Narrative Essay Writing Tutorial: How To Begin

Many students shudder in fear when their instructors give them an assignment to write a narrative essay. The fear occurs simply because of the name “narrative essay.” The contradictory terms make it difficult to understand, because a narrative is a story and an essay is not. So, how do you tell a story in an essay? The answer is quite simple.

Even a Narrative Essay is Persuasive

The first thing to consider is that every piece of writing, whether you are tackling an argumentative essay, narrative essay, or informative essay, is really persuasive in nature. Even the basic novel is made of persuasive writing at its core. Once you realize that you are just trying to get someone to see the world your way, then you will have an easier time completing your assignments.

Tell a Realistic Story that Relates a Life Lesson

In a nutshell, the narrative essay includes telling a story that involves learning a lesson. The lesson does not have to be a life changing lesson, but there needs to be a point to the story you are going to tell. The first step in creating your narrative essay is to choose a story that you feel is worth sharing. The second is to organize it into the beginning, middle, and end. Many times, the best stories are the ones that are about everyday occurrences, because readers can easily relate to them. When you organize the story, jot down the events with as much detail as you can remember. Then, start writing.

Follow the Essay Writing Formula

Even the narrative essay is written in the same format that you would write any essay, with the introduction, body, and conclusion. You do not write a narrative essay the same way that you write a short story with dialogue and other story telling elements. You introduce the situation and include a thesis statement. Then, you tell the story through the paragraphs, topics sentences, and supporting details.

Conclude with What You Have Learned

When you get to the conclusion, you share what you have learned from the event. LIke a typical essay, you will restate the thesis, explain the main points, and lastly include what you have learned as you refer back to the hook. By the time you are finished, your reader should be so invested into your story that the reader wants to learn more.