narrative essays come alive; it adds color to people’s personalities and make stories more interesting to read.

4) Narratives usually follow chronological order, but they do not have to: You can jump back and forth in time or move ahead without warning if your paper calls for it (this will keep readers on their toes).

Narrative Essay Format

Narrative essay format requires paragraphs to be short and concise which requires a certain degree of style. Narrative essay format or structure should look like this:

1) Introduction paragraph with an interesting hook to catch the reader’s attention

2) Narrative body that contains main events from start to finish, description of setting, characters, etc.

3) Analysis of Narrative through Narrative Essay Format reflection on Narratives as a whole or how it has changed you as a person

4) Conclusion paragraph that summarizes Narrative lessons learned.

Narratives are typically 3-5 paragraphs long. When writing Narratives it is important to remember not to use too much dialogue, but enough so that it is vivid and engaging. Narrative essays include descriptions of people’s actions and emotions along with motivations for those actions. Narratives follow chronological order unless your Narrative calls for it. Narratives are written about personal experiences or events that happened directly to the writer, or they can be told from the point-of-view of a character within the essay.

What should I include in my Narrative Essay?

You should include:

• Setting,
• Characters
• Complication(s)
• Resolution
• Summary

How do I Start Writing?

Start by brainstorming ideas about what your Narrative Essay will be about. If you are stuck, begin with “Once upon a time.” From there think of an interesting title and write three paragraphs: 1-2 sentences summarizing each paragraph and 1 sentence providing transition between each paragraph. Finally, end with a concluding statement. Always proofread for errors! Then revise as

The first step in writing a narrative is choosing your topic. Once you’ve made your decision, here are some steps to follow:

1 – Write about only one experience. Don’t try and make your Narrative Essay too complicated with too many Narratives. Narrative Essays usually include one Narrative only.

2 – Pick something that’s interesting to you, not necessarily interesting to someone else. Your Narrative shouldn’t be boring; make it engaging by writing about experiences you find fascinating! If you can’t decide on a topic or experience yourself, try talking to friends and family members about their Narratives. You may be able to turn some of those Narratives into Narrative Essays for your assignment!

3 – Make sure the subject of your Narrative is appropriate for writing an essay about. For example, don’t write about anything illegal, morally wrong, or otherwise inappropriate. Also, don’t write about anyone who doesn’t want his/her Narrative used!

4 – Don’t worry if you can’t recall every little detail of the experience. You don’t have to include everything that happened in your Narrative. Think only of the most important parts and remember them well enough so you can write about them later. Make sure not to change any details either; just because something wasn’t how it seemed doesn’t mean it isn’t true! Remember: honesty is key even in Narrative Essays!

5 –Be careful not to reveal too many details about your experience. It’s one thing to keep secrets, but it’s another thing altogether if you write a whole Ethos Essay without actually saying anything because the reader knows enough already! Make sure you balance writing an informative essay with keeping your readers interested.

6 – The first sentence of every paragraph should tell the reader what is going on in that particular part of the narrative. Starting sentences with extra words or phrases detracts from the clarity of your explanations and makes it hard for readers to follow along.

7 – Include important information about how you felt during the Narrative. Keeping track of your emotions during an experience and describing them in detail can make a powerful Essay!

9 – Try not to use quotations from characters unless necessary. If you do decide to quote someone, make sure it’s clearly identified as such and that its source isn’t somehow altered. Also, only include one or two quotes at most because including too many makes your Narrative sound like a play!

10 – All sentences should be as grammatically accurate as possible with no missing verbs, pronouns. Don’t sacrifice clarity for awkward wording; if something is unclear, rewrite it so it’s easier to understand!

Narrative Essays Paragraphs

First paragraph: Start off with a sentence or two that convinces readers to keep reading by establishing what the Narrative is about and why it was important. This is your chance to catch any reader’s attention!

Second paragraph: Describe what happened during the Narrative. Be as specific as possible but don’t be afraid of leaving out certain details (we’ll get into this later). Remember, you’re only covering the most crucial points!

Third paragraph: Include information on how you felt throughout the experience. Did anything change your moods? How did they influence how things played out? Also include any details about people who were involved in some way/details of situations escalating. Basically, every detail that provides insight into your inner feelings and the reasons behind character actions.

Fourth paragraph: How was the Narrative resolved? Are there any lessons you learned from it? Would you change anything if you could go back in time?

Fifth paragraph: Is everything good now that this event is over or did anything else happen after that might have influenced events/changed people’s lives/affected how things turned out? If so, briefly mention what happened afterwards to show how this Narrative changed things going forward.

Sixth paragraph: Summarize why the experience was important to you and/or significant in some way. This doesn’t need to be a huge chunk of text but make sure it ties everything up nicely! You can use an appropriate quote or two if you want to.

Narrative Essay Topics

Some narrative essay topics include:

• “My Best Friend”
• “The time I met a celebrity”
• “The day my mom died”
• “When I was five years old…”
• “The day my parents got divorced”
• “The time I saw a ghost”
• “The day I almost drowned”
• “The day I got my first job”
• “My most embarrassing moment”
• “My worst date ever”
• “When my dog went missing”
• “The day I broke my arm”
• “When I almost got raped”
• “When I found out Santa wasn’t real”
• “The day my parents told me they were getting a divorce”
• “My first day of school/college/new job/etc.”
• “The time I was stuck in an elevator with _____ for three hours”
• “The time I met Prince Harry/Beyonce/insert famous person here at a book signing/etc.”
• “The day I found out I was pregnant/the day I had my baby.”
• “The time _____ happened to me when I was ____ years old.”
• “The worst thing that happened in 2016.”
• “The best/worst thing that has/has not happened to me in 2017 (so far).”
• “My most embarrassing moment in front of my crush/boyfriend/etc. How did it happen? What were my reactions?”
• “What is the best or worst present you’ve ever received?”