From Start to Finish: Writing a Compelling Narrative Essay

A narrative essay is a form of essay writing that encourages writers to tell a story rather than write formally. Typically, personal narrative essays are true stories that provide readers with thorough information. These essays enlighten the audience with the writer’s personal opinion, values and core beliefs. 

A student needs to take many technical steps to compose a valuable narrative format. If you are unfamiliar with them, send a request to write my essay, and a professional team will take care of your work. 

What is a Narrative Essay?

The most obvious question in students’ minds is what is a narrative essay and how to start a narrative essay. In a simple explanation, it’s an essay based on a true story or an event that the writer faced in the past. 

An author needs to narrate a story in writing and inform the audience how events transpired. These events will be the hallmark of changes that influenced the writer and played an important role in their life. Thus, students need to know the purpose of narrative essay to persuade their readers. 

There are many ways and steps to start a narrative essay, including the inception of the narrative thesis to composing. These steps are essential for the structured writing of the assignment. Overall, students need to make these assignments to the best of their abilities without sacrificing the quality. 

What is the Purpose of a Narrative Essay?

Many students wonder what narrative essay purpose is in academics. Narrative essays serve as a key symbol of a student’s creative abilities. They allow them to use their persuasive skills to the maximum and influence their readers. These essays allow teachers to look into their students’ work and examine the areas that will need improvement. 

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How to Write a Narrative Essay Step by Step?

Narrative essays are highly entertaining and engage their readers till the last sentence. Due to the complexity and expertise required to complete this task, a step-by-step approach is needed. The essential steps to writing a narrative essay provide a framework for students so their personal experiences are conveyed vividly without interruption. 

Here we will present these steps so the audience may understand the events with empathy and in a most memorable way. 

Generate Creative Ideas by Choosing a Topic

The first step for writing a narrative essay is choosing a topic and generating new and creative ideas. A topic will provide you with a narrative thesis that will be the base of your story. Narrative essay topic selection will provide information on what type of theme you should use for your essay. A theme will set the story of your content in various ways by offering lessons the story is offering. The lessons your story offers might be about fighting with circumstances, keeping your morale high etc. 

Therefore, you should choose a topic that offers your readers knowledge, experience, and lesson by presenting shock value. For topic selection, you should contact your professor, a friend or a classmate who can offer good advice. This way, you can save plenty of time and spend this reserved time brainstorming and creating ideas for your assignment writing services.

Make an Outline for the Essay

After choosing a topic, it’s time to outline your assignment. An outline is a structure that will help you write a personal narrative essay for high school in an organized form. Whether you’re writing it for college or your high school assignment, it will ease your workload.

Outline for narrative essay is compose of three elements mentioned below;

  • Introduction 

  • Body Paragraph

  • Conclusion

Introduction to a narrative essay introduces the audience to the essay’s central theme. It piques the reader’s interest in your story and keeps them reading till the end. A body paragraph comprises topic sentences, main findings or lessons and suggestions. The last part of the outline is the essay’s conclusion, which ends the entire discussion on the topic. By following this structure of the outline, students may find it easy to compose personal narrative ideas.

Start Writing Plot of the Essay

After outlining, students can easily write the plot of the story. A plot is a storyline of events occurring in the essay, and your entire write-up depends on it. It pushes the story and your narrative forward and helps to unfold the important events of the essay.

A plot of a story essay is the most important factor that drives the entire work in the direction you choose for it. To write a personal narrative essay, you’ll need these elements to form your plot.

  • Characters of the story

  • Causes of events 

  • Challenges, problems and conflicts of the characters with each other

Characters are the main driving force of your essay. They provide context and content to the story. Without characters, the entire plot is just words and events without an effect. Many different types of characters help bring the story and events alive.

Causes are the reasons for the events happening in your narrative story essay. They provide an understanding and justify why events are happening.

 The plot’s final part is the characters’ challenges and problems. Your plot should accurately detect these problems and provide a link between characters and the conflicts they face in your essay. When you add all these essential parts of the plot, your essay is ready to move to the next phase.

Create a Thesis Statement

The thing students should do is form a thesis statement. It’s a short one or two-line sentence that contains the essence of your story. It has all the information of an essay and informs the audience what to expect from reading the entire story. Students can easily write a thesis of a narrative essay if it’s based on a true story. If you are writing a narrative story based on fiction, you can also compose it at the end. An example of a thesis statement might look like this;

“Honesty is the best policy”, and “death is as much part of life as life itself”. This narrative descriptive example thesis provides a perfectly composed crux of the story.

Write Introduction as a First Person by Using Descriptive Language

After completing the preliminary work, it’s time to write the introduction part of the essay. Students need to write the intro in the first person by using “I”, “we”, “us,” etc. Using first-person pronouns gives credibility to your story.

Essay prompts for narrative and personal writing also help students to write the intro by providing guidelines to follow. A narrative essay introduction should be interesting for the readers and effectively capture their attention. In composing the introduction, students must use descriptive language that details the essay’s theme, characters and entire setting easily. 

An intro of the essay has three parts, and you need to use them appropriately and wisely to enhance your understanding of the topic. The introductory paragraph of the narrative essay has the following parts;

  • Hook sentence

  • Background information

  • Thesis statement

A hook sentence is the first sentence of the intro part that works exactly like a real hook. It hooks the readers to your essay and intrigues their excitement. Background information informs the audience on the historical context of the problem or topic. It educates the audience on the existence of a problem and urges its solution. After going through the topic, a thesis statement is the writer’s research findings and expert opinion. 

These are the steps you must take to write a narrative essay introduction.

Start your Story With a Body Paragraph

The middle and most important part of an essay is the body paragraph. It contains all the story characters, context, and details of the events in your story. Thus, it’s called the soul of the essay. Since an introduction about yourself only introduces the audience to your story, the body paragraph unveils everything your story contains. After reading through body parts, your readers fully know what transpired in your life, if it’s about real-life events. 

A body section of narrative essay has few basic parts, such as;

  • Topic sentence 

  • Evidence

  • Concluding sentence

  • Transition

When you’re writing a body part of the essay, the topic sentence is the first part of the paragraph and summarizes what’s inside. What supports your narrative is the evidence that supplements your story and its effects. At the same time, the concluding sentence ends your paragraph and the entire discussion it contains inside. 

Finally, transition is a technique writers use to connect one paragraph or a point to another. It helps maintain cohesion and relevancy throughout the essay. Writing a body paragraph following these steps helps make it more robust and fascinating for your readers.

Present the Conclusion

The last writing part of the essay presents a concise and deep conclusion. Since you already presented your personal story or experience in the above paragraphs, present the closure of the events. It would be best if you reinstated your thesis creatively. That doesn’t seem repetitive and outdated and also, present your main points in a summarized form, adding bits from above and some unfamiliar words to make them more exciting for your audience. 

Lastly, present your ultimate statement on what lesson your readers can learn from your narrative of the essay. Use perfect description in your final words so that its impact lasts longer in the reader’s mind. After following these outstanding steps, your essay is ready for review and final edits.

Revise, Edit and Submit

The end part of writing a narrative essay is to check the contents of your essay for typos, grammar mistakes and structural issues. Use your friends, classmates, or teachers’ insights to guide you in this respect. After the revision is complete, edit the document and submit the assignment.

By taking these steps students across the globe can write the best and mesmerizing narrative essays. Remember to follow the steps and create new and in-depth content in your assignments. 

25+ Breakthrough Narrative Essay Topics

Students who finding themselves lost in translation, here are 25 plus narrative essay topics that you might find interesting:

  1. A Childhood Memory: Write about a time when you learned a valuable lesson as a child.

  2. A Life-Changing Experience: Describe an event that changed your life forever.

  3. A School Experience: Share a story about a memorable day at school.

  4. A Travel Adventure: Write about an exciting trip you took.

  5. A Brush with Greatness: Describe a time when you met someone famous or influential.

  6. A Time of Failure: Share a story about a time when you failed at something, and what you learned from it.

  7. A Moment of Success: Write about a moment when you felt successful.

  8. An Encounter with Nature: Describe a time when you had a close encounter with nature.

  9. A Family Tradition: Write about a unique family tradition.

  10. A Historical Event: Describe a historical event from your perspective.

  11. A Mystery: Write about a time when you encountered a mystery.

  12. A Personal Achievement: Share a story about something you achieved that made you proud.

  13. An Act of Kindness: Write about a time when you were kind to someone, or someone was kind to you.

  14. A Scary Experience: Share a story about something that scared you.

  15. An Unexpected Friendship: Write about a friendship that formed in an unexpected way.

  16. A Time of Courage: Describe a moment when you showed courage.

  17. An Unforgettable Dream: Write about the most unforgettable dream you’ve ever had.

  18. A Cultural Experience: Share a story about experiencing another culture.

  19. A Moment of Embarrassment: Write about an embarrassing moment in your life.

  20. An Act of Heroism: Describe an act of heroism you witnessed or experienced.

  21. A Strange Encounter: Write about an encounter with a person who was very different from you.

  22. A Moment of Disappointment: Share a story about something that disappointed you, and what you learned from it.

  23. An Adventure Gone Wrong: Write about an adventure that didn’t go as planned.

  24. A Moment of Excitement: Share a story about something that excited you immensely.

  25. An Encounter with the Supernatural: Write about an encounter with ghosts or other supernatural entities.

  26. A Moment of Doubt: Describe a moment when you doubted yourself or made an important decision.

  27. An Unforgettable Lesson: Write about a lesson that has stuck with you over the years.

  28. A Brush with Death: Share a story where you or someone else had a near-death experience.

  29. An Act of Rebellion: Write about a time when you rebelled against authority or expectations.

  30. A Moment of Triumph: Describe the moment when you felt the most triumphant.

Remember, the best narrative essays tell specific stories with very vibrant and luminous details, so try to make your story as vivid as possible!

Understanding & Making Narrative Essay Outline

One of the first steps students must take is making an outline for their narrative essay. Like typical college essays, narrative articles also have the same outlines, such as:

  • Introduction

  • Body paragraph

  • Conclusion

In the next few paragraphs, we will discuss how to make an outline for your essay and provide structure for it.

Adding an Introduction Paragraph

Upon finalizing an outline, the commencement of crafting the introductory paragraph of the essay ensues. This initial segment of the essay comprises three primary components, each serving a distinct purpose. As suggested by its designation, an introduction acquaints the reader with the subject matter and ensuing discourse.

To furnish comprehensive insights into the topic, the author employs three elements within the introduction to captivate interest. These components encompass:

  • Engaging Sentence

  • Contextual Information

  • Central Argument

An engaging sentence instantly seizes the reader’s attention. It is a succinct statement that employs persuasive language to evoke an emotional response from readers. An illustration of an engaging sentence could be as follows:

“Gun killings in the USA have seen a surge of 23% in 2021 over 2019 deaths, according to PEWresearch.org ”.

The aforementioned engaging sentence swiftly establishes an emotional rapport between the reader and the topic, thereby ensuring sustained reader engagement throughout the essay.

Contextual information offers a historical perspective on the topic under discussion. It enlightens readers about its inception and its current status. This approach facilitates the creation of a timeline delineating the problem’s evolution, thereby reinforcing a potential resolution.

The central argument encapsulates the essence of the author’s research and ideation process. It is formulated after conducting exhaustive research and devising a logical solution. In this manner, the author proposes a plausible, innovative, and meticulously calibrated resolution to a specific issue.

Write Details in Body Paragraphs

The body of a narrative essay is its most crucial component, akin to the heart in a human body. It is here that your comprehensive research and its scope are articulated, serving as the primary medium of communication. The significance of this section necessitates meticulousness, accuracy, and authoritative knowledge of the topic.

The opening sentence of a body paragraph, known as the topic sentence, encapsulates the essence of the paragraph in a single line. This is followed by your initial arguments in support of the thesis. Including a counter argument or an opposing statement lends credibility to your narrative. The body paragraph allows for an in-depth exploration to substantiate your viewpoint. Each claim you make should be backed up with evidence that demonstrates its relevance and validity from the author’s perspective.

Once the validity of your research has been established, it’s crucial to introduce opposing viewpoints to your narrative or results. By doing so, you present a balanced perspective on the subject matter. It’s essential to expose your audience to arguments from all angles. This approach not only strengthens your understanding of the topic but also bolsters your credibility in the eyes of your readers.

In your extensive narrative essay, it’s crucial to segment your points into paragraphs. Begin with the most current and pertinent evidence in the first paragraph and discuss it. Follow this with additional points and discoveries in the second and third paragraphs. Reserve your most compelling argument or ‘knock-out punch’ for the third paragraph.

Once you’ve incorporated your discoveries, debates, and opposing viewpoints, ensure to include a comprehensive response where you address the counterarguments in depth. By responding to all the queries your adversary has raised against your research, you solidify your stance. The body paragraphs of your essay set a new standard for other students to emulate. In this manner, you can craft an exceptional narrative essay with captivating details in the main section.

Providing a Closure in the Conclusion Paragraph

The conclusion serves as the final segment of a narrative essay. It’s where you bring your discussion to a close for your readers. To accomplish this, the writer should revisit their thesis statement and make a final persuasive appeal to their audience.

Reformulating your thesis statement is a straightforward task; it involves presenting your research in a fresh light. Avoid redundancy, as the readers are already familiar with the initial statements. Devise an innovative approach to articulate your thesis.

The second phase of crafting a conclusion involves distilling the key elements of your essay for your readers. Given that your audience might not recall the entirety of your essay, it’s crucial to offer a summary that will aid in convincing them of the validity of your research.

The final comments represent the third and ultimate phase of the concluding paragraph. It’s crucial to reiterate the points discussed in the preceding sections. Persuade your audience to align with your perspective and conclude the debate with a decisive final argument.

The steps and definitions we mentioned here help students understand the importance of a narrative essay’s outline. It’s imperative that students learn them thoroughly because these steps can help them in their entire academic career.

Narrative Essay Examples in Writing

If the above steps and outline formation seem cumbersome, our expert writers will make your life easy. We will provide you with some of the best and most useful personal narrative essay examples that will jolt you with brainstorming and information. Look at the following example:

150+ Words Personal Essay Narrative Examples about a Day in Park

“It was a sunny day in the middle of July. The park was filled with laughter and the happy shouts of children playing. I sat on a bench, watching my son, Aiden, as he ran around with the other kids. His laughter echoed through the park, bringing a smile to my face.

Suddenly, Aiden tripped over a rock and fell. He let out a cry, and I rushed over to him. He was clutching his knee, tears streaming down his face. I quickly checked his knee. It was just a scrape.

I pulled out a band-aid from my bag, gently placing it on his knee. His tears slowly stopped as I held him close, whispering words of comfort. After a while, he gave me a shaky smile and ran off to play again. 

As I watched him, I realized that these little moments were what made life beautiful. The joy of being there for my son and comforting him when he was hurt was incomparable to anything else. It was a simple day at the park, but it was a day I would always remember.”

150+ Words Narrative Essay Examples about a Date

“It was a crisp autumn evening, and I was waiting anxiously outside the café. The golden leaves were falling, painting the sidewalk with hues of orange and red. I was about to meet someone I had been chatting with online for weeks. My heart pounded with anticipation and a dash of nervousness.

As I saw her approaching, my heart skipped a beat. She was even more beautiful in person, her eyes sparkling like the stars above. We exchanged warm smiles and greetings, breaking the ice instantly.

We settled into the cozy café, the aroma of coffee beans enveloping us. Our conversation flowed effortlessly, from our shared love for books to our dreams and aspirations. Her laughter was infectious, and her stories were captivating. I found myself lost in her words, her expressions, and the way her eyes lit up as she spoke.

As the evening grew darker, the café lights shimmered in her eyes, creating a magical atmosphere. We promised to meet again soon as we said our goodbyes. Walking back home, I couldn’t help but smile. It was not just a date; it was an unforgettable experience that left me eagerly awaiting our next meeting.”

These two examples provide first-hand knowledge about narrative essays and their uses. It’s pertinent that your context explains the story in your essay, and your words must show a vivid imagination in the reader’s mind. This is how learners can make a difference in their academic assignments.

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Conclusion

Assignments like writing a narrative essay allow students to put their best-known skills to the test. Learners need to provide vivid details of the subject of interest in the essay’s context. We did provide a holistic approach and knowledge on this topic for academic learners in this blog. All the essential steps that will help students with writing, outlining, and understanding are presented here.

Lastly, it’s important for students to seek professional help if they are having difficulty completing this task. With appropriate knowledge of the steps involved in ensuring smooth completion of the assignment, only then can learners make a big difference in their grades.

FAQs

The following sentence comes from a narrative essay “I was really afraid when my car broke down in the desert”.

Dialogue aims to enhance the effects of the two characters and their communication. A monologue is less effective, but a dialogue provides a deeper understanding of two people in your story.

A reflection is a lesson learned by the writer from their experience. It shows writers' vulnerabilities and how the experience shaped their expertise.

A narrative essay is a short story about a writer's personal experience dealing with an issue. It might be their psychological, physical or environmental problems. Writing about such hurdles in a descriptive form is a narrative essay.

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