How to write a simple narrative essay: gathering info

Narrative essays are the one essay style that is not quite like the others. In an expository, persuasive, and descriptive essay, writes try to prove a point. In a narrative essay, your job is to tell a story, but within that story, you have to also prove a point. The key is to perfectly blend the two aspects of the essay so it is not a just a short story and not just a persuasive essay. Gathering the information for the essay is one of the keys to success.

• Time to Practice Your Creativity

Students usually have difficulty with narrative essays because they do not get much experience with creative writing. Students usually write expository and persuasive essays, which do not create experience writing stories using creative language. Students then have a challenge trying to tell a story that will draw in the reader. They also have difficulty bridging the story and the life lessons learned from it, too.

• Write a Quick Synopsis of the Event to Trigger Memories

One of the first steps that students should take when they are ready to begin is to create a beginning, middle, and end to their story. Whether students create an outline or write a quick synopsis of the story does not matter; what matters is that students get something about the story on paper. Then, they can begin to pull the pieces of the story that are vital. Since this is an essay rather than a short story, students can be picky about what they include. They should be sure that they have enough background information for the reader to understand what is going on in the story. Then, the turning point needs to be included. The falling action and resolution are vital to the story because this is where the writer will reveal the life lesson or theme of the event.

• Fill in the Details by Asking Family or Friends

Once you have a good idea of the structure of the story, you will then need to begin filling in necessary details. Some students will turn to family or friends who were at the same event. If you do not remember everything, you can leave out unimportant details or make up a detail that fits. You should be sure to use transitions to help the reader follow along and you should use vivid, active verbs to bring the story to life.