Narrative Essays

In the form of expository writing, the narrative approach to writing an essay gives students the option to think and write about their own or someone else’s experiences. We all have experiences stored in our memories, of which mostly are those we share with people in both, verbal and non-verbal ways. In the case of a narrative essay, we share our experiences on paper in the form of a story or account. Sometimes these memories are confused with other memories that most of the time is spent in writing story is in the prewriting stage.

When students write a narrative essay, they are telling a story. Narrative essays are told from a defined view of author’s, so there is liking as well as precise and often sensory details provided to involve the reader in the characters and sequence of the story. The verbs are creative and accurate. The narrative essay makes a point which is often distinct in the beginning of the story, but can also be found at the last words in the opening paragraph.

Since a narration is personal experiences, it’s often a form of a story. When the student uses this procedure, he or she must be sure to follow all the conventions of storytelling: plot, characters, setting, climax, and ending. These are the essences which are usually filled with painstaking details of situation, support, or embellish the story. The details relate to the important points, which the student is attempting to make. To summarize, the narrative essay is told from a special views construct and supports a point is filled with precise detail uses vivid verbs and that change to something, especially to improve uses conflict and sequence as does any story may use dialogue.

The purpose of a narrative report is to elaborate. Many students write narrative reports thinking that these are college essays or papers. While the information in these reports is basic to other forms of writing, narrative reports do not have the “higher order thinking” that essays require. Thus narrative reports do not, as a principle, yield high grades for many college courses. A basic example of a narrative report is a “book report” that outlines a book; it includes the characters, their actions, plot, and perhaps, some situation. It describes “what happens in the book.” But this leaves out an awful lot.

What is left out is what the book or article is about — the concepts, assumptions, arguments, or point of view that the book reveals. A narrative report leaves aside a detailed consideration that puts the events of the text into the context of what the text is about. Is the text about Power? What is world? Social Networking?  Without wealth what is power? Inflation? In other words, narrative reports often overlook the author’s purpose or point of view expressed through the article.
Once the topic is selected, the student needs to focus on three principles in mind.

  • Involve readers in the story. It is much more interesting to actually recreate an situation for readers than to simply tell about it.
  • Find a generalization, which the story supports. In this student’s personal experience will take on meaning for readers.
  • Main component of a narrative is the story, details must be carefully selected to support, explain, and enhance the story.

Conventions of Narrative Essays

  • Narratives are generally written with I (first person), however he, she or it (third person) can also be used. It relies on concrete, sensory details induced with points to attract reader. It should be unified, effectual and dominant impression on reader. It should include: a plot, including setting and characters; a climax; and an ending.