Name: _____________________________________ Period: _____ Date: __________________________

10th Grade EA1: 1st Person Narrative

Assignment: For the past few weeks, we have been reading texts that focus on individual cultural identity. As
discussed in class culture is the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group.
Words and phrases that we often associate with culture are nationality, race, religion, family, gender,
community, language, politics, sports, music, fashion, food, and hobbies. For this assignment, you will brainstorm
several experiences that serve to highlight an aspect of your culture. (If the term “culture” confuses you, substitute it
with the word “identity.”) After you brainstorm, you will choose ONE event to write about in a short 1st person narrative.

Narration tells a story by presenting events in an orderly, logical sequence. A narrative essay
could tell how an experience you had as a child changed you; how an obstacle hindered a goal but
helped you grow, or how a family ritual at dinner time highlights your family’s values.

Four Basics of Good Narration:

1. It reveals something of importance to your reader (main point).
2. It includes all the major moments of the story (primary support).
3. It uses details to bring the story to life for your audience (secondary support).
4. It presents the events in a clear order, usually according to when they happened
(chronological order).

1st Draft Due: ______________________________ Revised Draft Due: ______________________________

*All drafts must be written in MLA format:

 Proper heading: student name, teacher name, class, and due date
 12 pt. font
 Times New Roman or Arial
 Double-spaced throughout
 Proper citations (if applicable)

In order to complete this essay, you will go through all steps of the writing process: 1) Invention/Pre-Writing, 2)
Arrangement, 3) Drafting & Revising, and 4) Editing & Proofreading. Your final edited essay must be 500 words (2 pages)
in length, and a hardcopy must be submitted on the date it is due. You are also required to submit the essay to Google
Classroom.

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Step 1: Invention/Pre-Writing: Brainstorming
1. Understand your assignment: Length, Purpose, Audience, Occasion, and Knowledge.

2. Move from Subject to Topic.

3. You have spent some time brainstorming ideas for this 1st person narrative essay. It is now time to choose ONE idea to
focus on.

4. Develop a Preliminary Thesis Statement.

Continue on the next page.

Step 2: Arrangement
5. Write an Informal Outline:

A. Sample Outline Format:

I. Introduction (includes thesis statement)
II. Body
a. 1st moment
b. 2nd moment
c. 3rd moment
d. 4th moment
e. 5th moment
III. Conclusion (includes summary/reflective statement)

Transition Words/Phrases for Narrative Writing:

After before long it began

after ___ minutes by the time it started
after a while during just then
after that first Last
As However lastly
As soon as Immediately Later
at first in an instant later on
at last in the beginning Meanwhile
at the end in the meantime Next
Before Initially Now

Additional Notes: