Write a Narration Essay

Write your own narration essay on one of the following topics or on a topic of your own choice. Use NARRATION AT A GLANCE as a basic organizer (see “Organization in Narration”), and follow the Writing Guide: Narration checklist as you write and revise.

COLLEGE
  • Explain what led you to start college.
  • Summarize an interesting story you learned in one of your other classes, such as psychology or history.
WORK
  • Tell the story of something positive you did at work (some achievement).
  • Explain what you learned from getting or doing your first job.
EVERYDAY LIFE
  • Recount a time when you took a risk.
  • Write about a time when you were proud or ashamed of your behavior.

WRITING GUIDE: NARRATION

STEPS IN NARRATION HOW TO DO THE STEPS
Focus.
    Think about your audience and what is important about your story.
Explore your topic. See Chapter 2.
  • Narrow your topic.
  • Prewrite, recalling what happened. Why is the story important?
Write a thesis statement. image See Chapter 3.
  • Say what is important about the story — how it affected you or others.
Support your thesis. See Chapter 3.
  • Recall the major events.
  • Provide background information that your readers will need.
  • Describe the events with specific details.
Write a draft. See Chapter 4.
  • Arrange the events chronologically.
  • Consider using one of the introductory techniques in Chapter 4, and include your thesis statement in your introduction.
  • Write topic sentences for each major event.
  • Write a paragraph for each event giving details about them.
Revise your draft. See Chapter 4.
  • Read to make sure that all events and details show, explain, or prove what is important about the story.
  • Add important events or details that occur to you.
  • Add time transitions.
  • Improve your introduction, thesis, and conclusion.
Edit your revised draft. See Chapters 16 through 18.
  • Correct errors in grammar, spelling, word use, and punctuation.
Evaluate your writing.
  • Does it have the Four Basics of Good Narration (see “Understand What Narration Is”)?
  • Is this the best I can do?