Honors Portfolio: Writing a Narrative Essay
After you have written a draft of your narrative essay, it is time to revise it. During the revision stage of writing, you will organize your story to make sure that it is written clearly. It is important to revise your writing so that readers can understand your story and its message, or theme. Reread the most recent draft of your narrative. Then, think about the following as you revise:
Where can you add details to make your narrative more interesting?
Where should you delete any details that are not related to your story?
Are there any words that you can change to make the story more exciting?
Are there words that you can include to provide your reader with more of a sensory experience?
Are there parts of your narrative that you can move around to make the story clearer?
One area that will need attention is your use of dialogue. You have most likely written conversations between your characters. Did you choose language that is realistic? Be sure to reread these sections. Ask yourself if the words are what the characters would actually use. It would not make sense for characters who are very uptight or stuffy to use slang, for example. How would this character naturally say something?
It is important to tag your dialogue. Dialogue tags are phrases at the beginning or the end of a sentence which tell the reader which character spoke. They are the “he said,” “she said,” part of the dialogue. Be sure you’ve made clear which character is speaking. Dialogue tags can also show a character’s mood. As you revise, spice up your word choices. If a character shouts until her face is all red, writing “she said” may not be enough description. Instead, try something like: “Stay away from me!” she raved as a tomato-red flush spread up her neck and face. This tells the reader what the character said, with a dialogue tag that describes how she said it.
After you have made some revisions to your narrative, talk it over with a peer or your Learning Coach. A peer can read your draft and give you feedback. If there are sections of your story that a peer does not understand, you may need to revise those sections or add information.
Some strategies for peer review include sharing the document, or sending it in an email, and asking specific questions about your story. For example, if you are not sure if the dialogue you have written makes sense, ask your reviewer to tell you what he or she thinks of it. Be sure that you ask about specifics. Asking a general question about all of the dialogue can overwhelm your reviewer. The same is true when asking for feedback about characters. Ask your reviewer specifically about one character, and include a question that you have about that character. For example, you could ask your reviewer to tell you if he or she thinks that a character would perform a specific action in one part of the plot.
Another place to check in with your reviewer is the resolution or ending of your story. Ask your reviewer if the resolution makes sense, and if there are any unresolved questions or issues about the story. Be sure that you note these areas. That way you can go back and make changes after the peer review. Write notes to yourself on paper or sticky notes or add comments in your word processing program. You can also ask your reviewer to make a comment on the digital copy or write you a paper note.
Peer review is also an opportunity to make your writing clearer. Take this time to remove repetitive information or details that are off topic. Be sure to ask your peer reviewer to show you the places where your writing lacks relevance.
Finally, ask your peer reviewer to identify the theme in your story. If your peer reviewer cannot find your theme, talk about what you intended and ask for suggestions.
A photograph shows two women looking at a tablet computer.
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Your peer might make notes on your document by using the tools in a word processor, such as Track Changes. A peer can also give you feedback by making comments like, “I do not understand this part.”
When the document is returned to you, you can review the suggestions.
To communicate clearly, writers should use standard English conventions. After you revise your narrative, it is time for the editing stage. Proofread your story. Then, correct any errors that you found in grammar and spelling.
The spell check option in your word processing program can help you find many errors, but be careful. Spell check may not catch every mistake. For example, if you misuse a word or if your incorrect spelling matches the correct spelling of a different word, spell check will not mark it as an error.
To help you find technical errors in your work, you can ask a peer or Learning Coach to help you edit. If reviewing on paper, your peer might use some of these common proofreading symbols and notes.
Capitalize: Three lines underneath the letter that should be capitalized.
Lowercase: A slash through the letter that should be lowercase, or lc.
Delete: The letter, word, or section might be crossed out, or there will be a looped symbol over it.
Insert: A carat (^) will indicate where something should be inserted.
Spelling: If something is spelled incorrectly, you will see sp.
Paragraph: If a paragraph needs to be added, you would see the symbol (¶).
It is important to edit your own work as well. You can read your narrative a few times and look for different errors each time. You can also try reading your paper out loud. Sometimes errors can be spotted by scanning your story from the bottom to the top, or from reading right to left. Another way to check your spelling yourself, without technology, is to read your story backwards. That means that you begin at the end of the story with the last word and read right to left and end at the start. By doing this, you are reading the words out of context, which allows you to see the errors. Give it a try!
Reviewing your narrative in different ways, using technology, and collaborating with others in order to revise and edit your narrative, will make you a better writer. These are strategies that will serve you well with anything that you write.
Write a narrative essay
As I walked through the crowded streets of the bustling city, the sounds of car horns and chatter filled my ears. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the buildings, creating shadows that danced along the pavement. I was on my way to meet my best friend for dinner, a ritual that we had kept up for years.
As I turned the corner onto the street where the restaurant was located, I saw my friend sitting at a table outside, a smile on her face as she waved me over. We hugged tightly, laughing as we sat down and caught up on each other's lives. The waiter came over to take our order, and we both decided on our favorite dishes.
As we waited for our food to arrive, we reminisced about the adventures we had shared over the years. From road trips to late-night chats, we had been through it all together. I couldn't help but feel grateful for her friendship, for the way she had always been there for me, no matter what.
Our food arrived, and we dug in, savoring each bite and the company we shared. As we finished our meal, the sky darkened, and the city lights began to twinkle around us. I looked at my friend, a feeling of contentment washing over me.
As we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways, I couldn't help but reflect on the evening we had shared. It was moments like these, simple and full of warmth, that made life worth living. I knew that no matter where life took us, my friendship with her would always be a source of comfort and joy.
And as I walked home, the city lights guiding my way, I couldn't help but smile, grateful for the moments that made life beautiful.