Reading Personal Narratives
Before you share a story about a time when you learned a valuable lesson, you'll want to see how other students explored their topics. Read the sample paragraph and narrative essay in this lesson and answer the questions about them. Think about how the writer puts ideas together and how you might do so in your own narrative.
Reading a Narrative Paragraph
A narrative paragraph briefly shares a story about something that happened in the writer's life. It includes three parts: The topic sentence introduces the story. The body sentences describe what happened in time order. The ending sentence tells why the experience was important, possibly by stating a lesson learned.
Sample Narrative Paragraph
Listen to "Saying Good-Bye"
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Saying Good-Bye
Topic Sentence The news broke during a family meeting, the first I can ever remember my parents calling. Mom and Dad sat my brother Patrick and me down in the living room. “We have some big news,” said my Dad, his voice cracking. He paused. My mom continued, “Your dad’s company is transferring him to the United States, and we’re going with him.” Body Sentences My mind went blank. The United States? I had never even visited anywhere outside of my home country, the Philippines. My eyes welled with tears. “What!” I stood and exclaimed. But my protests were no use. In ten days, we would be leaving the only home I’d known. Those last days were filled with last-minute packing, final meals, and final good-byes. I met my best friend Nicole for one last cheese ensaymada at our favorite bakery. Ending Sentence The flaky sugar-coated pastry never tasted so bittersweet.
Respond to the narrative paragraph.
Answer these questions about the reading.
- What is the topic of the paragraph?
- Which sensory details stand out? Choose three.
- What does the ending sentence imply about the writer?
Reading a Narrative Essay
A narrative essay shares a story. This personal narrative focuses on a meaningful event in the writer's life. The beginning paragraph introduces the focus of the story in an interesting way. The middle paragraphs share the action and events of the story in time order. The ending paragraph sums up the experience and shares a final thought about it.
Sample Narrative Essay
Listen to "Departure"
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Departure
Lead My brother and I were watching TV when my dad called out, “Anna, Patrick, we’re going to have a family meeting. Go to the dining room.”Beginning Paragraph My brother’s eyes met mine. Family meeting? We had never had one before. That gave me a very odd feeling.
As soon as we arrived, my dad started, his voice cracking. “We’ve stayed in this country—I mean house—your whole lives. But there are times that we have to leave and go on.”
I really didn’t understand what my dad was saying—country and leave?
“What your dad is saying is that his company is transferring him to the United States,” my mom clearly explained.
DialogueTears welled in my eyes. “What!” I stood and exclaimed.
“Anna, sit down. You’re the oldest, and you should understand. We’re all going to leave. Tomorrow we’re going to the embassy for the papers and that’s final,” my dad said in anger and left.
Middle ParagraphsWe were approved at the embassy and granted visas, and we were leaving June 10. We spent our last ten days packing up things and selling some of our appliances. We also found someone who would rent our house.
I said good-bye to my best friend Nicole at our favorite bakery down the road from my house (or, should I say, my former house). We ate cheese-filled ensaymadas and shared our favorite memories together through a mixture of laughter and tears. The flaky pastries never tasted so bittersweet.
Thought DetailsOn June 10 my mom woke me up early. She said, “We have to leave early, or the traffic might catch up on us.”
Well, I hope so, I thought to myself.
We placed all our baggage on top of the van and headed for the airport. I was the last one in the car. As we moved farther along, I could see my home fading away. And in that moment, I felt a part of me would still be there.
We arrived at the airport at eight o'clock in the morning. As I passed the metal detector, it beeped loudly because I was wearing a jumper with a metal buckle. At that time, I wished the police would take me and not let me on the plane.
“Flight 800 is now boarding. Flight 800 is now boarding,” announced the lady. That was our flight.
Ending ParagraphWe gave the tickets to the woman at the counter. A flight attendant showed us to our seats. Luckily, I sat beside the window, and watched as I left my country. My body might be going to the U.S. in this journey in my life, but my heart would stay in the Philippines.
Respond to the narrative essay.
Work with a partner to answer these questions.
- How does the essay get your attention in the lead sentence?
- What role does the dialogue play in the narrative? What impact does it have on you as a reader?
- Besides dialogue, what other sensory details does the writer include? Give at least three examples.
- What role do thought details play in the narrative?
- What specific lesson does the writer learn from the experience? (Hint: She shares it in the ending paragraph.)
Teaching Tip
Help students realize that the key features in the model personal narrative can inspire them as they create their own narratives.