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Page 85
Writing Personal Narratives
What funny event happened last week? What exciting event? What spooky event? You can capture the stories of your life by writing personal narratives. They let you relive important events and allow readers to experience them right alongside you.
Writing True Stories About You
This chapter helps you write personal narratives that capture the stories of your life. Read the sample narrative on the next page. Then write your own narrative, following the steps listed on pages 88–89.
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Page 86
Sample Personal Narrative
Here is a personal narrative written by Sara Smith.
The Ghost in the Shed
Beginning Last June, I spent a week with my friend Angie on her farm in Michigan. We fished the gurgling creek and explored the hot hayloft. But when we flung back the shed door, I heard breathing.
Middle “Who’s breathing?” I muttered.
“You are,” Angie replied.
“Shhh! Hold your breath!”
We did, and we could hear something panting rapidly. Our eyes shot open.
“Shed ghost, if you are here,” Angie whispered, “knock three times!”
Knock . . . Knock . . . Knock!
Floorboards jumped. A gray flash rushed up. We shrieked and bolted.
Ending Behind us, a possum sleepily waddled away from the shed.
“The shed ghost is furry!” Angie said.
I laughed. “Let’s call him Spooky!”
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Page 87
A Closer Look at Narratives
Use sensory details, specific verbs, and dialogue to bring the action to life.
Sensory details are sights, sounds, smells, flavors, textures, and temperatures. Sara used hearing and vision to make her ghost story feel real:
Knock . . . Knock . . . Knock!
Floorboard jumped. A gray flash rushed up. We shrieked and bolted.
Specific verbs capture the action. Specific verbs are words like bolted instead of ran or waddled instead of walked. Sara used verbs like fished, explored, and flung.
We fished the gurgling creek and explored the hot hayloft. But when we flung back the shed door, I heard breathing.
Dialogue tells what people say. It helps make the narrative seem real. Here is some of the dialogue that Sara used.
”Who’s breathing?” I muttered.
“You are,” Angie replied.
“Shhh! Hold your breath!”
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Page 88
Writing a Personal Narrative
Prewriting
List Topic Ideas 🟪 Think of thrilling, goofy, confusing, important, and strange events in your life. Which would you like to write about in a personal narrative?
Select One Idea 🟪 Read your list and circle the event that you’d most like to write about. If you can answer yes to the questions below, you’ve selected a great topic for a personal narrative.
- Do I have strong feelings (happy, sad, excited, fearful) about this event?
- Can I remember sights, sounds, smells, and tastes?
- Would I like others to experience this event?
Plan Your Writing 🟪 List the main actions that happened in this event. Or draw simple pictures of the main things that happened—like in a comic strip.
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Page 89
Writing a Draft
Write with Feeling 🟪 Write as if you were telling the story to a friend. Make it exciting!
- Beginning: Quickly get to the action. (Try one of these strategies.)
Last June, I spent a week with my friend Angie on her farm in Michigan. We fished the gurgling creek and explored the hot hayloft. But when we flung back the shed door, I heard breathing.
- Middle: Use sensory details, specific verbs, and dialogue. See page 87 for help.
- Ending: Close your narrative with a final action or a last thought.
I laughed. “Let’s call him Spooky!”
Revising
Read and Revise 🟪 Read your first draft out loud. Have you included all of the important actions and details? Are your ideas clear and in the best order?
Editing & Proofreading
Check for Errors 🟪 Check each sentence to make sure it is complete. Also be sure each is capitalized and punctuated correctly. Then check for spelling.
