Coming up with a personal narrative can be tedious sometimes, especially with the subjectivity one is like to have. But how does one come up with an essay about themselves that is catchy and able to give readers an objective look? That is just what we are about to unveil.
First things first, what is a Personal Narrative Essay?
It is a story about an experience you went through and usually written in the first person. Does it sound like an exhilarating adventure?
Like, who does not want to write about their first day on campus or their first date? Unless, of course, you don’t love yourself – something that should make you book an appointment with a psychiatrist now!
So, what are the basics of a narrative essay?
Essential Features of a Narrative Essay
Format: Write it chronologically.
Purpose: The primary purpose of such a narrative should come in the introductory paragraph.
Mode: It may employ the use of dialogue; thus, necessary punctuation required.
Let’s now look at the structure of a personal narrative essay, with emphasis on each part. Remember, a structure is what differentiates an article from the other.
Structure of a Personal Narrative Essay
Just like any other type of essay, this one also has the introduction, body, and conclusion. However, the content and structure of these parts are what may vary from one form of writing to another.
Here we go.
The Title
Ever seen how a headless chicken behaves? Well, that will be the case in case your essay does not have a title.
It should be creative enough to hook the audience into your essay like a fish and make them want to read more.
The Introduction
It marks the beginning of the story. You should let the reader know the essence of what you will be describing (central theme) and your point of view.
It should be precise and attractive to give your readers a chance even to read the body. An introduction should be brief and to the point, possibly, 4-5 sentences.
The Body
It should present a distinct idea of the experience you had and how you (the author) generally feel about that. One is at liberty to narrate it chronologically or group the facts by their type or relevance.
The body should be in a manner that entices the reader to follow, paragraph by paragraph.
In the body, one is expected to show and not to tell. For instance, in a personal narrative example, the paragraph should begin with an action topic sentence supported by 3 or 4 sentences putting more flesh on it.
Conclusion
The author wraps up and states his/her point of the story. It can either be a lesson, an idea, or just a learning experience.
The conclusion should not introduce any new ideas but rather a summary of the experience the author had and its outcomes. Be sure to hammer your essay with a final blow that will leave the readers craving even to see you in person to have a one-on-one narration.
Life is straightforward, but we insist on making it complicated,” such is the case with a personal narrative essay. You need not complicate it, short and sweet is the way to go!
Here are some tips to enable you to write a personal narrative essay that would land you on the headlines of the Wall Street Journal or The New York Times newspaper.
Top 10 Tips to Writing a Masterpiece Personal Narrative
- Use lively, descriptive, exciting, active, emotional, and precise words.
- Incorporate short words to link sentences like: therefore, however, or for example.
- The use of anecdotes and dialogue in the essay in the essay is a plus for you.
- Don’t forget to “Show, Don’t Tell.”
- Remember, your experience is your evidence, so list all sights, tastes, and textures that you can vividly recall.
- Let the conclusion act as analysis and reflection on the action of the story.
- Always use the first person writing strategy, but the third person may also come in where necessary
- Tell the narrative chronologically.
- Conflict and sequence should creatively mark the body.
- Employ the use of flashbacks and flash-forwards to articulate the story towards a thrilling climax.
It is also of great importance to go through your essay after writing it. It will help you polish your narrative by trimming out some spelling mistakes and clichés that would make you look like a newbie in the field of writing.
In addition to these tips, you can also use quotations, metaphors, and inquiries to drive the point home to the reader. The essence of this is to make the essay as exciting and engaging as possible.
This type of essay will enable an author to prove his/her opinion or attitude concerning the topic one has chosen to write on. The readers will always develop particular perceptions about the author, depending on what they read from or about him. So, choose your narrative essay topics wisely.
What can stop you from writing that A+ personal narrative essay now? Well, get down to it right now and start your way to the leading writers’ lists in the globe. Writing help is also available for those who need help in crafting a professional personal narrative essay.