PERSONAL NARRATIVES
A true story told in the first person by someone involved in the events described.
What is a personal narrative?
“The runner was as fast as a cheetah.”
What type of figurative language is this?
What is a simile?
This type of word can make writing more precise and exciting than simply using “went.”
What is a strong verb?
This means the central message or idea of a text.
What is theme?
What rekindled Michael's childhood dream of becoming an astronaut?
Watching a movie about the first American astronauts.
This helps readers understand what happened and when by putting events in a clear order.
What is a logical sequence?
“The hallway was a river of students.”
What type of figurative language is this?
What is a metaphor?
Instead of saying “The food was good,” a writer could say “The food was delicious and spicy.” What type of words make the second sentence stronger?
What are strong adjectives?
This means the author's attitude or feeling expressed through writing.
What is tone?
What two things impressed Michael most about the astronauts in the movie?
The view of Earth from space and the astronauts' close friendship.
A strong personal narrative should include specific details instead of only giving general information. What kind of details can help readers imagine the experience?
What are sensory details?
“The angry storm pounded on the windows.”
What type of figurative language gives the storm a human action?
What is personification?
When writing dialogue, what should a writer usually do when the speaker changes?
What is start a new paragraph?
This means the author's opinion or feelings about the subject of a text.
What is perspective?
Michael applied to NASA four times before he was selected. What character trait does this demonstrate?
What is perseverance?
A writer can use this to let readers hear what characters actually say and learn more about their personalities and feelings.
What is dialogue?
“Her smile was like sunshine.”
What two words often signal that a comparison is a simile?
What are like and as?
Why is dialogue useful in a personal narrative?
It can reveal characters’ personalities, relationships, and feelings.
When you use information around an unfamiliar word to figure out what it means, you are using these.
What are context clues?
What unexpected problem did Michael and his crewmates face during the Hubble mission?
The instrument they needed to repair had been sealed and was difficult to reach.
A writer includes actions, dialogue, and specific details instead of simply saying, “She was nervous.” What writing strategy is being used?
What is showing, not telling?
Explain the difference between a simile and a metaphor.
A simile compares two things using like or as, while a metaphor directly compares two things without using like or as.
A writer wants readers to understand that a character is nervous without using the word nervous. Name two things the writer could include.
Actions, behavior, sensory details, or dialogue.
Why should a writer support a perspective with evidence?
Evidence gives readers support for the writer's ideas.
What larger message does Michael's story communicate about achieving a goal?
Important goals may take years to achieve, and perseverance and teamwork can help people overcome setbacks.