Personal Narrative Essays (Page 2 of 5) in pdf

 What did this conflict communicate to you about yourself, family, and/or society; how

might you communicate this learning to your audience?

Background and Setting: Developing the Context of Time and Place

Consider the following questions as you develop the setting of your narrative.

 What is the event you want to share?

 Where did this event take place?

 When did this event occur?

 How do the details of time and place develop the context your readers need to understand

the meaning of the story?

 What initial expectations or mentality do these details help viewers to establish that will

be changed, developed, or affirmed as your story progresses?

Plot: Analyzing Cause and Effect

Consider the following questions as you develop the plot of your narrative.

 What important events led to this event?

 What action happened immediately before the event?

 What action happened after the event?

 What changed as a result of the event?

 How has this event impacted you directly or indirectly?

Characters: Recognizing the Human Dimension of Your Story

Consider the following questions as you develop the characters in your narrative.

 Who was involved in this event?

 What is the relationship between you and these other individuals?

 Why are these individuals significant to your narrative?

 How might their views present a source of conflict in the narrative?

 Who is static in the story, and who is dynamic? That is, who does not change, and who

does change?

 Because humans are not one-dimensional, how might you offer multiple perspectives as a

basis for why characters chose the action they did?

 Did this story involve a dialogue of points of view among or between characters?

Climax: Isolating the Central Meaning

Consider the following questions as you develop the climax of your narrative.

 At what point in your story did your understanding of your conflict change?

 What meaning is revealed in the moment of truth—or the moment of revelation or

recognition?

Personal Narrative Essays, Spring 2015.

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Personal Narrative Essays Page 2