Guide on How to Write a Narrative Essay

Guide on How to Write a Narrative Essay

 Narrative essays trace their roots to the earliest forms of storytelling, encompassing various genres such as folk tales and ancient poetry. In this article, we aim to explore the fundamentals of narrative essays, including the diverse categories, definitions, and steps in developing a narrative essay.

What is a narrative essay?

Narrative essays offer students a unique platform to engage their creativity deeply. Within this genre, writers are tasked with skillfully developing a story through their own words. Notably, narrative essays stand apart from other essay types as they do not necessitate the inclusion of factual information. The first-person pronoun "I" is dominant in a narrative essay, which is uncommon in other types of essays.

It is important to note that the story is usually not that important of great importance, but rather how it is told. The reader must therefore be able to make the story as interesting as possible, triggering interest for the reader to read. Tools that writers can leverage to make this form of writing more interesting include suspense, figurative language, and dialogue.

Types of Narrative Essays

 	
Literacy Narrative Essay

Literacy narrative essay examines the writer's personal encounters with literacy and its profound impact on their life. The essay revolves around the writer's experience during a particular time in their life that shaped how they view reading, communication, and writing.

 	
Personal narrative essay

A personal narrative essay allows the writer to give their unique story on a particular event or experience. Examples of personal narrative essays include College experience, a trip to France, overcoming fear, and finding my voice through poetry.

 	
A Memoir Narrative Essay

A memoir narrative essay is closely related to a personal essay. However, this type of essay only focuses on a specific period or a theme as witnessed in the writer's life. The most common type of Memoir narrative is a biography.

 	
A Fictional Narrative

A fictional narrative is written from the writer's imagination, following the basic storytelling format. The writer is provided with leeway for selecting the characters and the story's direction. However, the writer is tasked with making the story real to appeal to the audience. Fictional narrative essays can range from historical and science fiction to romance.

Steps of Writing Narrative Essays

Step 1: Select a Topic

The significance of an appropriate topic cannot be overstated when developing a narrative essay. There exist at least four distinct types of narrative essays. Understanding the different types of narrative essays is paramount as it enables the writer to establish the most appropriate topic, aligning it with the desired message. Appreciating the diversity within narrative essays facilitates a more focused and effective approach to writing.

Step 2: Develop the First Draft of the Essay

The first step in developing any essay is creating an outline, which is a foundation for the writing process. An outline helps the writer establish the logical flow of the narrative. In a narrative essay, the outline typically consists of an introduction, body, and conclusion, similar to other essay types. The body of the essay should contain the main points of discussion.

Let's imagine you are writing a narrative essay about a trip you took to Paris. In the introduction, you can provide background information about the trip, such as who sponsored it and the reason behind the sponsorship. Moving on to the body, you can delve into vivid descriptions of all the exciting experiences you had while in Paris. Finally, in the conclusion, you can reflect on the lessons you learned from the entire experience.

By following this structure and incorporating relevant details, your narrative essay on the trip to Paris will have a well-defined outline that allows for a coherent and engaging story that keeps your readers interested in knowing more.

Step 3: Proofread your Work 

Taking a break before starting the proofreading process is essential for effectively identifying mistakes in your essay. It allows you to approach the text with a fresh perspective.

You can make use of online tools to assist you in organizing your thoughts and detecting grammatical errors. Seeking the assistance of a third party who is proficient in English can also greatly contribute to the development of an outstanding narrative essay. Their expertise can provide valuable insights and suggestions for improvement.

Pros and Cons of Narrative Writing

Like any other form of writing, narrative essays have pros and cons, as explored below.

Pros

 	
Provide writers with a platform to fully and freely express themselves using their own words.
 	
Allows writers to tell stories creatively.
 	
Allows readers to think critically in instances where the writer provides descriptions or vivid details.
 	
Allows writers to grow through self-reflection via stories that describe their lives.

Cons

 	
Striking a balance between personal storytelling and meeting readers' expectations can be challenging.
 	
Different readers may interpret the content of the narrative differently.
 	
In narrative essay writing, the writer may need to disclose personal information to the reader. It is important to acknowledge that not all writers find this aspect appealing.

Key Points to Note 

 	
Use First Person Pronouns.

When writing a narrative essay, it is essential to consistently employ first-person pronouns such as 'I,' 'me,' 'my,' and 'mine.' The use of the first person pronoun as attributed to the nature of the narrative, as the writer is sharing personal experiences and perspectives.

Using first-person pronouns establishes a stronger connection with the reader, enabling them to immerse themselves in your narrative and experience the events alongside you.

 	
Employ Creativity

The presence of creativity plays a vital role in captivating the readers and maintaining their interest throughout your narrative. Regardless of how intriguing the topic may appear, it will fail to inspire readers to continue reading employing employing the necessary tactics to make the essay engaging.

Creativity can be demonstrated through various means, such as developing an attention-grabbing introduction that grabs the curiosity of the readers. Incorporating descriptive and figurative language throughout the essay can add depth and vividness to the narrative, enhancing its appeal.

Narrative essays can be relatively straightforward to develop but can also become challenging if you lack the necessary skills. By following the steps outlined above, you will receive guidance on developing an outstanding essay that captivates your audience and leaves them craving for more.

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