Narrative Essay

·         Students will be writing a short story.  The story will encompass description, dialogue, and other elements of a short story.  The characters must be well developed and the reader must have a clear understanding as to the conflict and resolution of the story.  For help, you may want to study a picture and develop a short story around the image.  While taking this approach, think of a person or an event that you have had some contact with to help fill-in the missing areas to develop a well-written story.  Be sure to develop the conflict & have a resolution. 

·         Students are advised to use their journal writings for further assistance.

·         The essay must be 3-FULL PAGES (no more than 4 pages) in length.  The 3-page requirement does not include the cover sheet—Title, Student name, Mr. Vásquez, Period __, English 1-P, Date, Narrative Essay.

Process

1)       Choose the subject you are going to write about.
2)       List, cluster, or draw ideas about the time you are focusing on.
3)       Check your pre-writing (#1) to make sure you have good sensory descriptions for showing writing.
4)       Draft your incident.
5)       Peer edit using the Narrative Essay Checklist
6)       Revise aspects of your writing that you missed or shortchanged in the first draft.

Reflective Essay Rubric (300 pts)

Incident uses a variety of the following strategies: (Must use 3—20 pts each)             (60 pts)

q    Names specific people, objects, places, etc.
q    Draws visual details of scene, objects, or people (extra credit, not 1 of 3)
q    Evoke the other sensory details of sound, smell, touch, and taste as needed.
q    Focuses on specific narrative action (movements, gestures, expressions)
q    Uses dialogue to create real situations
q    Employs interior monologue
q    Varies the pacing to reflect the drama
q    Creates suspense, tension, or surprise
q    Expresses remembered feelings/insights from the time of the incident

Context                                                                                                                  (90 pts)

q    The incident takes place in a particular physical or psychological setting (30 pts)
q    Provides background to orient the reader to scene, people, and events (60 pts)  

Significance                                                                                                             (90 pts)

q    Implies or states the personal significance of the incident (30 pts)
q    Subtly integrates the significance into the narration (30 pts)
q    The significance may be further clarified in the conclusion (30 pts)

Quality                                                                                                                    (60 pts)

q    Overall structure (Sequential—Beginning, middle, and end) (30 pts)
q    Polished mechanics and editing (30 pts)