There are various types of essay writing that you may be assigned to complete. However, there are two essay types that students often confuse with each other: narrative essays and descriptive essays. So, in order to help you avoid making this mistake, we have come up with this comprehensive guide that will explore all the necessary steps to write a successful narrative essay while also following the specific formatting rules.
Table of Contents
Understanding Narrative Essays
A narrative essay is a type of essay writing that tells a story. It serves as a window into someone’s life in a way that captures the reader’s imagination. The beauty of narrative writing lies in its ability to take the reader to a journey with the help of words and create an emotional connection. Unlike other types of essay writing, you don’t need to make arguments, criticise something, or persuade someone to agree with your argument.
Differentiating Narrative Essays from Descriptive Essays
While narrative and descriptive essays both allow writers to express themselves more personally and creatively, there are distinct differences between the two. Narrative essays are designed to tell a complete story, while descriptive essays aim to convey an intense description of a specific experience, object, or concept.
Narrative and descriptive essays both allow writers to express themselves more personally and creatively, however, there is a clear difference between the two. Narrative essays are the essay writing that allow the writer to tell a complete story, while descriptive essays are designed to convey an intense description of a specific concept, experience or object.
Types of Narrative Essays
There are different types of narrative essays, each comes with its own structure and purpose. However, they have a similar goal of transporting readers to a different time and experiences. Let’s explore each type in more detail:
1. Personal Narrative Essay
In this type of narrative essay, the writer shares a unique personal event or experience. This can be about overcoming a fear or obstacle or outlining an event that led to them achieving a goal or a wish.
2. Fictional Narrative
As the name suggests, a fictional narrative essay is a made-up story that follows the basic format of storytelling.
3. Memoir
This type of narrative essay is a personal narrative that focuses on a specific time or theme in someone’s life. Memoirs can be based on a particular relationship, career, event, or time.
4. Literacy Narrative Essay
In this type of narrative writing, the writer explores their experiences with literacy and how it has influenced their life. Literacy essays often tell a personal story about an important moment or series of moments that impacted the relationship of the writer with reading, writing or communication.
How to Write a Narrative Essay
Now that we have a clear understanding of what a narrative essay is and its different types, let’s dive into the steps required to write an effective narrative essay:
1. Choose a Compelling Topic
The first step in writing a narrative essay is to choose a topic that interests you and will capture the attention of your readers as well. Spend some time brainstorming different ideas and think about the story you want to write about. Determine which areas may interest your readers and help you develop an engaging story. If you are allowed to choose your own topic, consider selecting one that highlights your academic achievements or commitment to community service.
2. Create a Well-Structured Outline
Before diving into the writing process, it is important to create a well-structured outline. This outline will serve as a roadmap for your essay, helping you stay organised and ensure a coherent flow. Start by designating paragraphs to discuss the key point of the story you are telling. For example, if you are writing about a time when you overcame a challenge, then your outline will include paragraphs for background information, your perseverance in the situation and the significance of what you learned.
3. Utilise the First-Person Perspective
As narrative essays are about your personal experiences, it is important to write in the first-person perspective using pronouns such as “I,” “me,” and “we.” Visualise yourself having an in-person conversation with someone about what you are writing and tell the story from that perspective. By including your feelings and inner thoughts on the topic, you can convey it in greater detail and enable the reader to feel like they experience the story with you.
4. Employ Creative Language
Use creative language in your storytelling to make the essay more interesting. Avoid using the same words repeatedly. Instead use a thesaurus to find synonyms that capture the attention of readers and better illustrate your point. For example, instead of saying something was confusing, you can use “bewildering” or “perplexing.” This will provide your essay both clarity and creativity and will enhance the readability of your writing and allow readers to visualise your words.
5. Take Time to Proofread
The final step in the writing process is to thoroughly proofread your narrative essay to make sure that your essay is free from errors such as grammatical and spelling errors. Take a break before revisiting your essay, as this way you will approach it with a fresh perspective. You can also use proofreading tools on the internet to identify and resolve spelling and grammatical errors. These tools may also suggest changes to make your essay more concise and easier to read. Additionally, consider seeking a second opinion by sending your to a friend or family member for further feedback.
By following these steps, you can compose a well-crafted narrative essay that will captivate your readers and earn you the grade you deserve.
Conclusion
Writing a compelling narrative essay requires careful thought and planning. By choosing a captivating topic, creating a well-structured outline, utilising the first-person perspective, employing creative language, and proofreading diligently, you can create a narrative essay that leaves a lasting impression on your readers. If you require help with your narrative essay, you can turn to Assignment Studio, their seasoned writers will help you craft up a narrative essay that will surely get you the “A” you were aiming for.
