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• How to write a narrative essay | Example & tips

How to Write a Narrative Essay | Example & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A narrative essay tells a story. In most cases, this is a story about a personal experience you had. This type of essay , along with the descriptive essay , allows you to get personal and creative, unlike most academic writing .

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Table of contents

What is a narrative essay for, choosing a topic, interactive example of a narrative essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about narrative essays.

When assigned a narrative essay, you might find yourself wondering: Why does my teacher want to hear this story? Topics for narrative essays can range from the important to the trivial. Usually the point is not so much the story itself, but the way you tell it.

A narrative essay is a way of testing your ability to tell a story in a clear and interesting way. You’re expected to think about where your story begins and ends, and how to convey it with eye-catching language and a satisfying pace.

These skills are quite different from those needed for formal academic writing. For instance, in a narrative essay the use of the first person (“I”) is encouraged, as is the use of figurative language, dialogue, and suspense.

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Narrative essay assignments vary widely in the amount of direction you’re given about your topic. You may be assigned quite a specific topic or choice of topics to work with.

• Write a story about your first day of school.
• Write a story about your favorite holiday destination.

You may also be given prompts that leave you a much wider choice of topic.

• Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself.
• Write about an achievement you are proud of. What did you accomplish, and how?

In these cases, you might have to think harder to decide what story you want to tell. The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to talk about a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

For example, a trip where everything went according to plan makes for a less interesting story than one where something unexpected happened that you then had to respond to. Choose an experience that might surprise the reader or teach them something.

Narrative essays in college applications

When applying for college , you might be asked to write a narrative essay that expresses something about your personal qualities.

For example, this application prompt from Common App requires you to respond with a narrative essay.

In this context, choose a story that is not only interesting but also expresses the qualities the prompt is looking for—here, resilience and the ability to learn from failure—and frame the story in a way that emphasizes these qualities.

An example of a short narrative essay, responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” is shown below.

Hover over different parts of the text to see how the structure works.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

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If you’re not given much guidance on what your narrative essay should be about, consider the context and scope of the assignment. What kind of story is relevant, interesting, and possible to tell within the word count?

The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to reflect on a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

Don’t worry too much if your topic seems unoriginal. The point of a narrative essay is how you tell the story and the point you make with it, not the subject of the story itself.

Narrative essays are usually assigned as writing exercises at high school or in university composition classes. They may also form part of a university application.

When you are prompted to tell a story about your own life or experiences, a narrative essay is usually the right response.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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Free Online Narrative Essay Structure flashcards for Class 9

Master Grade 9 Narrative Essay Structure with Quizizz! Explore our curated collection of interactive flashcards for effective learning.

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Explore Free Narrative Essay Structure flashcards for Class 9

Dive into the realm of creative writing with our Narrative Essay Structure flashcards for Grade 9. These flashcards are designed to help students understand the essential components of a narrative essay, including the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. They also provide examples and tips on how to effectively use dialogue, description, and pacing to engage readers. Whether you're crafting a personal narrative or a fictional tale, these flashcards are your guide to structuring your story in a compelling and coherent manner. Quizizz is a platform that teachers across the globe trust for its versatility and ease of use. Our platform offers a range of features, including a library filled with pre-made quizzes, the ability to monitor individual student progress, and an interface that makes it simple to create tailored quizzes. Teachers use Quizizz for unit reviews, test preparation, and independent practice, among other things. With its free features and navigable resources, Quizizz stands out as a favorite educational tool for many educators.

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Class 9 Essay Topics | Interesting Essay Writing Topics & Ideas for 9th Grade

May 2, 2023 by Veerendra

Get inspired with great narratives and Class 9 Essay Topics. Avail the Grade Specific Essay Writing Topics curated belonging to different categories. Bring up the Creative Mind and Imagination in you by referring to the 9th Standard Essay Topics. Enhance your Vocabulary with the Grade 9 Essay Writing Topics & Ideas and express your thoughts into essays on your own. 9th Std Essays are beneficial to win prizes in your competitions or speeches.

Essay Topics List for Grade 9 Students & Children

Not everyone can express their views in the form of Essays.  Try to read the Class 9th Essays belonging to diverse categories. All of them are given in an efficient manner and you can access the Grade 9 Essay Topics of different subjects via quick links available. The 9th Standard Essay Topics prevailing encourages self-study among kids and gives a fair idea on what to write on several topics.

• Essay on School’s Surroundings and Examinations
• Essay on Festivals
• Essay on Persons We Come Across
• Essay on About Myself
• Essay on Relationships
• Essay on Visits
• Essay on Scenes, Sights, and Journeys
• Essay on Health and Fitness
• Essay on Personalities/People
• Essay on Events
• Essay on Monuments
• Essay on Vacation/Holidays
• Nature Essay
• Essay on Sports
• Essay on Cities
• Essay on Life
• Essay on Animals
• General Essays
• Global Warming
• Essay on Environmental Issues & Awareness
• Essay Topics Based on Proverbs
• Essay on Moral Values
• Education Essay
• Essay on India
• Essay on Science & Technology
• Essay on Social Issues & Social Awareness
• Argumentative Essay Topics

FAQs on 9th Class Essay Writing Topics & Ideas

1. Where do I get Subject Specific 9th Standard Essay Topics?

You can get Subject Specific 9th Standard Essay Topics on our page.

2. How to access Grade 9 Essay Writing Topics & Ideas?

All you need to do is simply tap on the quick links available to access Class 9th Essay Writing Topics & Ideas.

3. Is there any website that provides the 9th Class Essay Suggestions free of cost?

Aplustopper.com is a trusted portal that provides the 9th Class Essay Suggestions free of cost on our page.

Hoping the knowledge shared regarding the 9th Std Essay Topics has helped you a lot. Do leave us your suggestions via the comment section and we will look into them and add them at the earliest. Stay in touch with our site to avail latest updates on Essays of Different Classes.

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• Narrative Writing

Narrative Writing - Definition, Types, Tips and Techniques

Narrative writing is a style of writing that uses the technique of narration to present a series of events that leads to an expected or unexpected end. In other words, it is a writing style that is used to tell a story. Read through the article to learn more about narrative writing, the types of narrative writing, and the tips and techniques you can use to write a narrative piece.

Table of Contents

What is narrative writing – meaning and definition, characteristics of a narrative – the 7 key elements, types of narrative writing, linear narrative, nonlinear narrative, descriptive narrative, viewpoint narrative, list of narrative forms, how to write a narrative piece – tips and techniques, examples of narrative writing, frequently asked questions on narrative writing.

A narrative gives an account of events that happen at a particular time and place; it can be fictional or non-fictional. The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines a narrative in three different ways – “a description of events”, “the part of a novel that tells the story, rather than the dialogue”, and “a way of explaining events to illustrate a set of aims or values”. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms explains ‘narration’ as “the process of relating a sequence of events”, and a ‘narrative’ as “a telling of some true or fictitious event or connected sequence of events, recounted by a narrator to a narratee (although there may be more than one of each)”.

A narrative includes the smallest of details to the most important information. It is a mixture of these that make the narrative interesting, informative and appealing. A narrative, especially when written in the form of a story, must have the following elements.

• Point of view

Characters refer to the animate and inanimate objects that are involved in the story. They drive the story from the beginning till the end. A narrative story can have just one character or a number of characters, all of them contributing to the process in the most minute or most noticeable way.

Setting refers to the surroundings where the story or the events being narrated happen. It can be any place – a house, a forest, a car, a classroom, a playground, a bus, the middle of the road, etc. The setting of the narrative plays an important role in setting the mood of the entire piece.

Plot refers to all the events that contribute to the story. It has a starting point – the exposition – where the story begins, and the characters and the setting are introduced to the audience. This is followed by the rising action – the point where the main character(s) faces an impediment that disturbs the course of the narrative. Climax comes next and is the turning point in the story, which then leads to the falling action. It is here that the problem starts resolving. This finally leads the story to a conclusion. In simple words, it can be said that the plot is the order in which the events take place.

Conflict is the point of tension in the narrative where a problem arises. This point changes the course of the narrative and leads it to the expected or unexpected end.

Theme refers to the central idea the narrative is based on. The whole piece revolves around it. Popular themes include good and evil, justice, love, friendship, brotherhood, change, music, etc.

Style is characterised by the kind of language used by the writer to narrate, and this differs from genre to genre.

Point of view refers to who tells the story. It can be a first, second or third-person narrative. First-person narration is when a character who is part of what is happening tells the story from their perspective. It is characterised by the usage of pronouns such as ‘I’, ‘me’, ‘my’, ‘mine’, ‘myself’, ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’, ‘ourselves’, ‘ours’, etc. Second-person narration is characterised by the usage of pronouns such as ‘you’, ‘your’, ‘yourself’, and ‘yourselves’. Third-person narration is when there is a narrator (a character who is not part of the story) or a character in the story who narrates what is going on in the story. It is done with the usage of pronouns such as ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’, ‘they’, ‘his’, ‘hers’, ‘him’, ‘hers’, ‘their’, ‘theirs’, ‘himself’, ‘herself’, ‘themselves’, etc.

Narratives can include historical pieces, novels, short stories, epics, ballads, etc. Poetry can be narrative too. An example of a narrative poem would be ‘Snake’ by D.H. Lawrence. However, narrative writing can be divided into four main types, namely,

• Descriptive

In this type of narrative, the writer follows a chronological order of narration. The fictional or non-fictional narrative is presented from the beginning till the end. Bildungsroman (also known as coming-of-age novels) follow the linear narrative style. ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ by J.D. Salinger, ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ by Mark Twain, ‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens, etc., are some famous examples of linear narratives. Historical pieces, biographies and autobiographies are also forms of writing that follow a narrative style.

The movie ‘Moana’ is a perfect example of a linear narrative. It starts with Moana as a little girl who is taught all about her culture and her duties towards her tribe. This style perfectly supports the theme and the plot. You see that Moana is always drawn to the ocean, identifies the purpose of her life and travels across the ocean to save her people from complete doom.

A nonlinear narrative is one in which the happenings are not narrated chronologically. This is the kind of narrative that includes flashbacks. It starts at a point and goes back and forth. Most suspense thriller novels and movies follow this style of narration. There are also lighter themes that are presented in this fashion. ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Bronte, ‘The Sound and the Fury’ by William Faulkner and ‘Catch-22’ by Joseph Heller are some examples of novels that follow the nonlinear narrative style.

Stream of consciousness is a nonlinear narrative technique that presents all the thoughts and feelings that go on in the mind of the narrator as things happen. Through this technique, one can also portray the character’s flow of thoughts in a realistic manner. James Joyce’s novel ‘Ulysses’ is a well-known example that uses this technique.

The series ‘This Is Us’ is a great example of the nonlinear narrative style. You will see the story of the Pearson family always oscillating between the past and present. Every episode is a series of events that happened on the same day during the different stages of their lives or the same emotion experienced by the different characters. This is an effective way of telling a story as it keeps the viewers always wanting to know more.

This is a narrative style in which the audience is made to see and feel the characters’ world. In a descriptive narrative, the writer uses descriptive words and phrases that create vivid images in the minds of the readers. ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ by Stephen Chbosky, ‘The Song of Achilles’ by Madeline Miller, and ‘The God of Small Things’ by Arundhati Roy are some examples of descriptive narrative.

Most of you may have watched both ‘Avatar’ and ‘Avatar: Way of the Water’. The descriptive technique is used in both movies. The way of the Avatar realm is portrayed in a manner that makes the audience feel one with the characters and the setting.

A viewpoint narrative is a style of writing in which there is the presence of a first, second or third-person narrator. The usage of pronouns changes based on who narrates the happenings in the story. The most common viewpoint narratives seen are the first-person narrative and the third-person narrative. Autobiographies are written in the first-person point of view, and biographies in the third-person point of view.

‘The Fault in our Stars’ by John Green and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee are examples of a first-person narrative. ‘Little Women’ by Louisa May Alcott and ‘Beloved’ by Toni Morrison are two among the many examples of third-person narratives. There are not as many books in the second-person narrative as in the first and third-person narratives. However, there are some that are wonderfully presented. ‘Ghost Light’ by Joseph O’ Connor and ‘If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler’ by Italo Calvino are novels written in the second-person narrative. Try reading these novels and analyse the kind of effect the different viewpoints have on the readers.

Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi), the protagonist, narrates throughout the movie, ‘The Life of Pi’, thereby rendering it an example of a first-person narrative. Bagheera, the panther in ‘The Jungle Book’, narrates how Mowgli came to live with the wolves and all that has happened and is happening in the present. This, therefore, can be considered to follow a third-person narrative structure.

The narrative style of writing is commonly employed in the following forms.

• Short stories
• Biographies
• Autobiographies
• Travelogues

Here are some tips and techniques you can follow to write a good narrative piece.

• Before you start writing your first draft, brainstorm your ideas.
• You will not know what will inspire you. So, when you talk to people, pay attention to how they are narrating; read the works of different authors in the genre that you are planning to write; explore the different voices and employ them creatively to suit your characters and narrative on the whole.
• Jot down who your characters are and how you expect them to be; visualise the setting and lay out the details; think about the point at which you want your narrative to start and end.
• The point of view you are using to narrate plays a major role. If you want your readers to be a part of what is happening, use the first-person point of view. This will help your readers see and feel it just like you do. If you want your readers to be a spectator and analyse everything, you can use the third-person point of view. Contrary to both, if you want your readers to be a part of everything and have their own experiences, use the second-person narrative.
• Remember that you can have more than one narrator. Using multiple narrators will help you build different perspectives of a given situation.
• Use descriptions to give your readers a magnified and clearer view of the setting and characters.
• Have a strong theme and see to it that it reaches your audience.
• Bear in mind that every word matters. The diction you choose and the manner in which you employ them to form sentences is what builds the desired effect.
• Also, remember that you need not stick to one narrative style. For instance, you can write a linear or nonlinear descriptive first-person narrative. Do not limit yourself too much with the style. Choose what suits your narrative best and use them in the best possible way.
• When you write, you have your freedom. Make up your own techniques, style, and use literary devices to support your writing. Nothing works better than authenticity.
• Allow your creative mind to work at its own pace. Do not interrupt or force the flow of thoughts.
• Proofread before you finalise the final draft.

Here is an example of a narrative verse – the first few lines of the poem ‘Snake’ by D.H. Lawrence. See how the poet uses words to narrate the incident of the snake appearing at his water trough and everything that happens further.

“A snake came to my water-trough

On a hot, hot day, and I in pyjamas for the heat,

To drink there.

In the deep, strange-scented shade of the great dark carob tree

I came down the steps with my pitcher

And must wait, must stand and wait, for there he was at the trough

He reached down from a fissure in the earth-wall in the gloom

And trailed his yellow-brown slackness soft-bellied down, over

the edge of the stone trough

And rested his throat upon the stone bottom,

And where the water had dripped from the tap, in a small clearness,

He sipped with his straight mouth,

Softly drank through his straight gums, into his slack long body,

This short paragraph given below is an excerpt from the novel, ‘If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler’ by Italo Calvino. See how second-person narrative works. The narrative style makes the reader feel included and one with the characters in the story. In the following example, the writer instructs the reader to get comfortable and do everything that is necessary so as to not be disturbed in between the reading.

“Adjust the light so you won’t strain your eyes. Do it now, because once you’re absorbed in reading there will be no budging you. Make sure the page isn’t in shadow, a clotting of black letters on a gray background, uniform as a pack of mice; but be careful that the light cast on it isn’t too strong, doesn’t glare on the cruel white of the paper, gnawing at the shadows of the letters as in a southern noonday. Try to foresee now everything that might make you interrupt your reading.”

What is narrative writing?

Narrative writing is a style of writing that uses the technique of narration to present a series of events that leads to an expected or unexpected end. It can be fictional or non-fictional.

What is the definition of a narrative?

The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines a narrative in three different ways – “a description of events”, “the part of a novel that tells the story, rather than the dialogue”, and “a way of explaining events to illustrate a set of aims or values”. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms explains ‘narration’ as “the process of relating a sequence of events” and a ‘narrative’ as “a telling of some true or fictitious event or connected sequence of events, recounted by a narrator to a narratee (although there may be more than one of each)”.

What are the elements of a narrative?

A narrative, especially when written in the form of a story, must have the following elements.

What are the types of narrative writing?

Narrative writing can be characterised into four categories, namely,

• Linear narrative
• Nonlinear narrative
• Descriptive narrative
• Viewpoint narrative

List some narrative forms.

Some examples of narrative forms are epics, ballads, short stories, novels, biographies, autobiographies, and travelogues.

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Narrative Writing

Description.

In this unit, students are introduced to the skills, practices, and routines of narrative writing by working collaboratively with their peers to examine narrative writing models, plan for their writing, and build their knowledge on the narrative writing topic. Students independently practice writing and revising and also engage in peer review to revise their work. Throughout the unit, the class will construct a Narrative Writing Checklist, which students will use to guide their drafting, review, and finalization. By the end of the unit, students will have produced fully developed narratives.

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• lesson 1: Introduction to Narrative Writing
• lesson 2: Effective Narrative Writing: Organization and Purpose
• lesson 3: Narrative Writing: Analyzing the Prompt
• lesson 4: Narrative Writing: Source Material
• lesson 5: Narrative Writing: More Source Material
• lesson 6: Narrative Writing: Drafting an Introduction
• lesson 7: Narrative Writing: Drafting Body Paragraphs
• lesson 8: Narrative Writing: Drafting Body Paragraphs
• lesson 9: Narrative Writing: Drafting a Conclusion
• lesson 10: Narrative Writing: Structural Techniques
• lesson 11: Narrative Writing: Getting Feedback
• lesson 12: Finalizing Narrative Papers
• lesson 13: Narrative Writing: Reflecting on the Writing Process

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Narrative Essays

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What is a narrative essay?

When writing a narrative essay, one might think of it as telling a story. These essays are often anecdotal, experiential, and personal—allowing students to express themselves in a creative and, quite often, moving ways.

Here are some guidelines for writing a narrative essay.

• If written as a story, the essay should include all the parts of a story.

This means that you must include an introduction, plot, characters, setting, climax, and conclusion.

• When would a narrative essay not be written as a story?

A good example of this is when an instructor asks a student to write a book report. Obviously, this would not necessarily follow the pattern of a story and would focus on providing an informative narrative for the reader.

• The essay should have a purpose.

Make a point! Think of this as the thesis of your story. If there is no point to what you are narrating, why narrate it at all?

• The essay should be written from a clear point of view.

It is quite common for narrative essays to be written from the standpoint of the author; however, this is not the sole perspective to be considered. Creativity in narrative essays oftentimes manifests itself in the form of authorial perspective.

• Use clear and concise language throughout the essay.

Much like the descriptive essay, narrative essays are effective when the language is carefully, particularly, and artfully chosen. Use specific language to evoke specific emotions and senses in the reader.

• The use of the first person pronoun ‘I’ is welcomed.

Do not abuse this guideline! Though it is welcomed it is not necessary—nor should it be overused for lack of clearer diction.

• As always, be organized!

Have a clear introduction that sets the tone for the remainder of the essay. Do not leave the reader guessing about the purpose of your narrative. Remember, you are in control of the essay, so guide it where you desire (just make sure your audience can follow your lead).

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Story Writing for Class 9 CBSE Format, Examples, Topics, Exercises

A story is an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment. Stories cast a magic spell on all of us and have mind-altering effects. Stories give us inspiration and sometimes challenge our beliefs.

Story writing is an art It is the oldest form of written composition. It is a work of imagination that is written in an easily understandable grammatical structure. a short story is meant to be read in a single sitting and therefore it should be as direct and brief as possible.

Basic  English Grammar  rules can be tricky. In this article, we’ll get you started with the basics of sentence structure, punctuation, parts of speech, and more.

We also providing Extra Questions for Class 9 English Chapter wise.

Story Writing for Class 9 Format, Examples, Topics, Exercises

Usually, a short story focusses on only one incident, has a single plot, a single setting, a small number of characters and covers a short period of time.

• Plot: Select a situation from real life. Define the place and time.
• Main character: Define your protagonist, and set your focus right about what he or she wants.
• Conflict: Suggest basic outlines of the conflict; what all the trouble is going to be about. The complication describes all the troubles and incidents of action dramatised into scenes.
• Dramatic intensity: After a number of crises a climax is reached. Then came the turning point and the beginning of the end.
• Resolution: Make clear the consequences of the action. There must be a clear connection to the narrative. Twists in the plot make the story interesting. Innovative use of language and structure fused with humour, haunting images and style add flavour.

Write a story people would remember.

Story Writing Sample Stories for Class 9 CBSE

1. Two friends were passing through a dense forest. Suddenly they heard some animal screaming Complete the story in 150-200 words.

They froze in fear, but when the sound persisted, they decided to help the stricken beast, even at the risk of their own lives.

They walked towards the direction of the sound, arming themselves with staves made from tree branches.

The rest of the forest was still, and only the monkeys overhead were chattering. Imagine their surprise when the friends discovered that the agonizing sounds were the work of a little herder and his friends. They were from the village nearby and this was their form of recreation every afternoon. Imitating jungle sounds to perfection was a game they played in the afternoon.

To make amends, the boys decided to entertain their guests by imitating the chattering of monkeys, the call of the koyal, the sound of gurgling water, and even the whistling of the breeze.

As the two friends turned to leave, the cowherd party regaled them with a spine chilling tiger roar.

This time the friends knew better. They yelled back a friendly farewell saying: See you soon…….

Story Writing Practice Stories for Class 9 CBSE

1. Imagine that you are Jeet/Gita. You have moved into a new house and decide to explore a little. After an hour of going through the rooms, you stumble into the basement. Here, you find a small diary. The diary tells you the story about the person who lived in this house before. Use your imagination to complete the story.

2. You saved your pocket money to buy one of your favourite books. You decided to read it on Sundays. But one day on your way back from school you lost the book in your school bus and couldn’t find it. You pasted a notice on the notice board and finally, someone returned it to you. Write a story in 150-200 words about the whole experience.

A Lucky Find

The money I had received on my 14th birthday, sufficed to buy the complete Harry Potter series.

I started reading volume I. I carried the book to school and showed it around on the school bus.

When we reached school and began asking for the book, no one owned up to having it.

I decided to put up a notice on the notice board and offered the finder a handsome treat of double ice cream and cold drinks alongside.

On the second day, a junior from the NCC squad walked up with the book. He had found it thrown in the bushes behind the school garden. I thanked the boy very much and kept my promise. My week’s pocket money was gone in treating him. I felt a sense of relief as I put the book safely back in my school bag.

For the first time, I realized what it feels to lose something that is dear to oneself.

Diagnostic test 6

Write a short story of about 150—200 words on the theme, ‘In the Jungle’. Make sure you use at least five words from the box given below.

No one would have said that is was merely (a) ………………………………………… The sky was overcast with clouds as Meighan and John made their way back to their camp (b) ………………………………………… Suddenly, John heard a faint growl following by rustling of leaves. He motioned Meigha to stop and listen, (c) ………………………………………… There was another growl. John scanned the area (d) ………………………………………… (e) ……………………………………….. . that was slowly strolling towards the two children. Meighan aimed her catapult towards it. It walked closer to them It seemed merely curious.

As they looked at each other, it decided to sit down and make itself comfortable. He did not seem to have any intention of leaving. On Meigha’s gesture, the two slowly started walking backward, (g) ………………………………………… Answer:

“In the Jungle”

Jitu was one of the best sharpshooter in the village. He always hung his trusty catapult on the side of his shoulder and carried it everywhere. All the boys used to praise Jitu when he used to shoot birds and squirrels. One day, Jitu and his gang decided to go hunt in the jungle. Excited, Jitu rushed off with his catapult and a few pellets. One of his friends spotted a flock of birds fly past them. He whispered, ‘quick, quick’.

Jitu positioned himself, aimed and fired a pellet at one of the birds. The pellet flew up only to miss by a hair’s breadth. All of a sudden, they heard a loud growl coming from one of the bushes. The growl was from a huge brown bear coming at them. The pellet must’ve missed and landed on the sleeping bear.

The boys screamed in fear and ran for their lives. They dashed headlong through bramble, bush and tree. Finally, Jitu and his gang managed to outrun the bear. They vowed never to go recklessly into the jungle or shoot at any bird or bear.

1. Captain Risha Meher, the captain of a merchant ship S.S. Ashwamedha, found the ship caught in a storm off the coast of Nicobar Islands. She ordered her team to take the lifeboats and abandon the ship. Captain Risha Meher was the last to leave the ship, along with her first mate, Jatin Handa. The two were carried to an island. The next morning, strange sounds woke up Captain Risha Meher. She found Jatin was not there with her. Stealthily moving forward, she peeped to see what the shouts were about. She found a tied and bound Jatin surrounded by some stranger. As Captain Risha Meher, write the story of your adventure in 150-200 words.

2. An eminent bacteriologist, Dr Hargobind Narula, went to the tropical rainforests of South America to study some new strains of disease-causing bacteria. There, while carrying out his explorations, he came across a remote, uninhabited area and set up his camp there. A few months later he wrote to his friend. Given below is an excerpt from his letter:

As Dr Hargobind Narula, write a story about your adventure with the dinosaurs. Do not exceed 150 words.

3. This is the year 3500. While cleaning up the garage in your house, you come across your great-great-grandfather’s diaries about his days in school. Using the hints given, write a story about the changes that have taken place between 20XX (the current year) and 3500 (150 words).

4. Choose one of the well-known characters/people given below in the box and write a short story on a day in their life. Remember to use your imagination to make them come to life even if you don’t know the characters. Write the story in about 150-200 words.

5. Imagine that these two aliens, who look like giant ants, came to your school one day. Write a story in about 150-200 words about the incident.

6. Use the given words as hints and write a story in about 150-200 words. Also give a suitable title.

7. Your school is celebrating Road Safety Week. You are participating in a short story competition to make people aware of the importance of road safety. Write a moving short story titled “The Rules of the Road” in about 150-200 words.

Essay Writing For Class 9 Format, Examples, Topics, Exercises

Essay writing is an essential skill for students to develop as they progress through their academic journey. Class 9 is an important stage in a student’s education, where they learn various subjects and skills that prepare them for higher education. Essay writing in class 9 plays a crucial role in developing critical thinking, researching, and analytical skills. In this article, we will discuss the format, examples, topics, and exercises for essay writing for class 9.

Format Of Essay Writing For Class 9:

The format of essay writing for class 9 is similar to other essay formats, with some slight variations. The following is the standard format for essay writing:

Introduction: The introduction should be a brief paragraph that provides an overview of the topic, its relevance, and the thesis statement. The thesis statement should be a clear statement that presents the central idea of the essay.

Body: The body of the essay is where the arguments and evidence are presented to support the thesis statement. The body should be divided into paragraphs, each addressing a specific point related to the thesis statement. Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence that introduces the point of discussion.

Conclusion: The conclusion should summarize the main points of the essay and restate the thesis statement in a different way. The conclusion should also provide a final thought on the topic.

Also Read: Essay Writing Topics For Class 5

Examples Of Essay Writing For Class 9:

1. Importance of Education: Education is the foundation of human development and progress. It plays a vital role in shaping the future of individuals, communities, and nations. Education provides individuals with the necessary skills, knowledge, and values to succeed in life. In this essay, the importance of education will be discussed in detail. 2. Impact of Social Media: Social media has become an integral part of our lives, connecting us with people from all over the world. However, social media has negative effects on individuals and society, such as cyberbullying, addiction, and misinformation. In this essay, the impact of social media on individuals and society will be explored. 3. Climate Change: Climate change is a global phenomenon that poses a threat to the environment, economy, and social well-being. The causes and consequences of climate change are complex and require urgent action to mitigate the impact. In this essay, the causes and effects of climate change will be discussed, along with possible solutions.

Topics For Essay Writing For Class 9:

1. My Favorite Season 2. Advantages and Disadvantages of Technology 3. The Importance of Sports and Games 4. My Role Model 5. Environmental Pollution 6. Impact of COVID-19 on Education 7. Importance of Time Management 8. My Future Career 9. Women’s Empowerment 10. The Importance of Reading Books

Exercises For Essay Writing For Class 9:

1. Brainstorming: Choose a topic and brainstorm ideas using a mind map or a list. This exercise helps to organize thoughts and ideas before writing. 2. Outlining: Create an outline for the essay, with the introduction, body, and conclusion. This exercise helps to structure the essay and ensure that all the important points are covered. 3. Researching: Conduct research on the topic using reliable sources such as books, academic journals, and websites. This exercise helps to gather information and support the arguments presented in the essay. 4. Writing Practice: Practice writing essays on different topics, focusing on improving grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary. 5. Peer Review: Ask a classmate or teacher to review the essay and provide feedback on areas for improvement. This exercise helps to identify mistakes and improve the quality of the essay.

Conclusion On Essay Writing For Class 9:

Essay writing is a crucial aspect of academic learning, especially in class 9. It helps students develop critical thinking, analytical, and research skills that are necessary for higher education and future careers. By following the standard essay format, students can effectively present their ideas and arguments in a clear and concise manner. Additionally, practicing essay writing through exercises such as brainstorming, outlining, research and peer review can help students improve their writing skills and produce high-quality essays. Therefore, it is essential for students to take essay writing seriously and make efforts to improve their skills.

Reading Worksheets, Spelling, Grammar, Comprehension, Lesson Plans

50 Narrative Essay Topics

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but a narrative essay can also tell an exciting story and create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind! We’ve got 50 narrative essay topics designed to prompt students to craft memorable written narratives. These can be modified for students in elementary, middle and high school. Feel free to print the entire narrative essay topics list for plenty of inspiration for your next narrative essay assignment!

Narrative Essay Topics

• Your first day of school.
• Your most exciting day of school
• A field trip that your class took.
• Your favorite summer vacation.
• A trip that included something unexpected or surprising.
• A time that you experienced something spooky.
• A time that you experienced something truly frightening.
• A time that you learned something new that changed you in some way.
• The moment when you met someone who changed your life.
• The day that you got your first pet.
• A move from one place to another.
• Something funny that happened to you.
• Something funny that happened to one of your family members or friends.
• Something embarrassing that happened to you.
• Your favorite birthday party.
• A birthday that was disappointing.
• A big storm (rain, snow or even a tornado!).
• A time that the power went out.
• A summer day when the temperature got much higher than expected.
• A time when you went to an amusement park.
• A time when you got lost somewhere.
• A memorable experience with a favorite family member.
• A sad experience with someone about whom you care.
• Your most exciting moment playing sports.
• Your most exciting moment performing in a play, singing, playing music or dancing.
• An experience that left you feeling frustrated.
• An experience that was hard but ended up being worth it.
• A time that you experienced rejection.
• A weird encounter with a stranger.
• A random act of kindness.
• A time that you took a stand for someone or for an issue that you care about.
• A moment when you thought you might get hurt but didn’t.
• Breaking a bone (or otherwise suffering an injury).
• Your first time away from home for the night (or longer).
• A time when you experienced a historic event.
• Where you were when a major event happened. (Note: You don’t need to have been at the site of the event; this prompt is about where you were when you found out about the event and how you reacted.)
• A time when you rebelled against your parents or teacher.
• A dangerous experience.
• A misunderstanding between yourself and someone else.
• A difficult decision that you had to make.
• The end of a friendship or relationship.
• The beginning of a friendship or relationship.
• A time when you judged someone first and then realized that you were wrong about the person.
• A time when someone judged you first and then realized that he or she was wrong about you.
• A moment when you felt that you were starting to grow up.
• A time when you saw one or both of your parents in a different light.
• A time when you looked up to your older sibling.
• A time when your younger sibling looked up to you.
• A time when you were grateful to be an only child.
• An experience that you think has only ever happened to you!

Looking for more essay topics? Compare and Contrast Essay Topics Descriptive Essay Topics Cause and Effect Essay Topics Persuasive Essay and Speech Topics

Narrative Writing: A Complete Guide for Teachers and Students

MASTERING THE CRAFT OF NARRATIVE WRITING

Narratives build on and encourage the development of the fundamentals of writing. They also require developing an additional skill set: the ability to tell a good yarn, and storytelling is as old as humanity.

We see and hear stories everywhere and daily, from having good gossip on the doorstep with a neighbor in the morning to the dramas that fill our screens in the evening.

Good narrative writing skills are hard-won by students even though it is an area of writing that most enjoy due to the creativity and freedom it offers.

Here we will explore some of the main elements of a good story: plot, setting, characters, conflict, climax, and resolution . And we will look too at how best we can help our students understand these elements, both in isolation and how they mesh together as a whole.

WHAT IS A NARRATIVE?

A narrative is a story that shares a sequence of events , characters, and themes. It expresses experiences, ideas, and perspectives that should aspire to engage and inspire an audience.

A narrative can spark emotion, encourage reflection, and convey meaning when done well.

Narratives are a popular genre for students and teachers as they allow the writer to share their imagination, creativity, skill, and understanding of nearly all elements of writing.  We occasionally refer to a narrative as ‘creative writing’ or story writing.

The purpose of a narrative is simple, to tell the audience a story.  It can be written to motivate, educate, or entertain and can be fact or fiction.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING NARRATIVE WRITING

Teach your students to become skilled story writers with this HUGE   NARRATIVE & CREATIVE STORY WRITING UNIT . Offering a  COMPLETE SOLUTION  to teaching students how to craft  CREATIVE CHARACTERS, SUPERB SETTINGS, and PERFECT PLOTS .

Over 192 PAGES of materials, including:

TYPES OF NARRATIVE WRITING

There are many narrative writing genres and sub-genres such as these.

We have a complete guide to writing a personal narrative that differs from the traditional story-based narrative covered in this guide. It includes personal narrative writing prompts, resources, and examples and can be found here.

As we can see, narratives are an open-ended form of writing that allows you to showcase creativity in many directions. However, all narratives share a common set of features and structure known as “Story Elements”, which are briefly covered in this guide.

Don’t overlook the importance of understanding story elements and the value this adds to you as a writer who can dissect and create grand narratives. We also have an in-depth guide to understanding story elements here .

CHARACTERISTICS OF NARRATIVE WRITING

Narrative structure.

ORIENTATION (BEGINNING) Set the scene by introducing your characters, setting and time of the story. Establish your who, when and where in this part of your narrative

COMPLICATION AND EVENTS (MIDDLE) In this section activities and events involving your main characters are expanded upon. These events are written in a cohesive and fluent sequence.

RESOLUTION (ENDING) Your complication is resolved in this section. It does not have to be a happy outcome, however.

EXTRAS: Whilst orientation, complication and resolution are the agreed norms for a narrative, there are numerous examples of popular texts that did not explicitly follow this path exactly.

NARRATIVE FEATURES

LANGUAGE: Use descriptive and figurative language to paint images inside your audience’s minds as they read.

PERSPECTIVE Narratives can be written from any perspective but are most commonly written in first or third person.

DIALOGUE Narratives frequently switch from narrator to first-person dialogue. Always use speech marks when writing dialogue.

TENSE If you change tense, make it perfectly clear to your audience what is happening. Flashbacks might work well in your mind but make sure they translate to your audience.

THE PLOT MAP

This graphic is known as a plot map, and nearly all narratives fit this structure in one way or another, whether romance novels, science fiction or otherwise.

It is a simple tool that helps you understand and organise a story’s events. Think of it as a roadmap that outlines the journey of your characters and the events that unfold. It outlines the different stops along the way, such as the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, that help you to see how the story builds and develops.

Using a plot map, you can see how each event fits into the larger picture and how the different parts of the story work together to create meaning. It’s a great way to visualize and analyze a story.

Be sure to refer to a plot map when planning a story, as it has all the essential elements of a great story.

THE 5 KEY STORY ELEMENTS OF A GREAT NARRATIVE (6-MINUTE TUTORIAL VIDEO)

This video we created provides an excellent overview of these elements and demonstrates them in action in stories we all know and love.

HOW TO WRITE A NARRATIVE

Now that we understand the story elements and how they come together to form stories, it’s time to start planning and writing your narrative.

In many cases, the template and guide below will provide enough details on how to craft a great story. However, if you still need assistance with the fundamentals of writing, such as sentence structure, paragraphs and using correct grammar, we have some excellent guides on those here.

USE YOUR WRITING TIME EFFECTIVELY: Maximize your narrative writing sessions by spending approximately 20 per cent of your time planning and preparing.  This ensures greater productivity during your writing time and keeps you focused and on task.

Use tools such as graphic organizers to logically sequence your narrative if you are not a confident story writer.  If you are working with reluctant writers, try using narrative writing prompts to get their creative juices flowing.

Spend most of your writing hour on the task at hand, don’t get too side-tracked editing during this time and leave some time for editing. When editing a  narrative, examine it for these three elements.

• Spelling and grammar ( Is it readable?)
• Story structure and continuity ( Does it make sense, and does it flow? )
• Character and plot analysis. (Are your characters engaging? Does your problem/resolution work? )

1. SETTING THE SCENE: THE WHERE AND THE WHEN

The story’s setting often answers two of the central questions in the story, namely, the where and the when. The answers to these two crucial questions will often be informed by the type of story the student is writing.

The story’s setting can be chosen to quickly orient the reader to the type of story they are reading. For example, a fictional narrative writing piece such as a horror story will often begin with a description of a haunted house on a hill or an abandoned asylum in the middle of the woods. If we start our story on a rocket ship hurtling through the cosmos on its space voyage to the Alpha Centauri star system, we can be reasonably sure that the story we are embarking on is a work of science fiction.

Such conventions are well-worn clichés true, but they can be helpful starting points for our novice novelists to make a start.

Having students choose an appropriate setting for the type of story they wish to write is an excellent exercise for our younger students. It leads naturally onto the next stage of story writing, which is creating suitable characters to populate this fictional world they have created. However, older or more advanced students may wish to play with the expectations of appropriate settings for their story. They may wish to do this for comic effect or in the interest of creating a more original story. For example, opening a story with a children’s birthday party does not usually set up the expectation of a horror story. Indeed, it may even lure the reader into a happy reverie as they remember their own happy birthday parties. This leaves them more vulnerable to the surprise element of the shocking action that lies ahead.

Once the students have chosen a setting for their story, they need to start writing. Little can be more terrifying to English students than the blank page and its bare whiteness stretching before them on the table like a merciless desert they must cross. Give them the kick-start they need by offering support through word banks or writing prompts. If the class is all writing a story based on the same theme, you may wish to compile a common word bank on the whiteboard as a prewriting activity. Write the central theme or genre in the middle of the board. Have students suggest words or phrases related to the theme and list them on the board.

You may wish to provide students with a copy of various writing prompts to get them started. While this may mean that many students’ stories will have the same beginning, they will most likely arrive at dramatically different endings via dramatically different routes.

A bargain is at the centre of the relationship between the writer and the reader. That bargain is that the reader promises to suspend their disbelief as long as the writer creates a consistent and convincing fictional reality. Creating a believable world for the fictional characters to inhabit requires the student to draw on convincing details. The best way of doing this is through writing that appeals to the senses. Have your student reflect deeply on the world that they are creating. What does it look like? Sound like? What does the food taste like there? How does it feel like to walk those imaginary streets, and what aromas beguile the nose as the main character winds their way through that conjured market?

Also, Consider the when; or the time period. Is it a future world where things are cleaner and more antiseptic? Or is it an overcrowded 16th-century London with human waste stinking up the streets? If students can create a multi-sensory installation in the reader’s mind, then they have done this part of their job well.

Popular Settings from Children’s Literature and Storytelling

• Fairytale Kingdom
• Magical Forest
• Village/town
• Underwater world
• Space/Alien planet

2. CASTING THE CHARACTERS: THE WHO

Now that your student has created a believable world, it is time to populate it with believable characters.

In short stories, these worlds mustn’t be overpopulated beyond what the student’s skill level can manage. Short stories usually only require one main character and a few secondary ones. Think of the short story more as a small-scale dramatic production in an intimate local theater than a Hollywood blockbuster on a grand scale. Too many characters will only confuse and become unwieldy with a canvas this size. Keep it simple!

Creating believable characters is often one of the most challenging aspects of narrative writing for students. Fortunately, we can do a few things to help students here. Sometimes it is helpful for students to model their characters on actual people they know. This can make things a little less daunting and taxing on the imagination. However, whether or not this is the case, writing brief background bios or descriptions of characters’ physical personality characteristics can be a beneficial prewriting activity. Students should give some in-depth consideration to the details of who their character is: How do they walk? What do they look like? Do they have any distinguishing features? A crooked nose? A limp? Bad breath? Small details such as these bring life and, therefore, believability to characters. Students can even cut pictures from magazines to put a face to their character and allow their imaginations to fill in the rest of the details.

Younger students will often dictate to the reader the nature of their characters. To improve their writing craft, students must know when to switch from story-telling mode to story-showing mode. This is particularly true when it comes to character. Encourage students to reveal their character’s personality through what they do rather than merely by lecturing the reader on the faults and virtues of the character’s personality. It might be a small relayed detail in the way they walk that reveals a core characteristic. For example, a character who walks with their head hanging low and shoulders hunched while avoiding eye contact has been revealed to be timid without the word once being mentioned. This is a much more artistic and well-crafted way of doing things and is less irritating for the reader. A character who sits down at the family dinner table immediately snatches up his fork and starts stuffing roast potatoes into his mouth before anyone else has even managed to sit down has revealed a tendency towards greed or gluttony.

Understanding Character Traits

Again, there is room here for some fun and profitable prewriting activities. Give students a list of character traits and have them describe a character doing something that reveals that trait without ever employing the word itself.

It is also essential to avoid adjective stuffing here. When looking at students’ early drafts, adjective stuffing is often apparent. To train the student out of this habit, choose an adjective and have the student rewrite the sentence to express this adjective through action rather than telling.

When writing a story, it is vital to consider the character’s traits and how they will impact the story’s events. For example, a character with a strong trait of determination may be more likely to overcome obstacles and persevere. In contrast, a character with a tendency towards laziness may struggle to achieve their goals. In short, character traits add realism, depth, and meaning to a story, making it more engaging and memorable for the reader.

Popular Character Traits in Children’s Stories

• Determination
• Imagination
• Perseverance
• Responsibility

We have an in-depth guide to creating great characters here , but most students should be fine to move on to planning their conflict and resolution.

3. NO PROBLEM? NO STORY! HOW CONFLICT DRIVES A NARRATIVE

This is often the area apprentice writers have the most difficulty with. Students must understand that without a problem or conflict, there is no story. The problem is the driving force of the action. Usually, in a short story, the problem will center around what the primary character wants to happen or, indeed, wants not to happen. It is the hurdle that must be overcome. It is in the struggle to overcome this hurdle that events happen.

Often when a student understands the need for a problem in a story, their completed work will still not be successful. This is because, often in life, problems remain unsolved. Hurdles are not always successfully overcome. Students pick up on this.

We often discuss problems with friends that will never be satisfactorily resolved one way or the other, and we accept this as a part of life. This is not usually the case with writing a story. Whether a character successfully overcomes his or her problem or is decidedly crushed in the process of trying is not as important as the fact that it will finally be resolved one way or the other.

A good practical exercise for students to get to grips with this is to provide copies of stories and have them identify the central problem or conflict in each through discussion. Familiar fables or fairy tales such as Three Little Pigs, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Cinderella, etc., are great for this.

While it is true that stories often have more than one problem or that the hero or heroine is unsuccessful in their first attempt to solve a central problem, for beginning students and intermediate students, it is best to focus on a single problem, especially given the scope of story writing at this level. Over time students will develop their abilities to handle more complex plots and write accordingly.

Popular Conflicts found in Children’s Storytelling.

• Good vs evil
• Individual vs society
• Nature vs nurture
• Self vs others
• Man vs self
• Man vs nature
• Man vs technology
• Individual vs fate
• Self vs destiny

Conflict is the heart and soul of any good story. It’s what makes a story compelling and drives the plot forward. Without conflict, there is no story. Every great story has a struggle or a problem that needs to be solved, and that’s where conflict comes in. Conflict is what makes a story exciting and keeps the reader engaged. It creates tension and suspense and makes the reader care about the outcome.

Like in real life, conflict in a story is an opportunity for a character’s growth and transformation. It’s a chance for them to learn and evolve, making a story great. So next time stories are written in the classroom, remember that conflict is an essential ingredient, and without it, your story will lack the energy, excitement, and meaning that makes it truly memorable.

4. THE NARRATIVE CLIMAX: HOW THINGS COME TO A HEAD!

The climax of the story is the dramatic high point of the action. It is also when the struggles kicked off by the problem come to a head. The climax will ultimately decide whether the story will have a happy or tragic ending. In the climax, two opposing forces duke things out until the bitter (or sweet!) end. One force ultimately emerges triumphant. As the action builds throughout the story, suspense increases as the reader wonders which of these forces will win out. The climax is the release of this suspense.

Much of the success of the climax depends on how well the other elements of the story have been achieved. If the student has created a well-drawn and believable character that the reader can identify with and feel for, then the climax will be more powerful.

The nature of the problem is also essential as it determines what’s at stake in the climax. The problem must matter dearly to the main character if it matters at all to the reader.

Have students engage in discussions about their favorite movies and books. Have them think about the storyline and decide the most exciting parts. What was at stake at these moments? What happened in your body as you read or watched? Did you breathe faster? Or grip the cushion hard? Did your heart rate increase, or did you start to sweat? This is what a good climax does and what our students should strive to do in their stories.

The climax puts it all on the line and rolls the dice. Let the chips fall where the writer may…

Popular Climax themes in Children’s Stories

• A battle between good and evil
• The character’s bravery saves the day
• Character faces their fears and overcomes them
• The character solves a mystery or puzzle.
• The character stands up for what is right.
• Character reaches their goal or dream.
• The character learns a valuable lesson.
• The character makes a selfless sacrifice.
• The character makes a difficult decision.
• The character reunites with loved ones or finds true friendship.

5. RESOLUTION: TYING UP LOOSE ENDS

After the climactic action, a few questions will often remain unresolved for the reader, even if all the conflict has been resolved. The resolution is where those lingering questions will be answered. The resolution in a short story may only be a brief paragraph or two. But, in most cases, it will still be necessary to include an ending immediately after the climax can feel too abrupt and leave the reader feeling unfulfilled.

An easy way to explain resolution to students struggling to grasp the concept is to point to the traditional resolution of fairy tales, the “And they all lived happily ever after” ending. This weather forecast for the future allows the reader to take their leave. Have the student consider the emotions they want to leave the reader with when crafting their resolution.

While the action is usually complete by the end of the climax, it is in the resolution that if there is a twist to be found, it will appear – think of movies such as The Usual Suspects. Pulling this off convincingly usually requires considerable skill from a student writer. Still, it may well form a challenging extension exercise for those more gifted storytellers among your students.

Popular Resolutions in Children’s Stories

• Our hero achieves their goal
• The character learns a valuable lesson
• A character finds happiness or inner peace.
• The character reunites with loved ones.
• Character restores balance to the world.
• The character discovers their true identity.
• Character changes for the better.
• The character gains wisdom or understanding.
• Character makes amends with others.
• The character learns to appreciate what they have.

Once students have completed their story, they can edit for grammar, vocabulary choice, spelling, etc., but not before!

As mentioned, there is a craft to storytelling, as well as an art. When accurate grammar, perfect spelling, and immaculate sentence structures are pushed at the outset, they can cause storytelling paralysis. For this reason, it is essential that when we encourage the students to write a story, we give them license to make mechanical mistakes in their use of language that they can work on and fix later.

Good narrative writing is a very complex skill to develop and will take the student years to become competent. It challenges not only the student’s technical abilities with language but also her creative faculties. Writing frames, word banks, mind maps, and visual prompts can all give valuable support as students develop the wide-ranging and challenging skills required to produce a successful narrative writing piece. But, at the end of it all, as with any craft, practice and more practice is at the heart of the matter.

TIPS FOR WRITING A GREAT NARRATIVE

• Start your story with a clear purpose: If you can determine the theme or message you want to convey in your narrative before starting it will make the writing process so much simpler.
• Choose a compelling storyline and sell it through great characters, setting and plot: Consider a unique or interesting story that captures the reader’s attention, then build the world and characters around it.
• Develop vivid characters that are not all the same: Make your characters relatable and memorable by giving them distinct personalities and traits you can draw upon in the plot.
• Use descriptive language to hook your audience into your story: Use sensory language to paint vivid images and sequences in the reader’s mind.
• Show, don’t tell your audience: Use actions, thoughts, and dialogue to reveal character motivations and emotions through storytelling.
• Create a vivid setting that is clear to your audience before getting too far into the plot: Describe the time and place of your story to immerse the reader fully.
• Build tension: Refer to the story map earlier in this article and use conflict, obstacles, and suspense to keep the audience engaged and invested in your narrative.
• Use figurative language such as metaphors, similes, and other literary devices to add depth and meaning to your narrative.
• Edit, revise, and refine: Take the time to refine and polish your writing for clarity and impact.
• Stay true to your voice: Maintain your unique perspective and style in your writing to make it your own.

NARRATIVE WRITING EXAMPLES (Student Writing Samples)

Below are a collection of student writing samples of narratives.  Click on the image to enlarge and explore them in greater detail.  Please take a moment to read these creative stories in detail and the teacher and student guides which highlight some of the critical elements of narratives to consider before writing.

Please understand these student writing samples are not intended to be perfect examples for each age or grade level but a piece of writing for students and teachers to explore together to critically analyze to improve student writing skills and deepen their understanding of story writing.

We recommend reading the example either a year above or below, as well as the grade you are currently working with, to gain a broader appreciation of this text type.

NARRATIVE WRITING PROMPTS (Journal Prompts)

When students have a great journal prompt, it can help them focus on the task at hand, so be sure to view our vast collection of visual writing prompts for various text types here or use some of these.

• On a recent European trip, you find your travel group booked into the stunning and mysterious Castle Frankenfurter for a single night…  As night falls, the massive castle of over one hundred rooms seems to creak and groan as a series of unexplained events begin to make you wonder who or what else is spending the evening with you. Write a narrative that tells the story of your evening.
• You are a famous adventurer who has discovered new lands; keep a travel log over a period of time in which you encounter new and exciting adventures and challenges to overcome.  Ensure your travel journal tells a story and has a definite introduction, conflict and resolution.
• You create an incredible piece of technology that has the capacity to change the world.  As you sit back and marvel at your innovation and the endless possibilities ahead of you, it becomes apparent there are a few problems you didn’t really consider. You might not even be able to control them.  Write a narrative in which you ride the highs and lows of your world-changing creation with a clear introduction, conflict and resolution.
• As the final door shuts on the Megamall, you realise you have done it…  You and your best friend have managed to sneak into the largest shopping centre in town and have the entire place to yourselves until 7 am tomorrow.  There is literally everything and anything a child would dream of entertaining themselves for the next 12 hours.  What amazing adventures await you?  What might go wrong?  And how will you get out of there scot-free?
• A stranger walks into town…  Whilst appearing similar to almost all those around you, you get a sense that this person is from another time, space or dimension… Are they friends or foes?  What makes you sense something very strange is going on?   Suddenly they stand up and walk toward you with purpose extending their hand… It’s almost as if they were reading your mind.

NARRATIVE WRITING VIDEO TUTORIAL

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

When teaching narrative writing, it is essential that you have a range of tools, strategies and resources at your disposal to ensure you get the most out of your writing time.  You can find some examples below, which are free and paid premium resources you can use instantly without any preparation.

FREE Narrative Graphic Organizer

THE STORY TELLERS BUNDLE OF TEACHING RESOURCES

A MASSIVE COLLECTION of resources for narratives and story writing in the classroom covering all elements of crafting amazing stories. MONTHS WORTH OF WRITING LESSONS AND RESOURCES, including:

NARRATIVE WRITING CHECKLIST BUNDLE

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (92 Reviews)

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Home — Blog — Topic Ideas — 150+ Great Narrative Essay Topics and Ideas

150+ Great Narrative Essay Topics and Ideas

Often during the education process in school or university , we are asked to write an essay. Let’s talk about essays, in particular narrative ones. In a narrative essay, the author tells a story from real life. In this form of essay, the presentation of events in chronological order will not be enough. The authors’ thesis should interest the reader and make the story as vivid as possible so that the reader wants to become a part of the events described and can easily "transfer" to the story . More often such an essay is written in the 1st person in the present or past tense.

There are also other types of essays, such as:

• Description essays. In such an essay, we describe an object.
• Definition essays. Here we have one goal - to reveal this or that concept.
• Illustration essays. Your goal is to prove a statement.
• Argument essays. Here we give examples of persuasive facts that support your assertion.

Now let's look at the most popular narrative essay topics that we can board you with.

How to Know What Topic You Need?

If you were given a list of essay topics at schools or colleges , it would be logical if you choose a topic that is closer to you, on which you are not averse to reflecting.

If there is no list of topics, and you have only indicated the direction in which you should choose a problem for the essay, you will have to formulate the topic for narrative writing yourself.

Here are some tips on how to choose a topic for your essay:

• Before defining a narrative essay topic, it is worth finding the author's position. This is the moral instruction of the author, which can be written directly or encrypted in the words or thoughts of the hero-narrator. To find it, one should single out the topic and all the micro-themes in the text, and then formulate moralizing within their framework, that is, the author's position.
• From the author's position, it is worth asking a special question, that is, a question that requires a general answer, and not a short "yes" or "no". This question will be a problem.
• It is necessary to find two examples in the text that illustrate the transition from the question to the author's position, that is, to help answer the question posed. This will prove that such a problem is indeed raised by the author.

Narrative Essay Topic Ideas

Now, let’s take a closer look at topics for narrative essay examples you can choose. 

Personal Narrative Essay Topics 

Personal narrative essay examples and ideas are needed when you describe something that you experienced in your life.

• How To Be a Defensive Driver.
• A Personal Narrative about Fear Of Heights.
• My Fear of Failure.
• The Narrative about Losing My Dad.
• A Day I Lost My Best Friend.
• Narrative on Precious Time.
• What I Did This Summer.
• Personal Narrative: I Am a Perfectionist.
• Why Softball Is Important in My Life.
• Narrative on Vocation.
• My First Rock Concert.
• How I Learned to Accept Myself the Way I am.
• I Helped a Person in Need.
• My Last Day at School.
• The Character I Associate Myself with.

Cultural Narrative Essay Topics

Cultural topics for narratives allow you to highlight the topic of culture and at the same time present the story in an interesting way for the reader.

• Narrative about Mexican Culture.
• What traditions are unique in your family?
• Which tradition surprised you the most?
• How does the media influence our perception of culture?
• How does culture define a person's personality?
• What culture do you identify with?
• What is your favorite holiday?
• How does your family celebrate Christmas?
• The Impact of Narrative in English Language and Culture.
• What holiday has the most sacred meaning for you?
• What traditions does your family observe on the Easter holidays?
• Which of the cultural events you attended did you remember the most?
• What foreign tradition do you like the most?
• Holiday traditions in your family.
• Which festival do you like the most?

Narrative Argument Essay Topics 

This type of narrative topics for an essay implies that you need to write about something that has had a big impact on you.

• Conflict case from your life.
• What disagreements did you have together with your friend?
• The case when someone deceived you.
• Has there been a choice in your life that you regret?
• Have you been in conflict with other people?
• A situation where you have to make a difficult decision between right and wrong.
• Have you been caught doing something bad?
• Have you ever had to win friends following the rules?
• Have you ever blamed another person for what you did?
• Have you helped someone for personal gain?
• Have you ever played pranks on your friends?
• What experience can you call the most difficult but important in life?
• Have you ever been in a car accident?
• Have you ever been humiliated?
• Have you ever helped a friend solve his problem?

Interesting Narrative Essay Topics 

• Have you had to make a difficult decision in life?
• Have you ever flooded a neighbor's house?
• Has there ever been a person in your life who has changed it drastically?
• Would you like to relive any of those days again?
• Have you ever failed an exam?
• What was the scariest moment in your life?
• Have you ever been really sick?
• Have you ever saved another person's life?
• Have you ever worked up the courage to visit a haunted house?
• Have you ever won a prize?
• What was your first job in life?
• Have you ever participated in educational student exchange programs ?
• What do you do when you are all alone?
• What was your first meeting with the police?
• Have you ever been to the emergency room?

Personal Experience Narrative Essay Topics 

Here you can describe people or events that influenced you in one way or another.

• How have you met a special person in your life?
• The person you enjoy the most.
• The best place in the neighborhood.
• The place you'd like to live your whole life.
• A productive art, you enjoy.
• What is your first job search ?
• Your biggest disappointment.
• Do you remember your first birthday?
• Narrative on Earthquake: An Earth-Shattering Experience.
• Have you ever encountered a wild animal?
• Tell about the first time you got home alone.
• How did you cook food for the first time?
• Tell how you helped someone.
• How did you overcome your fear?
• Narrative about Video Games.

Relationship Narrative Essay Topics

Relationship narrative stories ideas help to describe our relationship and how our experience has influenced certain events in life.

• Have you ever fallen in love?
• What advice would you give to a couple who are just starting their relationship?
• How would you define family?
• If you have a best friend, how did you meet?
• Do you think that your parents are more sensitive than others?
• What is your attitude towards marriage?
• Have you ever experienced gender bias?
• How do you remember deceased family members?
• What do you know about the origins of your family?
• Narrative about Friendship.
• How did you meet your best friend?
• What can make you end a romantic relationship?
• Is the community in your area important?
• Do you think hatred can destroy a relationship?
• Have you ever experienced intergenerational conflict?
• What does honesty mean in a relationship?

Childhood Memories

In this type of essay, you need to describe the events and memories of childhood.

• What was my first pet?
• What are my first memories?
• Whom did I look up to as a child?
• How did I first go to the hospital?
• My first meeting with my uncle/aunt.
• The Impact of a Funeral.
• My first terrible incident.
• What are my childhood fears?
• What was the happiest day of my childhood?
• My first time at the stadium.

Growing Up in High School 

Here you need to recall the most vivid impressions from high school.

• What lessons were my favorites?
• Who was my favorite teacher?
• What role in the school theater did I remember the most?
• How I lost a sports match.
• Topics forbidden to me.
• How did I feel when I failed the exam?
• How did I feel when I passed the exam with excellent marks?
• Is commuting to school a routine for me?
• My best adventure in school.
• What kind of extracurricular activities do I enjoy the most?

Moral & Ethical Dilemmas

In this type of essay, you have to describe the ideas of the complexity of moral choice.

• What is your attitude towards pro-life movement: argumentative essay on abortion ?
• How can we influence the fight against racism?
• How should a work ethic deal with sexism?
• Do you think euthanasia should be legal?
• Why can't war be ethical?
• What moral issues does workplace automation cause?
• The Missing Climate Change Narrative Analysis.
• Is it ethical to have a lot of money?
• If drugs were legal, would their use be ethical?
• Is it possible to justify eating meat in the modern world?

College Student Life

Try to describe events and memories from your student's life.

• Narrative about Reading.
• My last day with my schoolmates.
• My favorite course.
• Meeting my better half.
• The story of my split-up.
• My brightest high school moment.
• How I met my old friend.
• My favorite professor.
• Narrative on a Trip: The Wonders of Rome.
• The most symbolic episode from my college life.
• The day I moved.
• Narrative on a Road Trip to Remember.
• My first impressions of the college campus.
• How I met my roommate.
• My first friends at college.

Narrative Essay Topics for Different Grades 

Let’s look at the narrative speech topics for different grades.

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 5

• My first bicycle ride.
• My dad is my hero.
• A day with my grandmother.
• My first day at school.
• My best friend.
• My favorite teacher.
• A school trip to the zoo.
• My grandpa’s hands.
• The most exciting day of school.
• The best summer vacation.

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 6

• A memorable teacher.
• My first trip abroad.
• A sad story from my childhood.
• My favorite vacation with my family.
• A fight with my best friend.
• My best birthday party.
• How we celebrate our parents’ wedding anniversary.
• My first day at a new school.
• Last Christmas was an interesting story.
• How I lost my sister.

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 7

• Something that scared me the most.
• The best day of my life.
• Helping a stranger.
• How I met my best friend.
• My brother’s wedding.
• How I got my first pet.
• Once I called the dean's office.
• Conflict with my father.
• Unique family tradition.

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 8

• School trip to the museum.
• My best day at school.
• The most exciting day of summer vacation.
• Worst day at school.
• The day I got my first pet.
• The hour we spent looking at our baby's album.
• My first attempt at cooking.
• My first Japanese pastry.
• My first foreign friend.

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 9

• A visit to the countryside.
• How I lost my faith in humanity.
• A car accident.
• My friend had an accident.
• A trip I will never forget.
• The most enjoyable Christmas.
• A bad experience that completely changed my behavior.
• How I used to spend my summer vacations.
• My experience with a tornado.
• I got lost in the streets of venus.

Narrative Essay Topics for O Levels

• A special moment when I got my first bike.
• A disappointing birthday party.
• The most embarrassing thing that happened to me.
• A disastrous date.
• The moment of success.
• Growing up in New York.
• A sporting experience.
• A random act of kindness.
• The first six months of COVID-19.
• The end of my relationship.

Narrative Essay Topics for High School Students

Personal narrative ideas in high school include the classic moments that are stereotypical of the secondary school experience.

• Special homecoming court moment.
• A friendship that started long before high school.
• Prom dress shopping and your self-esteem.
• Anticipation for graduation.
• An award or scholarship you received.
• Participating in a school musical.
• Coming to America: A Narrative of a Journey of Hope.
• Your first love.
• A moment you stood up for what you believed in.
• How your relationship with your parents changed for the better.

Narrative Essay Topics for Middle School

Middle school is a great time of self-discovery that’s filled with firsts and memorable moments. Use these milestones as the topic for your narrative essay.

• Making an unlikely friend.
• How bad relationships help you become a better person.
• The first time you opened your locker.
• The teacher that makes you feel smart.
• Moving from elementary school to middle school.
• A social media post that inspired you.
• A news story about a kid/teen that was uplifting.
• A comment from a teacher that made you feel good.
• A comment from someone you’re not friends with that made you feel good.
• Being yourself.

Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

College is another time in your life that’s wrought with self-discovery and seeing the world as it truly is.

• Frederick Douglass Narrative.
• Frame Narrative in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
• Narrative on The Definition of Bravery in Beowulf.
• A Critical Examination of Social Commentary and Narrative Execution.
• Examples of community on campus.
• A test experience that boosts your self-esteem.
• The moment you realized you were going into the right field.
• What does a college degree mean to you?
• College is a microcosm of the world.
• The feeling of independence.

Conclusion 

Teachers and students are very fond of narrative essay topics, as they are flexible enough that everyone can find a topic that is close to them. If you can’t decide on a topic yourself, then the list that we presented in our material will help you. We sincerely wish you good luck and inspiration for writing the best essay. And the topics we have suggested will help you with this!

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