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Name Writing Process Unit 1

Notes for a Personal Narrative

Directions  Fill in the graphic organizer with information about the event or
experience that you plan to write about.
Summary

What happened? Answers should include

When? details about each part of
Where? student’s personal narrative.
Who was there?

Details

Beginning

Middle
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End

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Writing Process Unit 1

Name

Words That Tell About You

Directions  Your feelings probably changed during the course of the experience
described in your personal narrative. Choose two or three words from the word bank to
describe how you felt at different times. For each word, explain why you felt that way.
Then use vivid details that show how you felt.

angry excited proud sad

disappointed embarrassed satisfied curious
nervous anxious delighted upset

Answers should include adjectives from

I felt 

the word bank, explain the choice,

Reason: 

how I looked and acted:  and give details that

And here’s

show the feelings the adjectives suggest.

I felt 

Reason: 

And here’s how I looked and acted: 

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I felt 

Reason: 

And here’s how I looked and acted: 

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Name Writing Process Unit 1

Combining Sentences
When you write, you can combine short simple sentences to make compound or
complex sentences. A compound sentence has two independent clauses—groups
of words that can stand alone as sentences—joined by a word such as and, but, or,
nor, yet, and so. A complex sentence has one independent clause and one dependent
clause—a group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence—joined by a word
such as if, when, because, although, since, or as. Remember, the two sentences you
combine must make sense together.

Directions  Use the word in ( ) to combine the two sentences. Remember to use a
comma when necessary. Possible answers shown.

1. I want to be an actor. I think I could be a good one. (and)

I want to be an actor, and I think I could be a good one.

2. Acting is fun. You can pretend to be someone else. (because)

Acting is fun because you can pretend to be someone else.

3. I applied to an acting workshop. I haven’t heard back yet. (but)

I applied to an acting workshop, but I haven’t heard back yet.

4. I’m only eleven. I have a long way to go. (so)

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I’m only eleven, so I have a long way to go.

5. I graduate. I may move to Hollywood. (after)

After I graduate, I may move to Hollywood.

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Name Writing Process Unit 1

Peer and Teacher Conferencing

Personal Narrative
Directions  After exchanging drafts, read your partner’s narrative. Refer to the Revising
Checklist as you make notes about your partner’s narrative. Write your comments or
questions on the lines. Offer compliments as well as suggestions for revisions. Take
turns talking about each other’s draft using your notes. Give your partner your notes.

Revising Checklist
Focus/Ideas
® Is the personal narrative focused on one important experience?
® Are there enough details about the experience?
Organization
® Do time-order words and paragraphs help organize the sequence of events?
Voice
® Is the narrative interesting and lively?
Word Choice
® Does vivid language help show rather than tell about the writer’s feelings?
Sentences
® Are there both simple and compound sentences? Have short, choppy sentences been
combined to make compound or complex sentences?

Things I Thought Were Good

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Things I Thought Could Be Improved

Teacher’s Comments

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