1. Telling a story—Making a point
Narrative Essay
Telling a story—Making a point

2. The Assignment
Tell me the story of a time when you learned a life lesson.

3. Intro Paragraph Should be around five sentences.
Should capture the readers’ attention.
Focus the topic through the use of a THESIS STATEMENT.

4. Attention Grabbers
People have times when they remember learning an important lesson.

5. As we grow up, life teaches us hard truths that we need to understand.

6. Can you remember a time in your life where a simple mistake took on epic importance?

7. Sample Thesis
I have found that I can succeed if I focus on what I want more than what others want.

8. Sample Thesis
An important lesson for me was to find out that I must follow my own mind or be disappointed.

9. Sample Thesis
In my life, I have learned that the people whom we love do not always look out for our best interest.

10. Body Paragraph 1
This paragraph provides the background information that is necessary for the story.
Characters
Ages
Place
Relationship
Basic situation
other

11. Body Paragraph 2
This paragraph will have several key events of the story that lead up to the climax, the high point.

12. Body Paragraph 3
This paragraph contains the event of the high point of the action and the resolution.

13. Conclusion Paragraph
Will reinforce the thesis and make the point bigger or more universal.

14. Technique to try
State how your life, outlook, or point-of-view has changed by learning this lesson.

15. Example Conclusion
As I have grown up, I have had to learn this lesson more than once. Too often, I put more value on the opinions of others than my own. I have learned to trust myself more often that I did when I was young. When I do not trust my own instincts about what is right for me, I feel as bitter and powerless as I did at three.