Autobiographical Narrative

HOLT Literature Anthology Book pages 66-73 Use this as a resource throughout your writing of your narrative
Subject: An important moment from your life
Purpose: To share an interesting or revealing event by
illuminating a moment from real life through storytelling to create a pleasurable reading experience
for your audience
Narrative: A narrative is a story it has characters, dialogue, a beginning, middle and end, and a greater purpose in being
told. Narratives are not essays, they do not follow the PVHS Writing Format; while they do have structure and a purpose
somewhat resembling a thesis, they are closer to creative writing containing descriptive writing, literary devices, and are
artful and original in their delivery. Narratives breathe life into the stories they tell they SHOW rather than tell (i.e. stories
are not summarized they are described as they happen.)
Autobiography: A true story about the author written in first person,

TASK:
Select a memorable and significant event from your life that took place over a short period of time -this event should be something large or small in your life that changed, shaped, or informed who you
are, how you make decisions, how you see yourself or the world (possibly a life lesson you learned).
Tell this story in a compelling manner, recalling incidents, details, dialogue and specifics
Reflect on the greater significance of the event how it will have a lasting influence on your life
Remember, something that is entertaining to you, may not mean anything to your reader the goal of
narrative writing is to create a pleasurable reading experience for you reader (regardless of the nature
of the content even if the content I heavy and serious, the delivery should be a pleasurable read)
You must balance good storytelling with the truth
Help your reader to identify with experiences or emotions similar to the ones you describe
Your narrative should shed light on the event for your readers opening a window into your
life for them.

Tip for getting started selecting a story from Ms. Brockman:

The story you decide to tell definitely does not have to be a BIG LIFE-CHANGING moment (we
don't all have those to point to). But, you are who you are today based on everything that you have
done or was done to you every day up until today. Can you pinpoint a time where you came to a new
understanding of who you are, or what you value in life?
A few examples from past years:

A moment in which you come to the realization that being happy is totally different from
having fun
A time when you faced a big change in your life and had to adapt
A moment of endurance that taught you to push yourself (physically but more mentally and
emotionally) past comfort zones, to not make excuses for yourself
A time when you realized not to take your family for granted
A time you learned to watch what you say -- to choose your words carefully / not to be cruel
A time when your group of friends changed, or a moment when you realized who you are now
what you like, think etc. is different from how your long-time friends and family still see you
Explore the outcome(s) of a decision youve made and how they influence future decisions
[These of course are still vague topics, but possibly this gets you started thinking Even if it's a
relatively small thing there may be a greater significance to be found in it.]

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Constructing the Autobiographical Narrative

When writing an autobiographical narrative, a writer should make certain that the story:
Has one central idea
Establishes the scene well
Creates well-developed characters (WITHOUT telling us their whole life story or describing every
article in their wardrobe)
Succinctly provides any background information necessary to understanding the event (AS needed

avoid not frontloading stories with too much information and exposition at the start dispense information as
needed)

Uses a voice that, without being informal, reveals the authors personality and attitude
Reveals the significance implied or stated of the event to the author and others (This can be
accomplished by describing reactions to the event when it happened, and/or reflecting on the
experience from a present point of view)

Basically, told from first-person point of view, autobiographical narratives allow

the reader to view the authors life through a window the writer has opened.
Task: Examine any/all of your prewriting exercises and select a single event that would develop well
into an autobiographical narrative.
Remember, you want the event to be:
(1) one specific occurrence that takes place over a short& specified period of time
(2) rich in sensory detail and pleasurable to read
(3) of lasting significance

Some strategies for developing/writing your essay:

Name people, places, objects, amounts, numbers, feelings, etc.
Give good details of visual scenes, objects, and people; describe sounds and smells
Tell about movements, gestures, and expressions on faces as well as internal feelingsstomachs
dropping, faces burning, throats hardening, etc.
Include dialogue (external dialogue between people. External dialogue needs quote marks and new line per
speaker.)

Utilize interior monologue to speak to the readers (internal dialogue within your own head. Internal

Pave the story to give the reader a smooth passage to your conclusion
Include suspense, tension, and/or surprise elements
Use the techniques of comparison and contrast to help your readers to visualize the event
Consider the best sequence in which to relay the events (Is chronological your only choice? Could you
begin at the end, or at the climax and work backwards?)
Utilize writing techniques such as: irony, repetition, pattern breaking, personification, metaphor, etc.

dialogue can be written in italics or in single quotes.)

[For some samples of real-life auto biographical narratives, you could visit the links section of our edline page and listen to
some episodes of This American Life, Story Corps, The Moth, PVHS podcasts etc. (Some content/language may be adult
themed)]

This paper must be 2.5-3 pages long and in perfect MLA format. It does NOT have to
be written on the PVHS format (no Shaping Sheets).
Paper must be submitted to turnitin.com by the beginning of class the day the final
draft is due or 10% will be docked each calendar day it is late.
* You may be able to earn an extra credit point on your final narrative by having an adult read
your paper and complete Peer Revision Guide 2 for you (see edline Narrative folder)
* See edline Narrative folder for support in prewriting and revising

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Drafting Preparations for Autobiographical Event Essay

Sensory & Content Details Questionnaire

Once you have selected your event and are ready to write your first draft, use this
questionnaire to help you breathe life into the moment your are recounting.
Remember, details are vital, but do not overload your reader:

Provide the details that are crucial and relevant to your bigger purpose
Provide details as they are needed (rather than piling them all at the beginning
Do NOT go over the top be careful that your descriptions do not become ridiculous,
overly dramatic, or overly flowery (that can be as detrimental to a paper as no
description at all)
Stay true to the reality of the events it is super obvious when students make up stories
or over-dramatize. That is a.) not the assignment and b.) not good writing

Be able to answer the following questions about your event in detail. Use this
information as needed in the writing of your essay.
1.)
2.)
3.)

What did you hear?

What did you see?
What did you smell and/or taste? (Remember that sometimes when experiences strong emotions,
like and adrenaline rush, pour bodies taste/smell things that might not be real)

4.)
5.)
6.)
7.)
8.)

What did you feel physically what was your bodys reaction and/or what was in your hands,
etc.?
What did you feel emotionally?
What were other peoples experiences (if other people are a part of your event)?
If there were the others involved in, who were they? What did they look like / act like / say?
(Remember to dispense information as it is needed, not all up front)
What did you say? What did others say? (This should be written as dialogue)
What did you think? (This should be written as internal monologue)

9.)
10.) Now, looking back, how do you feel about the event? What perspective do you have now that
you didnt have then?
11.) What is the events significance? Did the event teach you anything or change your life in
anyway? Did you come to a new realization or confirm a longstanding belief? Did you
discover something about yourself or about the world?
12.) What feeling / perspective / message do you want your reader to walk away with after
reading your narrative?

For the success of your narrative it is

VITALY IMPORTANT that you WRITE the story NOT
tell it in a list of "thens". The story needs
to be alive, not a deadened list.

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Narrative Plotting: This needs to be completed in full. Do not skip.

Please put full effort in. One word answers will not suffice.
What is the Experience? _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
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What is the SIGNIFICANCE of this EXPERIENCE? What did I LEARN, GAIN, REALIZE? ______
______________________________________________________________________________________
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What is the LASTING SIGNIFICANCE of this EXPERIENCE how will it shape/inform your
future? _______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

Timeline how long does this event span? [You must narrow it down to a single event; it cannot span
days or weeks definitely not months.] _______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION
Engaging opening catch your readers interest [This could be done be starting in the
middle of the action dialogue or an exciting moment; starting at the end and then working back
to the beginning, starting with a final reflection that is later explained, etc.]:

______________________________________________________________________________________
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Background information the experience you tell needs to be one contained

moment NOT span days, weeks, months. If this one event that you are bringing
to like needs to be put into context, do so here: ________________________________

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Hint at significance of the experience do not give everything away here, but
what is the significance of this moment? __________________________________________

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BODY
[Format does not need to to be this formulaic the body of the paper should flow naturally like the unfolding of a story
dialogue, complications, tension, commentary and reflections, etc. This is to ensure you include meet the lowest expectations.]

Opening complication:
__________________________

Further development:
__________________________

Climax / resolution:
__________________________

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Supporting details:
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Supporting details:
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Supporting details:
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Commentary / Reflection:
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Commentary / Reflection:
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Commentary / Reflection:
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CONCLUSION
Identify and discuss the significance of the experience:

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Address how the experience has/will affect you and your choices since the event
and in the future what is the lasting impact of this event? Your big-picture
reflection:

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

After drafting this outline, answer the following questions about your narrative. Use this
information when drafting, rereading and revising your essay.
1.) How can you shed light on this event by highlighting the universal human moments?
2.) Is everything youve written significant to this story? Does anything take away or distract from
your intended purpose? What can be skipped, glossed over, or condensed to streamline the
story? What can be further developed in service of your intended purpose?
3.) Throughout the narrative have you taken time to reflect an provide commentary on events? Have
you considered what you were thinking and feeling in the moment as the events unfolded?
4.) What will your reader gain from reading this story? Will they be bored, confused, entertained,
annoyed? Will they have learned something? Will they come to appreciate something? Will
they feel that they have wasted their time?
5.) How can you improve this narrative so that it is truly a pleasure to read (regardless of the nature of
its content)?
6.) What sequence of events makes up the experience? What important events led up to or followed
the experience? What sequence best serves the telling of this story (chronological is not the only
choice)?

Keep in mind: The telling of a good story is holding your

reader's interest for as long as you've asked it
of them. Make your reader care how the story
ends, and do not leave them with questions like
"So what?" or Why did I just read that?

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* Rubric subject to modifications

Auto Biographical Narrative

Total:_____/60W x __

Name: ____________________ Per:___

_____/ On time
E

NE

Controlling
Impression

Rubric: (E= Excellent, G=Good, A=Average, S=Struggling, P=Poor, NE=Not Evident)

Purpose of the narrative, as well as the authors thoughts and emotions are clear. The
storyline is focused, streamlined & relevant. The incident is told in full. The action and
pacing help to best convey the incident.
Revealing and relevant original title. (Narrative or Autobiographical do NOT belong in your title!)

Significance

The significance the So What of the event clearly illuminates the narrative. (Perhaps it is hinted at
in the introduction and then fully developed and explored in the conclusion.)

Techniques

Details

Story begins with engaging event or intriguing reflection the opening hooks the reader.
The structure and order of the events is clear, logical, and effective (but not necessarily
chronological may employ flash forwards or flash backs).
Story contains dialogue and/or Interior monologue.
Vivid sensory details and figurative language develop events, characters, and setting.
Narrative is well crafted and finely tuned.
The narrative includes details about the narrators thoughts and feelings, elaborating on
the chosen moment going beyond a simplistic listing of events.
The story is TOLD not summarized the author successfully breathes life into the events.
Specific sensory details help the reader to picture the incident.
Setting, characters, and events are clearly defined.

Diction &
Use of
Language

Uses sophisticated, descriptive language paying careful attention to connotation. Diction is

effective and well chosen, and correctly used, avoiding the awkward That came form a
thesaurus pitfall. The language used goes beyond basic elementary word choices (favoring
French-influenced words over Germanic). Words are not overused. [While not slipping into the

x2

informal, the paper is written in authors true voice rather than an artificially constructed voice.]

Conventions
& Mechanics

Standard English spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar usage used appropriately
for this grade level. (No Contractions, verb tense consistent, helping verbs and passive voice
avoided). All dialogue is correctly formatted. [The complexity of the paper enables the author to
showcase a wide range of conventions.]

Style &
Syntax

Standard English sentence and paragraph structure, grammar, usage, and diction are used
appropriately for this grade level. Vivid action verbs are used. Sentence structure varies.
Sentences are written for clarity and flow well when read reader is not made to reconstruct
muddled meanings.

Formatting

MLA: 1 inch margins, Heading, Header, Spacing, Text, Title (see edline & grammar book for support)

Other
Requirements

Class Work Prep (Samples) _____/

Pre-writing _____/
2: 5 Ws & H + SW _____/
WritingWorkshop 10 MultCh _____/
*First Draft 1 _____/
Typed Draft 1 _____/
Revised Draft 2 _____/
Peer Revision 1 _____/
Peer Revision 2 _____/
Requirements _____/10
Quality of Peer Revision _____/8 W
I revised ______________________________

5
5

x2

Submit to Turnitin.com ____/ 5* HW

* Failure to submit stamped in-class handwritten draft, or to submit letter to turnitin.com by the class period the letter is due, will result
in a zero on the entire assignment

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