1. 9th Grade Core
PERSONAL NARRATIVE

2. (HOW the writer says it)
Advanced
15-14 points
Proficient
13-11 points
Basic
10-9 points
Below Basic
8-0 points
Focus and
Organization
Opening captures reader’s attention
Uses sophisticated techniques to engage the reader
Purpose of the writing is clearly evident; focus is maintained throughout
Events are told in a way that is engaging and easy to follow. The story reflects the choice of an appropriate organizational structure
Format, paragraphing, and transitions are sophisticated and subtle
Attempts to capture reader’s attention
Includes techniques to engage the reader
Purpose of the writing is evident; focus is largely maintained throughout
Events are told in a way that is easy to follow. The story reflects the choice of an appropriate organizational structure
Format, paragraphing, and transitions are present
Ineffective opening
Lacks techniques to engage the reader
Purpose of the writing is not readily apparent
Limited organizational structure that may be difficult to follow
Limited use of paragraphing and transitions
Lacks a clear opening
Purpose of the writing is not apparent and lacks focus
No logical structure
Points:
/15
Content
(WHAT the writer
says)
45-41 points
40-32 points
31-27 points
26-0 points
/45
Sophisticated, fully-developed detail with appropriate context that brings the narrative to life for the reader
Feelings, thoughts, reactions, and reflections are evident and integrated throughout the narrative
Conveys a meaningful, specific experience
Uses detail with appropriate context that enhances the narrative
Feelings, thoughts, reactions, and reflections are present
Limited use of detail
Feelings, thoughts, reactions, and reflections are limited
Conveys an experience
Undeveloped content with little to no detail
Lacks feelings, thoughts, reactions and reflections
Voice and Style
(HOW the writer says it)
30-27 points
26-21 points
20-18 points
17-0 points
/30
Purposeful, artistic choices
Fluent and understandable writing
Sophisticated and varied sentence structure with integrated use of figurative language and dialogue
Awareness of and respect for audience
Precise and sophisticated word choice
Writer’s voice is apparent in tone, sentence structure, and word choice
Clear and understandable writing
Varied sentence structure with integrated use of figurative language and dialogue
Some awareness of audience
Appropriate word choice
Writer’s voice is present in tone, sentence structure, and word choice
Writing is somewhat difficult to understand
Repetitive/incorrect sentence structure
Limited awareness of audience
Limited word choice
Writer’s voice is limited
Writing is difficult to understand
Flawed sentence structure
Disregard for audience
Inappropriate word choice
Writer’s voice is lacking
Conventions
8-7 points
6 points
5-0 points
/10
Evident control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage, and sentence formation
Paper is virtually error-free
Control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage, and sentence formation
Errors in conventions do not significantly impact meaning
Limited control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage, and sentence formation
Errors in conventions impact meaning
Little to no control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage, and sentence formation
Errors severely impact meaning

3. “There was never yet an uninteresting life” (Mark Twain)

4. ALL ABOUT ME BRAINSTORM
You have 60 seconds to…
List people in your life – people that you know, have met, are inspired by, etc.
List places you’ve been –favorite hangouts, vacations, daily visits, places of refuge, etc.
List things you “know” –things you know about and could easily talk about
List events that have happened –the past seven days, this past calendar year, in your younger years

5. TOPICS TO EVENTS TO MOMENTS
Football
Penn State wins the Big Ten
Fourth quarter
Penn State drive down by 3
Trace McSorely’s touchdown pass

6. MOMENTS OF MEANING
The last time I yelled at someone was… The last compliment I got was… A time when I was so proud of myself was… A time when I was so disappointed in myself was… I wanted to hide from embarrassment when… I never got in as much trouble as the time when…

7. A, B, C’s of a PERSONAL NARRATIVE

8. A, B, C’s of Style for a Personal Narrative
ADDING AUTHOR’S VOICE BUILDING TONE CREATING MOOD

9. Author’s voice is the author's style, the quality that makes his or her writing unique, and which conveys the author's attitude, personality, and character… (Wiehardt). "Tone in writing refers to the writer's attitude toward the reader and the subject of the message. The overall tone of a written message affects the reader…" (Ober 88). Mood in writing is defined as the climate of feeling in a literary work –that choices in setting, objects, details, imagery and words all contribute to creating (Bokesch, Ed.).

10. Author’s voice – who the author is Tone –how the writer feels and his/her attitude toward the reader and the subject of the message Mood –how the author wants the reader to feel

11. A, B, C WORKSHOP

12. Narrative Organization
It’s fairly obvious to say that how the narrator tells the story affects the tone and mood. In terms of organization, the narrative mode has a very broad range of the ways it can be told. Sensibly, the most obvious is chronological order. However, creatively speaking, it is not always the most effective way. Students are also very familiar with techniques such as flashbacks/forwards used throughout the story or starting where the story ends in a circular method. But there is no “right way.” However, we all can agree that “grabbing the reader” is still necessary.

13. Narrative Organization: LEADS
STATEMENT: start with meaningful, reflective narration or statements
ACTION: jump into the action of the story.
IMAGERY: the sensory details to put the reader there
DIALOGUE: jump into dialogue that is attention getting

14. Narrative Organization: LEADS
Your task… is to compose two different leads for the story topic that you have chosen. Yes, you are to write the same story lead two different ways. This will allow you to consider which is more effective for your particular story, as you consider the effectiveness of creating mood, tone, and voice.