Writing a Narrative about Overcoming a Challenge | English 1

Read the sentence. I told them how surprised and excited I was to have my painting selected, especially since I'd felt so incompetent at the beginning and I knew the competition was so ruthless. Which revision best uses dialogue to improve the sentence?

"I'm in! My painting is in! I feel a fist pump and a little dance coming on," I said, grinning. I thought about how I felt so incompetent at the beginning because of the ruthless competition.

Read the list of items that Aditi is planning to include in her narrative essay. 1. I stayed after school once to work on a monologue with a teacher. 2. I learned about the audition for the spring musical at my school. 3. I realized that I need to practice more if I really want a role. 4. I went to the audition and barely remembered all my lines. What is the best order for these items?

2, 1, 4, 3

Read Fatima's paragraph. Having moved up north just last year, I experienced my first snowstorm this past winter. At first, the snow twirled gently, lightly dusting the street, cars, and trees with snowy frosting. Then, the snow became a curtain, blinding my view so that I felt cocooned from the outside world. When the snow stopped, ice coated the trees and branches clacked like chattering teeth. Which sentence will Fatima's teacher most likely ask her to revise?

Having moved up north just last year, I experienced my first snowstorm this past winter.

Read the paragraph that Lukas is planning to include in his narrative essay. Running is my life. Beginning last summer I practiced every day from the early break of dawn until the heat of the midday sun forced me to take a break. Sipping from my bottle of icy water to keep myself hydrated, I dreamed about running a mile in under ten minutes to compete in the statewide race. What should Lukas do with this paragraph?

He should put it in the beginning of the essay.

Read the sentence. Returning home from the trip, we peeled off our sodden coats, dropped all of our suitcases on the floor, and headed for the kitchen in the back. Which part of the sentence uses description to hold the reader's interest?

we peeled off our sodden coats

Which sentences feature a first-person point of view? Check all that apply.

My friend likes cars with a lot of horsepower, but I prefer good gas mileage. I spent last night studying for the geometry test we're taking in fifth period. Although his organization process was a bit haphazard, I could follow it.

Read the passage that Gabriel wrote for his narrative essay. Once we arrived at the local pool, I looked around to see who else was there. Normally, I would have found the kids frolicking and splashing in the water hilarious, but not today. They were cute, but the fact that they were half my age and swimming around like so many ducks just made me feel worse. "You nervous?" my mom asked. I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Not really," I mumbled, trying to hide my shaking hands in my pockets. I don't think I fooled my mom, but she didn't comment on the fact that I looked a little green. Instead, she tried to encourage me, saying, "Well, I think it's really impressive that you're going to confront your fear of water and learn to swim." What is the most likely reason Gabriel chose to write his essay with this point of view?

Since a narrative essay tells a story about the writer's life, it is most effective to tell the story from the writer's point of view.

Read the sentence. I work at the community garden. Which revision most improves the sentence by adding description?

The mixed aroma of spicy garlic and sweet roses tickles my nose when I work at the community garden.

What should a writer plan to include in the end of a narrative essay? Check all that apply.

a reflection on what was learned a discussion about how the experience caused change

When planning a narrative essay, the writer should order events so that the __________ is developed in the middle of the essay.

conflict