A literacy narrative allows you to reflect on key reading or writing experiences and to ask: How have my experiences shaped who I am as a reader or writer? A sample literacy narrative begins on page 74.
Key features
Thinking ahead: Presenting or publishing
You may have some flexibility in how you present or publish your literacy narrative. If you have the opportunity to submit it as a podcast, video, or another genre, leave time in your schedule for recording or filming. Also, in seeking feedback, ask reviewers to comment on your plans for using sounds or images.
Writing your literacy narrative
Explore | What story will you tell? You can’t write about every reading or writing experience or every influential person. Find one interesting experience to focus your narrative. Generate ideas with questions such as the following:
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Draft | Figure out the best way to tell your story. A narrative isn’t a list of “this happened” and then “that happened.” It is a focused story with its own logic and order. You don’t need to start chronologically. Experiment: What happens if you start in the middle of the story or work in reverse? Try to come up with a tentative organization, and then start to draft. |
Revise | Ask reviewers for specific feedback. Here are some questions to guide their comments: |