Posted: February 2nd, 2016

Write about a time when you could have spoken out in protest or could have acted differently but chose not to. Would you make the same decision today?

Write about a time when you could have spoken out in protest or could have acted differently but chose not to. Would you make the same decision today?

Some points to consider:
1. Make sure your narrative has a title and an introductory paragraph that states the thesis.
2. Your story should focus on one episode in your life, one incident. The events narrated should cover a relatively short time span (one hour, no more than 24 hours).
3. Most events in a narrative are told in chronological order. Any background info should occur near the beginning of the narrative.
4. A good narrative often centers on some kind of conflict (internal—emotional turmoil, mental anguish– or external–with another person or the forces of nature).
5. As the events unfold in your narrative, the reader should sense a buildup of tension, a peaking, and then a gradual release. In other words, as observes in his narrative guidelines, the story should have a “clear, discrete narrative arc. That is, it should have a beginning, a middle, and an end; a scene should be set, tension should rise, a dramatic climax should occur, and tension should subside.”
6. Include specific, relevant details that move the story along.
7. Include dialogue to highlight important moments in your narrative, but remember to use dialogue sparingly. Don’t record any long “he said, she said” conversations.
8. Don’t be reluctant to tell a humorous story or to include humor in your narrative.
9. At the end of your narrative, reflect on your purpose. Why is your story worth telling? What did you learn from the incident? How did the event affect you or change your life? What insights did you gain?
10. Remember you will be sharing your story with me and with your classmates, so do not write about any incident or supply any personal information that you are not comfortable revealing. This is not True Confessions.