Directions: For this portfolio you will be writing your own narrative (real or imagined). It must be on one of the 4 topic choices listed below:
Topic Choices:
A challenge faced by a student athlete
How some hikers dealt with an unexpected storm
A child from a small village or town experiencing a large city for the first time
How a teenager got his town or community to do something important
Portfolio Requirements:
Must be about 1 of the 4 topics listed above
Your narrative must be your own words & ideas, 100% original
Your narrative must be at least 400 words
Your narrative must include dialogue. Click here to see how to include dialogue
Your narrative must have a clear organization, starting with the exposition & ending with a resolution. It should follow the elements of a plot diagram. Click here to access a Plot Diagram to help you organize your story in your prewriting.
Your narrative must be submitted in MLA format. Click HERE for MLA guidelines and examples.
You must submit your narrative to the Paper Review Center & provide their feedback along with your updated Narrative (showing that you utilized their feedback) in the dropbox. Click here to watch a video on how to submit to the Paper Review Center. Click here to read how to download their feedback.
You will be graded using the rubric on the next page (also linked here)
The Unexpected Storm
As the sun began to set over the mountains, Sarah and her friends, Alex and Emma, were enjoying a beautiful hike through the forest. The cool breeze, the rustling of leaves, and the chirping of birds created a peaceful atmosphere. Little did they know that their peaceful hike was about to turn into a chaotic adventure.
As they continued along the trail, dark clouds started to roll in, and the wind picked up speed. Sarah looked up at the sky and felt a pang of worry in her gut. "Do you think we should head back?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
Alex shrugged. "I think we can make it to the summit before the storm hits," he replied confidently.
Emma, always the practical one, checked the weather on her phone. "It looks like a storm is on the way. We need to find shelter fast," she urged.
They quickened their pace, trying to reach the summit before the storm hit. But as they climbed higher, the wind grew stronger, and the rain started to fall in heavy sheets. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and lightning flashed across the sky.
"We need to find a place to take cover!" Sarah shouted over the howling wind.
They stumbled upon a small cave at the side of the trail and rushed inside. The cave offered some protection from the elements, but it was damp and cold. They huddled together, shivering and waiting for the storm to pass.
Hours passed, and the storm showed no signs of letting up. Sarah felt a sense of panic rising inside her. How were they going to make it out of this alive?
"We need to come up with a plan," Emma said, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.
Together, they brainstormed ideas on how to survive the storm. They collected sticks and leaves to make a fire, rationed out their food and water, and tried to stay warm in the cold, damp cave.
After what felt like an eternity, the storm finally began to subside. They cautiously emerged from the cave, blinking in the sunlight. The trail was a mess of mud and fallen branches, but they were alive.
As they made their way back down the mountain, Sarah couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in what they had accomplished. They had faced the unexpected storm head-on and come out stronger because of it. And they knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, as a team.