1. Santa Barbara City College: CLRC Writing Center Abney & Guastella
Personal Narrative
Santa Barbara City College: CLRC Writing Center
Abney & Guastella

2. What is a Personal Narrative?
Personal Narratives are written about something important to the writer that will be conveyed to the reader.
It is a story about a MOMENT or EVENT in your life- Not your whole life story!
Includes:
Incident
Reaction
Reflection

3. Point of View- POV
Personal Narratives are told in FIRST PERSON point of view
Use pronouns like I, me, we…
YOU are telling the story of what happened to you.

4. Introduction
The beginning of your story it is where you set your tale up.
Main elements are set up

5. Introduction: HOOK
Hook: The starter of your story. Catch the readers attention.
Some examples are: relevant quotation, fact, or definition. NOTE- Stay away from questions.

6. Introduction: SET THE SCENE
Set the Scene: Provide background information. What does the reader need to know?

7. Introduction: THESIS STATEMENT
Different from an argumentative or expository.
Can either tell the events of story
Moral or lesson learned.
Identify a theme that connects the story to a universal experience.

8. Characters
The characters are the people (and sometimes animals) in the story. Personal narratives are told by the writer and are about the writer.

9. Setting
The setting is the time and place of the story.

10. Body Begins the telling of the story.
Includes the rising action, climax and falling action.

11. Body: SHOW, DON’T TELL Include LOTS of details and descriptions
This helps the reader understand writer’s experiences
Use the senses: Sight, Smell, Taste, Touch, Hearing.
Example: I walked into the kitchen and could feel the business of the kitchen: the mixers roaring as they prepared the batter and the oven exuding heat, creating an aroma of delectable treats, sweet to the nose.

12. Body: SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
The writer’s experiences act as the evidence.
Events of your story should connect back to your thesis statement

13. Body: MOVEMENT THROUGH TIME
The passing of time is always evident in the plot and often in the characters and the setting.
Should follow chronological order: First, Next, Then, and Finally

14. Plot
The plot is the sequence of events in the story. In personal narratives, the events in the story support and enhance the meaning.

15. Change
There will be change in a personal narrative. Either the characters, the setting, or the events change. Often characters learn something or change as a result of the situation or a conflict and resolution, but not always.

16. Include REACTIONS to your story
Tell the reader how people reacted to the events in the story
What did you and the other people DO?
What did you and the other people SAY?
This is what makes the story interesting and connects the reader to the events

17. Conclusion This is where you end the story
Does not summarize information.
Synthesize and connect back to thesis.
Includes the falling action and the resolution
How did the story end?

18. Conclusion: MORAL
What lesson id you learn? How has what happened affected your life now? Look back and analyze. Reflect.

19. Include REFLECTIONS to your story
Reflection tells why the story is important
Reflection reveals what you and the other people in the story learned from the experience
Reflection indicates why the story is memorable
This is what makes your writing more mature!
Use reflection throughout your story, but especially at the end (as a conclusion)