3 page narrative essay

Narrative Essay Assignment

Your assignment is to write a 2-3-page narrative essay. I extended this to 3 pages only because some students enjoy writing longer essays. You will NOT be penalized for writing less than 3 pages. You WILL be penalized for writing less than two FULL pages.

Guidelines

Grading will be based on the following requirements for the essay:

-Essays must be double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 pt. Font, 1-inch margins, and in MLA format.

MLA guidelines can be found using this link:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

-All grammar and spelling errors must be fixed by your final draft! By your second draft, these errors should be minimal.

-Do not have a generic introduction that summarizes everything that will happen in your story. DO NOT use a thesis statement. This is an open-form essay. Only closed forms use this type of structure. In other words, let the experience you are describing unfold like a story. Think of it as a non-fiction story rather than an academic essay.

-When writing, be descriptive. Include sensory details(sight, sound, touch, etc.).

-Show, don’t tell. Do NOT write solely about what you learned. Exemplify this notion by bringing your essay to life!

-You must have conflict in your essay. This includes internal and external conflict.

-Climax of the story=The moment when you are making an important decision of how to solve the conflict in your story, or the moment with the most tension. Slow this moment down, as it is the most exciting moment of the story, and ultimately the story's heartbeat. Your story should be leading to this moment. Add detail. Really get into what you are feeling, thinking, hearing, and saying. If there is another person in this story that is present in the climax of the story, it would help to add dialogue or something they said that you heard in this moment.

-You must use figurative language. Have at least one simile and one moment using imagery. Using imagery for description is most helpful(two birds one stone).

- Do NOT use generalizations or c clichés in your essay. Examples of generalizations: "Every person needs to learn to accept differences between one another."; "All people face difficulties in life."; "We just need to learn to love one another.";

Examples of clichés: "All you need is love."; "Actions speak louder than words."; "The grass is always greener on the other side."; "Love is blind."; "It's raining cats and dogs."; "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."; "Ignorance is bliss."; "You never know what you have until it is gone."

This is where your use of figurative language and description will come in handy. Figurative language can help break clichés and generalizations. Using generalizations and clichés take away from your voice, and your story. Remember, this is your story, not a PSA(public service announcement).

-Do not give unsolicited advice. This is how about your own struggle and how you solved it. You are not writing a self-help book! Don't do this: "This is why you need to be nice to everyone around you, you never know if this day will be their last." Please do this: "After she survived the crash, I realized how much I appreciated my sister. I became grateful for small moments that used to annoy me, such as her borrowing my nail polish without asking. Instead, I complimented her on how nice she looked and suggested she tried my favorite turquoise glitter shade the next time. She smiled at me, and I held this moment in, imprinted it in my brain like a photograph onto paper--a latent image to be developed for the day that she will inevitably be gone."

-You must choose one of the following topics that are given below. You cannot choose a free-write. If you go off script, you will fail!

Please choose one of the following topics to write about(Writer=you in all prompts!):

1. Old Self Versus New Self- The writer perceives changes in himself/herself/themselves as a result of some transforming or breakthrough moment or event.

2. Old view of person X versus new view of person x- the writer’s perception of a person changes as a result of some revealing moment; the change in the narrator’s perception of person x also indicates growth in the narrator’s self-perception.

3. Old Values versus new values that threaten, challenge, or otherwise disrupt the old values- The writer confronts an outsider(or a new, unfamiliar situation such as moving to a new place or learning something difficult) that challenges his or her worldview, or the writer undergoes a crisis that creates a conflict in values.