Note: These are non-graded learning activities, so please do not submit them to the teacher.

In this Module, you will write a personal narrative, which is one type of narrative. A personal narrative is a story about something that happened to the person telling the story.

Remember, the elements of a narrative are:

1. Beginning: Meet the characters in their world. Characters are people and animals. Setting is time and place.
2. Middle: The characters face a problem.
3. End: The characters solve the problem.

Steps for Writing

To help you write, we will use the Steps for Writing noted in the second chart.

1. Prewrite: Choose a topic. Plan it out: first, next, then, last.
2. Draft: Write your ideas. Draw pictures if you need to. Add details.
3. Revise: Add sentences and words. Delete words and phrases. Move sentences to make the best order.
4. Edit: Check for capital letters. Check for space between words. Check for end punctuation. Check for spelling.
5. Publish: Write your story one more time. Add cover, pictures, and more to make your story shine.
6. Share: Read your story to others.

Be sure to follow each step as it appears so you do not miss an important writing step.

Part 1: Review Writing Requirements

Review the writing topic

• Write a personal narrative about something you have done to make the world a better place.

Review the writing requirements

• This essay will require:
  • characters;
  • a beginning, a middle, and an end;
  • a conflict and resolution;
  • details about the character’s actions, thoughts, and feelings;
  • correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation; and
  • your best handwriting.
• Paragraphs:
  • Introduction (2-3 sentences): Tell about you and what you did to help.
  • Body Paragraph (5 sentences): Tell the events of the story. Provide the who, when, where, what, and how of your story.
  • Conclusion (2-3 sentences): Tell how your action made the world a better place.

Part 2: Choose a Topic

When you prewrite, you will:

• choose a topic.
• plan it out: first, next, then, last.

For today’s prewriting, we will focus on choosing a topic and reviewing the writing requirements.

• Read the model story A Good Deed on a Snowy Day to help you brainstorm topics.

Parent/Guardian Instructions

Students will use the Steps for Writing to help write their Personal Narrative during the next two weeks. Below is the writing schedule for the next two weeks.

Writing Schedule

Module 1, Week 2: During this week, students will begin writing the Personal Narrative (rough draft).

• Day 1: Prewriting Steps (Part 1): not for a grade. Review the writing requirements.
  
  
• Day 2: Brainstorming: not for a grade. Identify details for your story and complete worksheets.
  
  
• Day 3: Prewriting Steps (Part 2): not for a grade. Learn the elements of a narrative, set goals for writing, and complete worksheets.
  
  
• Day 4: Drafting (Part 1): Review narrative structure and begin writing the rough draft. Students will start their rough draft in Day 4, and turn it in for a grade in Day 5.
  
  
• Day 5: Assignment: Personal Narrative (Rough Draft) (1.2.5): This is the only graded assignment this week. Your student will finish writing their rough draft and turn it in for a grade.

Module 1, Week 3: During this week, students will finish writing the Personal Narrative (final draft).

• Day 1: Revising Steps: not for a grade. Learn about common and proper nouns, and singular and plural nouns. Begin revising your rough draft, using a worksheet to help check your work.
  
  
• Day 2: Editing Steps: not for a grade. Learn about capitalization and how to correctly use apostrophes in possessives and contractions. Proofread your work with the help of an adult.
  
  
• Day 3: Publishing Steps: not for a grade. Make a clean copy of your narrative and think about how to present it.
  
  
• Day 4: Continue writing the final draft.
  
  
• Day 5: Revisit Writing Goals: not for a grade. Complete the worksheet to review your writing goals.
  
  
• Day 5: Assignment: Personal Narrative (Final Draft) (1.3.5): This is the only graded assignment this week. Your student will finish writing their final draft and turn it in for a grade.