“Those who tell the stories rule the world.”

Narrative Essay Planning and Writing The goal of a narrative essay is to tell stories. Narrative writing works best when it presents

and develops a story in an organized manner. Narrative writing should carry readers along and

make them want to know what will happen next.

A good narrative essay contains three basic story elements:

1. the setting (where and when the story takes place)

2. the characters (the people in the story)

3. a plot (the main events)

The narrative plot contains a beginning, a middle, and an end and many vivid details that

bring the story to life. To make sure that you have included these essential story elements in

your essay, making a plan for the essay is advisable. A plot diagram is the easiest way for

planning your essay.

The

exposition

and the

rising action

form part of

the

beginning of

the story.

The climax is the

middle of the story

(Heightened tension in the climax)

The

falling

action and

the

resolution

are the

ending

part of the

story; the

conclusion

of the

story.

The 5 key events can be used as topic sentences or in other words can be the starting line of

5 separate paragraphs now. (Introduction+ 3 body paragraphs + a conclusion = Essay)

“Those who tell the stories rule the world.”

Let me use this diagram to show you how to effectively tackle a narrative essay using this essay

plot diagram. For example, I have an essay title “A Frightening Experience”. Before writing

my essay, I am going to use my plot diagram to plan my essay and make sure I have included

all the essential story elements.

With my plot containing the key events now, it is easy for me to write my essay with an

introduction, 3 body paragraphs and a conclusion.

Essay Title:

A Frightening Experience

Parents never

let me stay

home alone, but

one night, the

baby sitter

cancels and

they have to.

Everything

starts of fine. I

am having a

good time.

I see a frog in the

hall. I am totally

afraid of frogs, so

I freak out.

I chase the frog

out of the house

with a tennis

racket breaking

several vases that

were dear to my

mother. But could

not catch it.

I spend the rest of

the night cleaning

up my mess and

having my mother

shout at me when

she came back.

I consider asking

to not be left

alone, then realize

the frog incident

showed me I’m

stronger than I

thought.

It is in the exposition

that the characters

and the setting is

established.

So here, my

characters are me (I)

and my parents and

my setting is my

house.

The exposition is also

known as the introduction.

This is just the first line of

the paragraph. Remember it

is now your job to add other

details to expand on these

main ideas and to write a

longer paragraph.

“Those who tell the stories rule the world.”

Now it is your turn.

Use the plot diagram to plan a narrative essay titled: “A Lesson Learnt”.

Now with your plot (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution),

write your 250-word narrative essay in the following space provided.

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“Those who tell the stories rule the world.”

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