The Personal Narrative Review Worksheet is a good test of skill and talent, but it does not give the student a great understanding of the English language. So how can a student apply this tool successfully? How can he or she, as a writer, learn how to use the tools in the context of personal narrative?
The first tool to be used in personal narrative is the outline. One can determine the number of events to be included in his or her narrative by using the format of an outline. This is very important because the information must be included in the right sequence.
It is very easy to determine the order of events for a story. Just divide it into two parts. Include the beginning part of the story where the story begins. Then the story must go on to another event, with a new beginning, and again, it must end at the same place.
This is what one needs to do when writing a novel or any other piece of written work that requires you to remember facts. The only way to ensure that you do not forget information is to write the story in outline form. Remember, the outline is not meant to be taken literally. It is only to help you follow the flow of the narrative.
The second tool to be used in personal narrative is the dialogue. Use a variety of voices and accents. Use two or three to varying degrees. The personal narrative is a narrative that reflects your point of view, so you must voice it accordingly.
The third tool to be used in personal narrative is the use of analogies. Analogies are the best tool to apply when writing a narrative that takes place over long periods of time. What you need to remember is that it is not the action that is telling the story. It is the past, present, and future that you are speaking about, and the present is always the most important part of any story.
Analogies are powerful. They can bring a vivid representation of reality to your writing. I have yet to come across any nonfiction piece that was not somehow written in the present tense. It is the reason why the Personal Narrative Review Worksheet is so important.
Writing is all about the present. It is all about the events that have already happened and are being discussed. It is all about the people who are involved in that story. They are the reasons why the narrative is being written in the first place.
