Prewriting to Focus Your Ideas

Warm-Up for Personal Narratives

All of us have important times in our lives. By thinking back to these times, we understand ourselves better. By sharing these times with those we love, we become closer. This lesson will help you think about events in your life.

What Is a Narrative?

(c) Thoughtful Learning 2015

A narrative is a story. It tells something that happened, like in a book or a movie. But books and movies are not the only places to find good stories. Your experiences make great stories, too.

A personal narrative is a true story about something that happened in your life. You might share an exciting, surprising, or scary experience, like the time you went camping and saw a bear. Or you might share a moment when you learned an important lesson.

The best personal narratives include many details, helping readers feel like they are a part of the story, too. In this unit, you will write a true story from your own life in way that makes it come alive once again!

Thinking About a True Story

Before you can share a story, you need to remember all the important things that happened. Asking and answering the 5 W’s questions can activate your memory and help you record important details about your experience.

• Who was with me?
• What exactly happened?
• Where did this happen?
• When did this happen?
• Why did it happen?

Editing for the Right Word

The words to, two, and too are easily confused because they sound exactly alike. However, each word means something different.

• Two means the number 2.

  My family owns two dogs.

• To indicates direction. It also is used with verbs.

I rode my bike to the zoo to see the polar bear.

• Too means “also.”

Jason likes karate, too.

1. My ( two, to, too ) brothers are coming ( two, to, too ) the show. My ( two, to, too ) brothers are coming ( two, to, too ) the show.
2. Are you going ( two, to, too ) see the movie, ( two, to, too )? Are you going ( two, to, too ) see the movie, ( two, to, too )?
3. Quinn and I are like ( two, to, too ) peas in a pod. Quinn and I are like ( two, to, too ) peas in a pod.
4. The ( two, to, too ) squirrels jumped from tree ( two, to, too ) tree. The ( two, to, too ) squirrels jumped from tree ( two, to, too ) tree.
5. I’m ready ( two, to, too ) spend some time with my cousins. I’m ready ( two, to, too ) spend some time with my cousins.
6. Vinny ran ( two, to, too ) his room ( two, to, too ) find his ( two, to, too ) video-game controllers. Vinny ran ( two, to, too ) his room ( two, to, too ) find his ( two, to, too ) video-game controllers.
7. Horses like apples, and I do, ( two, to, too ). Horses like apples, and I do, ( two, to, too ).
8. ( Two, To, Too ) of my best friends live in my neighborhood. ( Two, To, Too ) of my best friends live in my neighborhood.
9. I used a search engine ( two, to, too ) find information about ( two, to, too ) art contests. I used a search engine ( two, to, too ) find information about ( two, to, too ) art contests.
10. I, ( two, to, too ), enjoy reading books. I, ( two, to, too ), enjoy reading books.

Revising for Time Order

1. Action 1
2. Action 2
3. Action 3
4. Action 4
5. Action 5

Writing the Topic Sentence

Your narrative paragraph should begin with a topic sentence. It names the topic and shares a specific thought or feeling about it.

Sample Topic Sentence 1:

Whitewater rafting with my family was a crazy adventure.

• Topic: Whitewater rafting with my family
• Special Thought: A crazy adventure

Sample Topic Sentence 2:

I’ll never forget the time I saw the playful polar bear.

• Topic: The playful polar bear
• Special Feeling: Never forget seeing it

1. Name your topic.
2. Share a specific thought or feeling about it.
3. Write your topic sentence.

Prewriting to Choose Your Topic

Your narrative paragraph will share a special memory from your life. Here’s how you can get started.

1. One of my favorite times with my best friend was . . .
2. I’ll never forget the holiday when . . .
3. I’ll never forget my family vacation to . . .
4. One crazy thing my family did was . . .
5. I’ll always remember the first time I . . .
6. An exciting time in my neighborhood was when . . .

Sample Paragraph

Warm-Up for Narrative Paragraphs

(c) Thoughtful Learning 2016

This lesson will help you think about important memories you have that you would like to share in a narrative paragraph.

What Is a Narrative Paragraph?

A narrative paragraph is a short piece of writing that captures an important moment in your life. Narrative is another word for "story."

Your mind is like a bank for memories. It saves and stores special moments from your life for you to remember and enjoy. For example, what about that day that you hit the winning home run? In a narrative, you pull out a memory from your mind bank and tell the story to others. This unit will show you how to turn a special moment from your life into a story for readers to enjoy.

Thinking About Special Memories

Wouldn’t it be neat if you could experience something great all over again? Imagine if a genie granted you the power to relive three of your favorite memories. What memories would you do over?

Here’s how one student used his three memory wishes.

Understanding Narrative Paragraphs

In a narrative paragraph, you tell a story about a personal experience. You try to pull your readers into the story and keep them wondering what will happen next. Be sure to include specific details to make your experience come to life.