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Superb 2021 Model Essays for SPM

SuFpEMeOSrObRSDASEYPLSMNEWSPM Assessment Format 2021 • Step-by-step guide for different 4 5Form essay types •• KSSM • Word Bank & Idioms for Vocab Enrichment Christine Tan Yong Fui Yin • Tips & Techniques for each section Ch’ng Teik Peng • Wide Scope of Model Essays Zeti Aqmar PREFACE Superb Model Essays for SPM English is targeted at students in Form 4 and Form 5 preparing for the Bahasa Inggeris Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination. It can also be used in class under the teacher’s guidance or by students studying and writing on their own. Students at other levels are welcome and encouraged to use this book. The book is divided into three main parts: Part 1 focuses on Short Communicative Message, Part 2 focuses on Guided Writing and Part 3 focuses on Extended Writing Task. Time given for the whole paper (1119/2) is 90 minutes. Part 1: Short Communicative Message (20 marks) Students are advised to spend about 10 – 15 minutes for Part 1. The number of words should be about 80 words. The task is writing a short communicative message through emails. Part 2: Guided Writing (20 marks) Students are advised to spend about 20 – 25 minutes for Part 2. The number of words should be between 125 and 150 words. The task is writing an essay or elaboration of points for or against an idea, plan or arrangement based on a guided stimulus. Part 3: Extended Writing (20 marks) Students are advised to spend about 50 – 60 minutes for Part 3. The number of words should be between 200 and 250 words. The task is writing a composition based on a choice of three questions: article, review, report or story. The best way to use this book: It is recommended that pupils use this book for the practice of writing messages/emails and short or extended compositions. Interactive and active learning would help them apply the tips and techniques in order to improve their personal writing styles. Read the models. Connect the tips and techniques to the topics in short messages and longer compositions. Draw guidance factors from the composition outline. Memorise the phrases and parts that appeal to you. Substitute them with apt and suitable vocabulary of your own to personalise them. Write your message and composition from the model outline. Base your composition on your personal experiences, thoughts and feelings. Where there is genuineness, there is uniqueness. Happy writing! The Authors iii THE WRITING SECTION OF 1119 SPM ENGLISH 1119/2 Time: 90 minutes PAPER 1 Short Communicative Message Marks: 20 Message length: Stimulus provided: 80 words Email Marks: 20 PAPER 12 Types of Genre: Marks: 20 Guided Writing Idea, plan or arrangement Writing length: 125 – 150 words Types of Genre: Article / Report / PAPER 13 Extended Writing Task Review / Story Writing length: 200 – 250 words iv CONTENTS PART 1 Educational Pull-outs 44 Part 1: Short Communicative PART 2 Message Tips and Techniques 2 Part 2: Guided Writimh A Informal Emails Tips and Techniques 2 Introduction 3 Step by Step Step by Step 3 15 Pros and Cons of Studying Overseas 5 1 Advising a relative 5 16 Endangered Species 7 2 Reviving memories of childhood 17 Bullying in Schools 10 games 7 18 Online Games 12 3 Compliment and encourage 19 Welfare of the Aged 15 volunteerism 10 20 Social Networking Sites 17 4 Consolation and Advice 12 21 Scholarship Awards: Accept or Decline 19 5 Invitation to plan and participate in camping trip 15 22 Buying a Car 21 6 The Tragic Flood 17 23 Importance of Movement Control 23 Order (MCO) 7 Steps to Efficient Learning 19 24 Depression among Teenagers 26 8 For Tastier Green 21 25 Flash Flooding 5 9 Dining Together as a Family 23 26 Trend of Online Business in 10 Reading Maketh A Man 26 Malaysia 7 B Formal Emails 27 Computer Literacy among Malaysian Teenagers 10 Introduction 34 28 Effectiveness of Online Class 12 Step by Step 34 29 Issue of Student Couples 15 11 An Email to the Editor of a local tabloid: Community Field 36 30 Problem of Peer Pressure 17 12 Applying for a Scholarship 39 31 If You Were a Billionaire 19 13 A Formal Email to Readers Write 32 Plan to Start an Online Business 21 to the Editor : Demolition of Local 33 Mental Health 23 Library 42 34 Saving Money for the Future 26 14 An Email Requesting 35 Importance of Music 5 Complimentary Copies of 36 Playing Video Games 7 Newspapers in Education and 37 Showing Appreciation to Mothers 10 v English  SPM  Section A – Formal Emails   Part 1 Short Communicative Message 1 English  SPM  Section A – Formal Emails When writing informal and formal emails, Use Grammatical Devices appropriately: think about: (a) how you begin and end emails to set (a) The grammar should reflect the tone you want to convey.Avoid using the tone of the message – there are contractions such as ‘don’t” or “won’t” two parts to begin the email : the in formal emails. Use the full word like greeting and the way you address the “do not” or “will not”. reader. (b) Contractions are acceptable in informal • Informal Emails emails when portraying a casual tone. – Convey a much more casual tone (c) While writing about specific terms, be – address reader as a friend on a aware of colloquial terms and slang first name basis. which might be appropriate for informal – More personal – relay a writing but not in formal emails. tone similar to face-to-face conversation (d) Regardless of the email’s style, do pay – Examples: Hey Johan / Hi / Hi, attention to using correct grammar and Hani punctuation and follow best practices for formatting • Formal Emails – To convey respect by politely (e) Ensure that the email is easy to read and convey a professional tone, addressing the reader regardless whether it is formal or – Examples: Dear Professor Yanni informal. Ismail / Dear Marketing Manager (f) To ensure readability, divide content / To whom it may concern into paragraphs (b) the same rules apply to the end of the (g) Organize information to ensure it is not email. muddled or confusing to reader. Ideally, a paragraph should not be longer than – Use the same tone you started the four lines in length. mail, whether casual or professional. – Thank the reader for their time and keep the context of the email in mind. 2 Short Communicative Message A Informal Emails Introduction Informal emails are friendly mails that we send or receive from friends and family members on a personal basis. The subject matter in informal emails is usually on matters of personal interest between the sender and the receiver or receivers. One can make and respond to simple requests and suggestions, explain simple processes, narrate factual or imagined events and experiences or express and respond to opinions and common feelings such as happiness, sadness, surprise and interest. SStteeppby ➢ How to write an informal email 1. Start your email with ‘Hi’ followed by name of receiver, 2. Use relevant expressions appropriate to the purpose of the email  • e.g. ‘Would you like to + verb ..’ when making an invitation  • ‘We could ..,’ when making a suggestion  • ‘Could you .. ‘ when making a request 3. Give details of your invitation, suggestion or request clearly. Leave out unnecessary details. 4. End with ‘See you soon. / Hope to hear from you soon. / Hope to get a favourable reply soon. 5. End with your name. Sample of an informal email You received an email from a friend who wants to study together for an upcoming exam. Hi, The mid-year exam is around the corner. Would you like to study together in preparation for this exam? We could do it in my house as my parents will be away for the fortnight before the mid-year exam. I don’t mind if you want to bring two of your friends.as long as they are serious about their studies. Looking forward to hearing from you. Bye for now. 3 English  SPM  Section A – Formal Emails Reply to the email from your friend. New Message To : Zahara Subject : Group study Hi, Zahara Thank you for the invitation to do group studying for the mid-year exam. Group studying is a good idea as the exam formats for three subjects have been changed. We need to put our heads together to fully understand the new formats and how to answer the questions. I would like to bring two friends from my neighbourhood. They are from another school and might be able to give us new ideas or approaches as taught by their teachers. Please forward the schedule soonest possible. Siew Hwa ➢ How to write a formal email 1. Begin with a greeting / salutation. Open with a greeting such as ‘Dear Sir/Madam/Ms/Mr/Mrs/Dr/Surname’. If you do not know the name of the person, use ‘To whom it may concern’ or ‘Dear Sir / Madam’. 2. Thank the recipient. If you are replying to an inquiry, begin with a line of thanks. - for question about your company, “Thank you for contacting ABC Company”; for a reply to one of your emails, ‘Thank you for your prompt reply’ or ‘Thanks for getting back to me’. 3. State your purpose. If you are starting the email communication, begin by stating your purpose, ‘I am writing to enquire about …’ Make your purpose and the main text clear. Keep your sentences short and clear. Pay careful attention to grammar, spelling and punctuation for a professional impression. 4. Add your closing remarks. Before you end your email, it’s polite to thank your reader one more time and add some polite closing remarks like ‘Thank you for your patience and cooperation’. Follow up with ‘If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to let me know” and ‘I look forward to hearing from you’. 5. End with a closing. The last step is to include an appropriate closing with your name. ‘Best regards’, ‘Sincerely’, and “Thank you” are all professional. Finally, review and spell check your email one more time to make sure it’s truly perfect! 4 English  SPM  Section A – Formal Emails   Format of a formal email: From: (sender’s email – yours) Date: (date and time) Cc: (friends’ emails you want to include) Subject: (message topic) Sample of Formal Email: A Thank You Email From: To: [email protected] Date: Cc: Thank you – Assistant Account Executive Interview Cc: Bcc: Subject: Subject: 13 November 2021 Dear Encik Johan, It was very kind of you to grant me an interview. I enjoyed learning about the Assistant Account Executive position at the JK Company. The job seems to be an excellent match for my skills and interests. The creative approach to account management that you discussed confirmed my desire to work with you. I will bring to the position strong writing skills, assertiveness and the ability to encourage others to work co-operatively with the department. I appreciate the time you took to interview me. I look forward to hearing from you regarding this position. Thank you. Yours sincerely, Amar Iqbal [email protected] 5 English  SPM  Section A – Formal Emails 1Model Advising a Relative Model Question You receive an email from your aunt who is concerned about your cousin brother who looks depressed most of the time. She wants you to help her by talking to your cousin brother. Dear Alan, I’m sorry to disturb you at this time when you’re preparing for your finals. I’m worried about Ben who looks depressed most of the time. The two of you are very close so please talk to him. I’m sure he’ll tell you the reasons for his present behaviour. I suspect it is cyberbullying but he refuses to talk about it. I’m sure he will open up to you. Bye! Now write an email to your aunt in about 80 words. Write your answer below. Model Answer To : [email protected] Subject : Ben and his problem Dear Aunt Clara, Thank you for your faith in me. I met up with Ben. He opened up in no time – a victim of cyberbullying. The fact that he talked so openly means he needs support and help especially from his family. The problem is in the early stage. So, nip it in the bud and help Ben get over it. Talk to him gently. Don’t make him feel guilty. With encouragement, he can get his life back on track. Get back to me if you need further help. Bye. Love, Alan IDIOMS nip it in the bud – to stop something in the early stages before it becomes a serious problem opened up – talked willingly about one’s problem back on track – back to the original or normal a stitch in time saves nine – if you sort out a problem immediately it may save a lot of extra work later 6 WORD Bank English  SPM  Section A – Formal Emails   faith – trust INFO CORNER victim – one who is acted on and usually adversely affected Cyber bullying – the use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person. Online threats and mean, aggressive, or rude texts, tweets, posts 2Model Reviving Memories of Childhood Games Model Question You received an email from a friend who wants to know about a childhood game you like very much. She wants to share some knowledge of Malaysian traditional games with an overseas friend. Hi, I have a request which you may think odd but I really need your help. An overseas friend is asking for information about our Malaysian traditional games. She has to present a paper to her class. She can get information from the Net but prefers to get it from people who have or are still playing the games. I used to play batu seremban and kunda kundi. You preferred congkak. Please give me the necessary details. Thanking you in advance. Now write an email to your friend in about 80 words. Write your answer below. Model Answer To : [email protected] Subject : Remembering a childhood game Hi Leena, Childhood games? Congkak was and still is my favourite. For your friend’s info, in the past, they dug holes in the ground and played with tamarind seeds. Nowadays, we play with marbles on a wooden board with two rows of five, seven or nine holes and two holes at both ends called home. The aim is to collect the tokens for our home. I used to shout and jump about whenever I won - to irritate my opponent, my grandmother. I would say, nenek I won fair and square! Love, Sara 7 English  SPM  Section A – Formal Emails INFO CORNER Malaysian traditional games are usually played during free time. Traditional games are very popular among people who live in rural area. They have been played by our ancestors. Nowadays, most of traditional games are not being played anymore by the children as they are more attracted to play computer games. Malay traditional games are one of the cultural heritages that are priceless and cannot be replaced because it symbolize our customs, culture, and identity of one nation. WORD Bank IDIOMS tamarind seeds – seeds of a fruit popularly used in Indian fair and square – honestly and cuisine to add a tangy flavour. straightforwardly – shiny black in colour and are said to be used for various medicinal purposes. tokens – marks irritate – to provoke impatience or anger 3Model Compliment and Encourage Volunteerism Model Question You received an email from a friend who is waiting to go oversea for further studies in about three months’ time. She wants to spend the time fruitfully like doing voluntary work with a worthwhile organisation. She hopes that you can help her out. Hi, As you know, I’ll be going for further studies in Australia in about three months’ time. I would like to spend the time fruitfully but I’m not sure what I can do or which direction to go. I could do a short course or get involved in voluntary work in a worthwhile organisation. I would be most obliged if you could help me out so that I can put my time to good use. Waiting for your good news. Nora Now write an email to your friend in about 80 words. Write your answer below. 8 English  SPM  Part 2 – Guided Writing   Part 2 Guided Writing 1 English  SPM  Part 2 – Guided Writing 1. This part is aimed at teaching students 8. Use the correct format that is required. to write an essay or elaboration of points for or against an idea, plan 9. Be sure to include the information or arrangement based on a given provided. stimulus. 10. Students are required or encouraged 2. The question can be based on to provide relevant information to following genre: make the composition interesting.  • an idea, plan or arrangement 11. Remember to keep to the task stated in the question for example to discuss,  • the format of the essay can be explain etc. – argumentative – points for and 12. Use your general knowledge where against are tabled necessary. – letter writing – formal/informal 13. Make sure your composition has Letters a smooth flow with appropriate expressions. – expository – an account of a topic of general or current interest 14. Use the style that is suitable for the question – either formal or informal. – speeches/talks – pass on Different genres require different information on a certain occasion styles. – reflective – express personal 15. Plan and organise well for it to be well opinion perceived by the examiner.  • the themes are varied 16. Writing a good ending or conclusion gives your composition an edge over 3. The question and stimulus or others. information are provided in the question. 17. Check your composition before handing it in. 4. The stimulus or information may be in the form of short notes, a graphic 18. To recapitulate – RUPOWC presentation or a series of pictures. Read/Study – Understand – Plan – 5. Read the question and study the Organise – Write – Check stimulus/information carefully. 6. Break the stimulus or information into parts if necessary, to have better understanding. 7. The question and stimulus / information given are student friendly in that they provide adequate information and instruction to answer the question. 2 Guided Writing Introduction Guided Writing is writing a composition based on a given stimulus. It is tested in Part 2 of the SPM English paper. It is compulsory to answer this question and students are advised to spend about 20 – 25 minutes for Part 2. The number of words should be between 125 and 150 words. SStteeppby 1. After studying the question and stimulus, work out your points. 2. Prepare an essay layout. Study the expel provided below. 3. Make sure there are five paragraphs - introduction, paragraphs 2 – 4 and conclusion Essay Layout 5 Paragraphs Paragraph 1 Introduction Rephrasing Question Overview/Outline Stand Paragraph 2 Body 1 Opinion 1 Supporting fact/Explanation example Paragraph 3 Body 2 Opinion 2 Supporting fact/Explanation Example Paragraph 4 Body 3 Opinion 3 Supporting Fact/Explanation Example Paragraph 5 Conclusion Summary/Restatement 4. Now, you are ready to answer question for Part 2 for the SPM English 5. Remember – RUPOWC 3 English  SPM  Part 2 – Guided Writing 15Model Pors and Cons of Studying Overseas Model Question Write your answer in 125 – 150 words in an appropriate style. Your class has been discussing the pros and cons of studying overseas. Your English language teacher has asked you to write an essay about the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad. In your essay, you should write about: PROS AND CONS OF STUDYING ABROAD Advantages Disadvantages • New Experiences • Alien Environment • Independence/Responsibility • Cultural Shock : Homesickness • More Courses • Expensive • Reputable Universities • Irrelevant Disciplines Write your essay using all the information and giving reasons for your point of view. Model Question Introduction Pros and Cons of Studying Overseas Re-phrase question There are pros and cons in studying overseas. This essay will look at both the advantages and disadvantages. Opinion 1 The first advantage is the student gains new First Advantage experiences, independence and responsibility. When he Supporting Fact learns time and financial management, he budgets and lives Example within his allowance. The second advantage is the numerous courses Opinion 2 available in many reputable universities. He could study Second Advantage in Ivy League institutions. If he graduates from Harvard or Supporting Fact Cambridge, he would be headhunted and offered a highly Example lucrative position. On the other hand, there are disadvantages. He is Disadvantages 1, 2,3 thrown into an alien environment, experiences cultural Supporting Facts shock and is homesick. Overseas courses are expensive. Examples Besides, he might enroll in an irrelevant degree course that has no value to his home country. 4 Conclusion English  SPM  Part 2 – Guided Writing   Stand Suggestion In conclusion, I think that there are more advantages in studying overseas than studying locally at tertiary level. Should finances be an issue, study for the first degree locally then study abroad for postgraduate qualifications. 16Model Endangered Species I P Model Question S Write your answer in 125 – 150 words in an appropriate style. C You watched a television programme about animals and learnt about animal extinction. E Write an essay expressing your opinion and feelings in the increase in number of E endangered species. C Causes contributing to Animal Extinction E E • Poaching – illegal international trade, increase in demand for exotic animal parts [trophies, fashion accessories], sale of live C animals E • Loss of habitat – water, food sources E • Overharvesting marine life – environmental issues C O F Write the essay using all the notes and giving your opinion and feelings from your point of view. Model Answer Introduction Endangered Species Problem Man is in danger of destroying his own species and Stand that of Mother Nature. A prevalent problem is the growing extinction of animal species. Animal lovers are unhappy that Cause 1 certain animal species are becoming extinct. Explanation & The illegal international animal trade has prompted Examples poaching and sale of exotic animal parts to make trophies and fashion accessories like crocodile skin bags, rhino talismans and medicinal concoctions. Even captured live animals become exotic human pets. 5 English  SPM  Part 2 – Guided Writing Cause 2 Forests are cleared for economic development Explanation & resulting in loss of habitats and tree cover. Wild animals Examples are bereft of food and water sources. Marine life is also threatened by overharvesting Cause 3 marine resources. The oceans and seas are environmentally Explanation & polluted by both industrial and human waste. Examples I am afraid the global eco-system and the drastic climate change would be unable to meet the food and Conclusion water demands for both human and animal survival. I fear Opinion for the end of the human race. Feeling WORD Bank INFO CORNER prevalent – existing, current Seven Animal Species Going Extinct in Malaysia : The extinction – disappearance Malayan Tiger, Black Shrew, Malayan Tapir, Orangutan, bereft – loss Borneo Pygmy Elephant, Proboscis Monkey and Sunda Pangolin. The loss of a single species can alter the biodiversity of the eco-landscape it inhabits. 6 English  SPM  Section A – Articles   Part 3 Extended Writing 1 English  SPM  Section A – Articles Extended Writing A Articles Introduction Articles are formal and informative accounts of specific topics. They give information about current or social issues. In Part 3 SPM English, writing an article is one of the choices for the extended writing. Marks allocated are 20 and students are advised to complete the answer in 50 – 60 minutes. The number of words should be between 200 and 250 words. 1. Articles can be in the following genre:  • Name of writer  • School magazine  • Write in paragraphs to emphasise the facts or points.  • Newspapers 8. Articles are exercises in formal writing  • Health magazine so avoid using colloquial and slang expressions.  • Nature magazine 9. Use simple clear and formal language.  • Food magazine 10. In your article:  • Travel magazine  • include details to make your article  • Social digest interesting 2. A stimulus in the form of an  • details should be based on the advertisement, notes, itinerary or notes provided brochure may be provided. 11. Give actual or reasonable and 3. Read the question and notes carefully. acceptable facts. Do not exaggerate. Study the stimulus – advertisement / brochure / itinerary - provided in detail. 12. Make sure the ideas flow into one another. 4. Identify the format required in the question before you start writing. 13. There must be a smooth flow 5. The question may be a report, an 14. Check through your article for article or a review. grammatical and spelling errors. 6. Be clear about the purpose of the 15. Give your personal reaction or opinion article. only if necessary. 7. Format for Articles:  • Heading or title for article 2 English  SPM  Section A – Articles   43Model Good Parenting Model Question Write your answer in 200 – 250 words in an appropriate style. You come across the idiom, ‘blood is thicker than water’, and you mull over the meaning of the idiom and decide to write an article on ‘Good Parenting’. In your article, include the following: • Introduction – parents and child – special bond • Parenthood follows marriage – prospective parents – role – make sacrifices • Parental love- not pampering – instil good qualities for future • Love and understanding – wholesome not blind - strong familial bond • Be themselves – love wisely Write your article. Introduction – Good Parenting parents and child by special bond Zaidi Zain Parenthood Parents and children have a special bond of love and follows marriage affection. This bond can never be replaced by any other – parent accept form of relationship. As the saying goes, ‘blood is thicker responsibilities than water’ - family relationships and loyalties are the strongest and most important ties. Parenthood requires Parental love – not dedication and sacrifice. So, what qualities should parents synonymous with impart that would considered good parenting? pampering – set Parenthood is a natural consequence of marriage and good example – prospective parents should recognise their responsibilities. right atmosphere The father might resent the children as rivals for the mother’s attention. The mother finds her time is not her own anymore as household routine changes. Both parents should be willing to make sacrifices, including their career and accept their responsibilities. It is a universal truth that parents love their children. The children are the apple of the parents’ eyes and without doubt their pride and joy. But, love should in no way or at any time be considered as synonymous with pampering or spoiling the child. They should instead, instil qualities that can help the children face life with integrity and courage. Parents should set good examples and provide the right 3 English  SPM  Section A – Articles Good parenthood atmosphere conducive to growth of good character traits. – love and A child learns good virtue or otherwise from the parents understanding – not as like father like son. blind In general, good parenthood requires love and understanding. These two qualities can build a strong Conclusion familial bond. Love must be wholesome but not blind and Be themselves – ignore discipline and moral values. Understanding means love wisely giving the child the opportunity to know what he wants and support when needed. Parents should be themselves and allow the children to be themselves, too - good parenting, love wisely. WORD Bank IDIOMS impart – convey, give or grant blood is thicker than water – family ties are the strongest universal truth – a statement apple of the parents’ eyes – favourite or most cherished that relates to reality person regardless of time and space pride and joy – that makes one proud and happy synonymous – equivalent to like father like son – a child’s character or behaviour can conducive – helpful be expected to be similar to that of the father 44Model Study Well and Do Well Model Question Write your answer in 200 – 250 words in an appropriate style. You are a student counsellor and have attended a seminar on how to be an A-Star student. Write an article on what you learnt for the school magazine. In your article, include the following: • exams – internal and public – school life – tedious and stressful • study smart – positive attitude – understand exam format • attentive and focussed – punctual and review • study techniques: • read aloud • short notes • schedules – short bouts of study • during exams: • choose – understand question • focus – thorough answers – keep tabs on time Write your article. 4 Title English  SPM  Section A – Articles   Writer Study Well and Do Well by Introduction exams – internal Anne Lee and public – How to prepare and do well for examinations, an schooling years best integral part of school life, haunt us throughout our times – learning schooling life. There are examination, internal and external enjoyable or public to contend with. They are the bugs that make school days tedious and stressful. Yet, we are always told study smart the best times of our lives are our schooling years. This can be true provided we make learning enjoyable. be attentive and Study smart. To be able to do this, stay healthy and stay focussed - positive. Eat well, exercise and rest enough to stay healthy. study techniques – This helps to keep the mind alert. A positive attitude is read aloud – short always important – say positive things like ‘I can do it…’ notes and revision Read through used textbooks, past year exam papers and cards – study notes to give you an insight into the exam format. schedule Pay attention in class and stay focussed rather than attend tuition classes. Try not to miss the first and last few exam time minutes of class as important tips and announcements are - practise self- usually made at these times. Immediately after a lesson, discipline – organise review the notes even if it is only for a few minutes. Follow time - thoughts a few study techniques – read aloud and use short notes Conclusion and revision cards. Reading aloud helps to keep the sleep Go forward with away. Short notes and revision cards help the facts to be determination transferred from short memory to long-term learning. so, you are learning and not cramming facts. Also, plan a schedule and study in short bouts rather than long hours of cramming. During exams, practise self-discipline – choose questions carefully, understand essence of question and keep tabs on the time. Organise your time and thoughts quickly and decisively. Get a grip on yourself and go forward with determination. Faint hearts never win fair ladies. 5 English  SPM  Section A – Articles IDIOMS WORD Bank keep tabs – keep track faint hearts never win fair ladies – timidity integral – important and necessary will prevent you from achieving your bugs – burdens objective keep the mind alert – keep the brain working insight – idea review – go over and read through not cramming – not pushing everything into a small space short bouts – short periods of time 6 SupMerbODEL ESSAYS FOR JC108221 SPM 4 5Form • Superb MODEL ESSAYS FOR SPM This book is designed to help students improve their writing skills. From the interpretation of the question to the planning and writing process, the reader is guided step by step in three main parts called Short Communicative Message, Guided Writing and Extended Writing. Each Model Essay illustrates the process of developing ideas into an essay by putting into practice simple yet invaluable principles of essay writing. Though aimed at SPM students, this book is also suitable for anyone who wants to write well. www.PelangiBooks.com • Online Bookstore • Online Library • WM:RM0.00 / EM:RM0.00 JC108221 ISBN 978-967-2930-59-4

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• How to write a narrative essay | Example & tips

How to Write a Narrative Essay | Example & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A narrative essay tells a story. In most cases, this is a story about a personal experience you had. This type of essay , along with the descriptive essay , allows you to get personal and creative, unlike most academic writing .

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Table of contents

What is a narrative essay for, choosing a topic, interactive example of a narrative essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about narrative essays.

When assigned a narrative essay, you might find yourself wondering: Why does my teacher want to hear this story? Topics for narrative essays can range from the important to the trivial. Usually the point is not so much the story itself, but the way you tell it.

A narrative essay is a way of testing your ability to tell a story in a clear and interesting way. You’re expected to think about where your story begins and ends, and how to convey it with eye-catching language and a satisfying pace.

These skills are quite different from those needed for formal academic writing. For instance, in a narrative essay the use of the first person (“I”) is encouraged, as is the use of figurative language, dialogue, and suspense.

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Narrative essay assignments vary widely in the amount of direction you’re given about your topic. You may be assigned quite a specific topic or choice of topics to work with.

• Write a story about your first day of school.
• Write a story about your favorite holiday destination.

You may also be given prompts that leave you a much wider choice of topic.

• Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself.
• Write about an achievement you are proud of. What did you accomplish, and how?

In these cases, you might have to think harder to decide what story you want to tell. The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to talk about a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

For example, a trip where everything went according to plan makes for a less interesting story than one where something unexpected happened that you then had to respond to. Choose an experience that might surprise the reader or teach them something.

Narrative essays in college applications

When applying for college , you might be asked to write a narrative essay that expresses something about your personal qualities.

For example, this application prompt from Common App requires you to respond with a narrative essay.

In this context, choose a story that is not only interesting but also expresses the qualities the prompt is looking for—here, resilience and the ability to learn from failure—and frame the story in a way that emphasizes these qualities.

An example of a short narrative essay, responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” is shown below.

Hover over different parts of the text to see how the structure works.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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If you’re not given much guidance on what your narrative essay should be about, consider the context and scope of the assignment. What kind of story is relevant, interesting, and possible to tell within the word count?

The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to reflect on a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

Don’t worry too much if your topic seems unoriginal. The point of a narrative essay is how you tell the story and the point you make with it, not the subject of the story itself.

Narrative essays are usually assigned as writing exercises at high school or in university composition classes. They may also form part of a university application.

When you are prompted to tell a story about your own life or experiences, a narrative essay is usually the right response.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write a Narrative Essay | Example & Tips. Scribbr. Retrieved June 24, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/narrative-essay/

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• How To Write a Narrative Essay: Guide With Examples
• Learn English
• James Prior
• No Comments
• Updated December 12, 2023

Welcome to the creative world of narrative essays where you get to become the storyteller and craft your own narrative. In this article, we’ll break down how to write a narrative essay, covering the essential elements and techniques that you need to know.

Table of Contents

What is a Narrative Essay?

A narrative essay is a form of writing where the author recounts a personal experience or story. Unlike other types of essays, a narrative essay allows you to share a real-life event or sequence of events, often drawing from personal insights and emotions.

In a narrative essay, you take on the role of a storyteller, employing vivid details and descriptive language to transport the reader into the world of your story. The narrative often unfolds in chronological order, guiding the audience through a journey of experiences, reflections, and sometimes, a lesson learned.

The success of a narrative essay lies in your ability to create a compelling narrative arc. This means establishing a clear beginning, middle, and end. This structure helps build suspense, maintain the reader’s interest, and deliver a cohesive and impactful story. Ultimately, a well-crafted narrative essay not only narrates an event but also communicates the deeper meaning or significance behind the experience, making it a powerful and memorable piece of writing and leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Types of Narrative Essays

Narrative essays come in various forms, each with unique characteristics. The most common type of narrative essay are personal narrative essays where you write about a personal experience. This can cover a whole range of topics as these examples of personal narrative essays illustrate. As a student in school or college, you’ll often be asked to write these types of essays. You may also need to write them later in life when applying for jobs and describing your past experiences.

However, this isn’t the only type of narrative essay. There are also fictional narrative essays that you can write using your imagination, and various subject specific narrative essays that you might have come across without even realizing it.

So, it’s worth knowing about the different types of narrative essays and what they each focus on before we move on to how to write them.

Here are some common types of narrative essays:

• Focus on a personal experience or event from the author’s life.
• Use the first-person perspective to convey the writer’s emotions and reflections.
• Can take many forms, from science fiction and fantasy to adventure and romance.
• Spark the imagination to create captivating stories.
• Provide a detailed account of the author’s life, often covering a significant timespan.
• Explore key life events, achievements, challenges, and personal growth.
• Reflect on the writer’s experiences with language, reading, or writing.
• Explore how these experiences have shaped the writer’s identity and skills
• Document the author’s experiences and insights gained from a journey or travel.
• Describe places visited, people encountered, and the lessons learned during the trip.
• Explore historical events or periods through a personal lens.
• Combine factual information with the writer’s perspective and experiences.

The narrative essay type you’ll work with often depends on the purpose, audience, and nature of the story being told. So, how should you write narrative essays?

How To Write Narrative Essays

From selecting the right topic to building a captivating storyline, we explore the basics to guide you in creating engaging narratives. So, grab your pen, and let’s delve into the fundamentals of writing a standout narrative essay.

Before we start, it’s worth pointing out that most narrative essays are written in the first-person. Through the use of first-person perspective, you get to connect with the reader, offering a glimpse into your thoughts, reactions, and the significance of the story being shared.

Let’s get into how to create these stories:

Write your plot

If you want to tell a compelling story you need a good plot. Your plot will give your story a structure. Every good story includes some kind of conflict. You should start with setting the scene for readers. After this, you introduce a challenge or obstacle. Readers will keep reading until the end to find out how you managed to overcome it.

Your story should reach a climax where tension is highest. This will be the turning point that leads to a resolution. For example, moving outside of your comfort zone was difficult and scary. It wasn’t easy at first but eventually, you grew braver and more confident. Readers should discover more about who you are as a person through what they read.

A seasoned writer knows how to craft a story that connects with an audience and creates an impact.

Hook readers with your introduction

In your introduction, you will introduce the main idea of your essay and set the context. Ways to make it more engaging are to:

• Use sensory images to describe the setting in which your story takes place.
• Use a quote that illustrates your main idea.
• Pose an intriguing question.
• Introduce an unexpected fact or a statement that grabs attention.

Develop your characters

You need to make readers feel they know any characters you introduce in your narrative essay. You can do this by revealing their personalities and quirks through the actions they take. It is always better to show the actions of characters rather than giving facts about them. Describing a character’s body language and features can also reveal a great deal about the person. You can check out these adjectives to describe a person to get some inspiration.

Use dialogue

Dialogue can bring your narrative essay to life. Most fiction books use dialogue extensively . It helps to move the story along in a subtle way. When you allow characters to talk, what they have to say seems more realistic. You can use similes , metaphors, and other parts of speech to make your story more compelling. Just make sure the dialogue is written clearly with the right punctuation so readers understand exactly who is talking.

Work on the pace of the story

Your story must flow along at a steady pace. If there’s too much action, readers may get confused. If you use descriptive writing, try not to overdo it. The clear, concise language throughout will appeal to readers more than lengthy descriptions.

Build up towards a climax

This is the point at which the tension in your story is the highest. A compelling climax takes readers by surprise. They may not have seen it coming. This doesn’t mean your climax should come out of left field. You need to carefully lead up to it step by step and guide readers along. When you reveal it they should be able to look back and realize it’s logical.

Cut out what you don’t need

Your story will suffer if you include too much detail that doesn’t move your story along. It may flow better once you cut out some unnecessary details. Most narrative essays are about five paragraphs but this will depend on the topic and requirements.

In a narrative essay, you share your experiences and insights. The journey you take your readers on should leave them feeling moved or inspired. It takes practice to learn how to write in a way that causes this reaction. With a good plot as your guide, it’s easier to write a compelling story that flows toward a satisfying resolution.

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The Ultimate Narrative Essay Guide for Beginners

A narrative essay tells a story in chronological order, with an introduction that introduces the characters and sets the scene. Then a series of events leads to a climax or turning point, and finally a resolution or reflection on the experience.

Speaking of which, are you in sixes and sevens about narrative essays? Don’t worry this ultimate expert guide will wipe out all your doubts. So let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Everything You Need to Know About Narrative Essay

What is a narrative essay.

When you go through a narrative essay definition, you would know that a narrative essay purpose is to tell a story. It’s all about sharing an experience or event and is different from other types of essays because it’s more focused on how the event made you feel or what you learned from it, rather than just presenting facts or an argument. Let’s explore more details on this interesting write-up and get to know how to write a narrative essay.

Elements of a Narrative Essay

Here’s a breakdown of the key elements of a narrative essay:

A narrative essay has a beginning, middle, and end. It builds up tension and excitement and then wraps things up in a neat package.

Real people, including the writer, often feature in personal narratives. Details of the characters and their thoughts, feelings, and actions can help readers to relate to the tale.

It’s really important to know when and where something happened so we can get a good idea of the context. Going into detail about what it looks like helps the reader to really feel like they’re part of the story.

Conflict or Challenge 

A story in a narrative essay usually involves some kind of conflict or challenge that moves the plot along. It could be something inside the character, like a personal battle, or something from outside, like an issue they have to face in the world.

Theme or Message

A narrative essay isn’t just about recounting an event – it’s about showing the impact it had on you and what you took away from it. It’s an opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings about the experience, and how it changed your outlook.

Emotional Impact

The author is trying to make the story they’re telling relatable, engaging, and memorable by using language and storytelling to evoke feelings in whoever’s reading it.

Narrative essays let writers have a blast telling stories about their own lives. It’s an opportunity to share insights and impart wisdom, or just have some fun with the reader. Descriptive language, sensory details, dialogue, and a great narrative voice are all essentials for making the story come alive.

The Purpose of a Narrative Essay

A narrative essay is more than just a story – it’s a way to share a meaningful, engaging, and relatable experience with the reader. Includes:

Sharing Personal Experience

Narrative essays are a great way for writers to share their personal experiences, feelings, thoughts, and reflections. It’s an opportunity to connect with readers and make them feel something.

Entertainment and Engagement

The essay attempts to keep the reader interested by using descriptive language, storytelling elements, and a powerful voice. It attempts to pull them in and make them feel involved by creating suspense, mystery, or an emotional connection.

Conveying a Message or Insight

Narrative essays are more than just a story – they aim to teach you something. They usually have a moral lesson, a new understanding, or a realization about life that the author gained from the experience.

Building Empathy and Understanding

By telling their stories, people can give others insight into different perspectives, feelings, and situations. Sharing these tales can create compassion in the reader and help broaden their knowledge of different life experiences.

Inspiration and Motivation

Stories about personal struggles, successes, and transformations can be really encouraging to people who are going through similar situations. It can provide them with hope and guidance, and let them know that they’re not alone.

Reflecting on Life’s Significance

These essays usually make you think about the importance of certain moments in life or the impact of certain experiences. They make you look deep within yourself and ponder on the things you learned or how you changed because of those events.

Demonstrating Writing Skills

Coming up with a gripping narrative essay takes serious writing chops, like vivid descriptions, powerful language, timing, and organization. It’s an opportunity for writers to show off their story-telling abilities.

Preserving Personal History

Sometimes narrative essays are used to record experiences and special moments that have an emotional resonance. They can be used to preserve individual memories or for future generations to look back on.

Cultural and Societal Exploration

Personal stories can look at cultural or social aspects, giving us an insight into customs, opinions, or social interactions seen through someone’s own experience.

Format of a Narrative Essay

Narrative essays are quite flexible in terms of format, which allows the writer to tell a story in a creative and compelling way. Here’s a quick breakdown of the narrative essay format, along with some examples:

Introduction

Set the scene and introduce the story.

Engage the reader and establish the tone of the narrative.

Hook: Start with a captivating opening line to grab the reader’s attention. For instance:

Example:  “The scorching sun beat down on us as we trekked through the desert, our water supply dwindling.”

Background Information: Provide necessary context or background without giving away the entire story.

Example:  “It was the summer of 2015 when I embarked on a life-changing journey to…”

Thesis Statement or Narrative Purpose

Present the main idea or the central message of the essay.

Offer a glimpse of what the reader can expect from the narrative.

Thesis Statement: This isn’t as rigid as in other essays but can be a sentence summarizing the essence of the story.

Example:  “Little did I know, that seemingly ordinary hike would teach me invaluable lessons about resilience and friendship.”

Body Paragraphs

Present the sequence of events in chronological order.

Develop characters, setting, conflict, and resolution.

Story Progression : Describe events in the order they occurred, focusing on details that evoke emotions and create vivid imagery.

Example : Detail the trek through the desert, the challenges faced, interactions with fellow hikers, and the pivotal moments.

Character Development : Introduce characters and their roles in the story. Show their emotions, thoughts, and actions.

Example : Describe how each character reacted to the dwindling water supply and supported each other through adversity.

Dialogue and Interactions : Use dialogue to bring the story to life and reveal character personalities.

Example : “Sarah handed me her last bottle of water, saying, ‘We’re in this together.'”

Reach the peak of the story, the moment of highest tension or significance.

Turning Point: Highlight the most crucial moment or realization in the narrative.

Example:  “As the sun dipped below the horizon and hope seemed lost, a distant sound caught our attention—the rescue team’s helicopters.”

Provide closure to the story.

Reflect on the significance of the experience and its impact.

Reflection : Summarize the key lessons learned or insights gained from the experience.

Example : “That hike taught me the true meaning of resilience and the invaluable support of friendship in challenging times.”

Closing Thought : End with a memorable line that reinforces the narrative’s message or leaves a lasting impression.

Example : “As we boarded the helicopters, I knew this adventure would forever be etched in my heart.”

Example Summary:

Imagine a narrative about surviving a challenging hike through the desert, emphasizing the bonds formed and lessons learned. The narrative essay structure might look like starting with an engaging scene, narrating the hardships faced, showcasing the characters’ resilience, and culminating in a powerful realization about friendship and endurance.

Different Types of Narrative Essays

There are a bunch of different types of narrative essays – each one focuses on different elements of storytelling and has its own purpose. Here’s a breakdown of the narrative essay types and what they mean.

Personal Narrative

Description : Tells a personal story or experience from the writer’s life.

Purpose: Reflects on personal growth, lessons learned, or significant moments.

Example of Narrative Essay Types:

Topic : “The Day I Conquered My Fear of Public Speaking”

Focus: Details the experience, emotions, and eventual triumph over a fear of public speaking during a pivotal event.

Descriptive Narrative

Description : Emphasizes vivid details and sensory imagery.

Purpose : Creates a sensory experience, painting a vivid picture for the reader.

Topic : “A Walk Through the Enchanted Forest”

Focus : Paints a detailed picture of the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings experienced during a walk through a mystical forest.

Autobiographical Narrative

Description: Chronicles significant events or moments from the writer’s life.

Purpose: Provides insights into the writer’s life, experiences, and growth.

Topic: “Lessons from My Childhood: How My Grandmother Shaped Who I Am”

Focus: Explores pivotal moments and lessons learned from interactions with a significant family member.

Experiential Narrative

Description: Relays experiences beyond the writer’s personal life.

Purpose: Shares experiences, travels, or events from a broader perspective.

Topic: “Volunteering in a Remote Village: A Journey of Empathy”

Focus: Chronicles the writer’s volunteering experience, highlighting interactions with a community and personal growth.

Literary Narrative

Description: Incorporates literary elements like symbolism, allegory, or thematic explorations.

Purpose: Uses storytelling for deeper explorations of themes or concepts.

Topic: “The Symbolism of the Red Door: A Journey Through Change”

Focus: Uses a red door as a symbol, exploring its significance in the narrator’s life and the theme of transition.

Historical Narrative

Description: Recounts historical events or periods through a personal lens.

Purpose: Presents history through personal experiences or perspectives.

Topic: “A Grandfather’s Tales: Living Through the Great Depression”

Focus: Shares personal stories from a family member who lived through a historical era, offering insights into that period.

Digital or Multimedia Narrative

Description: Incorporates multimedia elements like images, videos, or audio to tell a story.

Purpose: Explores storytelling through various digital platforms or formats.

Topic: “A Travel Diary: Exploring Europe Through Vlogs”

Focus: Combines video clips, photos, and personal narration to document a travel experience.

How to Choose a Topic for Your Narrative Essay?

Selecting a compelling topic for your narrative essay is crucial as it sets the stage for your storytelling. Choosing a boring topic is one of the narrative essay mistakes to avoid . Here’s a detailed guide on how to choose the right topic:

Reflect on Personal Experiences

• Significant Moments:

Moments that had a profound impact on your life or shaped your perspective.

Example: A moment of triumph, overcoming a fear, a life-changing decision, or an unforgettable experience.

• Emotional Resonance:

Events that evoke strong emotions or feelings.

Example: Joy, fear, sadness, excitement, or moments of realization.

• Lessons Learned:

Experiences that taught you valuable lessons or brought about personal growth.

Example: Challenges that led to personal development, shifts in mindset, or newfound insights.

Explore Unique Perspectives

• Uncommon Experiences:

Unique or unconventional experiences that might captivate the reader’s interest.

Example: Unusual travels, interactions with different cultures, or uncommon hobbies.

• Different Points of View:

Stories from others’ perspectives that impacted you deeply.

Example: A family member’s story, a friend’s experience, or a historical event from a personal lens.

Focus on Specific Themes or Concepts

• Themes or Concepts of Interest:

Themes or ideas you want to explore through storytelling.

Example: Friendship, resilience, identity, cultural diversity, or personal transformation.

• Symbolism or Metaphor:

Using symbols or metaphors as the core of your narrative.

Example: Exploring the symbolism of an object or a place in relation to a broader theme.

Consider Your Audience and Purpose

• Relevance to Your Audience:

Topics that resonate with your audience’s interests or experiences.

Example: Choose a relatable theme or experience that your readers might connect with emotionally.

• Impact or Message:

What message or insight do you want to convey through your story?

Example: Choose a topic that aligns with the message or lesson you aim to impart to your readers.

Brainstorm and Evaluate Ideas

• Free Writing or Mind Mapping:

Process: Write down all potential ideas without filtering. Mind maps or free-writing exercises can help generate diverse ideas.

• Evaluate Feasibility:

The depth of the story, the availability of vivid details, and your personal connection to the topic.

Imagine you’re considering topics for a narrative essay. You reflect on your experiences and decide to explore the topic of “Overcoming Stage Fright: How a School Play Changed My Perspective.” This topic resonates because it involves a significant challenge you faced and the personal growth it brought about.

Narrative Essay Topics

50 easy narrative essay topics.

• Learning to Ride a Bike
• My First Day of School
• A Surprise Birthday Party
• The Day I Got Lost
• Visiting a Haunted House
• An Encounter with a Wild Animal
• My Favorite Childhood Toy
• The Best Vacation I Ever Had
• An Unforgettable Family Gathering
• Conquering a Fear of Heights
• A Special Gift I Received
• Moving to a New City
• The Most Memorable Meal
• Getting Caught in a Rainstorm
• An Act of Kindness I Witnessed
• The First Time I Cooked a Meal
• My Experience with a New Hobby
• The Day I Met My Best Friend
• A Hike in the Mountains
• Learning a New Language
• An Embarrassing Moment
• Dealing with a Bully
• My First Job Interview
• A Sporting Event I Attended
• The Scariest Dream I Had
• Helping a Stranger
• The Joy of Achieving a Goal
• A Road Trip Adventure
• Overcoming a Personal Challenge
• The Significance of a Family Tradition
• An Unusual Pet I Owned
• A Misunderstanding with a Friend
• Exploring an Abandoned Building
• My Favorite Book and Why
• The Impact of a Role Model
• A Cultural Celebration I Participated In
• A Valuable Lesson from a Teacher
• A Trip to the Zoo
• An Unplanned Adventure
• Volunteering Experience
• A Moment of Forgiveness
• A Decision I Regretted
• A Special Talent I Have
• The Importance of Family Traditions
• The Thrill of Performing on Stage
• A Moment of Sudden Inspiration
• The Meaning of Home
• Learning to Play a Musical Instrument
• A Childhood Memory at the Park
• Witnessing a Beautiful Sunset

Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

• Discovering a New Passion
• Overcoming Academic Challenges
• Navigating Cultural Differences
• Embracing Independence: Moving Away from Home
• Exploring Career Aspirations
• Coping with Stress in College
• The Impact of a Mentor in My Life
• Balancing Work and Studies
• Facing a Fear of Public Speaking
• Exploring a Semester Abroad
• The Evolution of My Study Habits
• Volunteering Experience That Changed My Perspective
• The Role of Technology in Education
• Finding Balance: Social Life vs. Academics
• Learning a New Skill Outside the Classroom
• Reflecting on Freshman Year Challenges
• The Joys and Struggles of Group Projects
• My Experience with Internship or Work Placement
• Challenges of Time Management in College
• Redefining Success Beyond Grades
• The Influence of Literature on My Thinking
• The Impact of Social Media on College Life
• Overcoming Procrastination
• Lessons from a Leadership Role
• Exploring Diversity on Campus
• Exploring Passion for Environmental Conservation
• An Eye-Opening Course That Changed My Perspective
• Living with Roommates: Challenges and Lessons
• The Significance of Extracurricular Activities
• The Influence of a Professor on My Academic Journey
• Discussing Mental Health in College
• The Evolution of My Career Goals
• Confronting Personal Biases Through Education
• The Experience of Attending a Conference or Symposium
• Challenges Faced by Non-Native English Speakers in College
• The Impact of Traveling During Breaks
• Exploring Identity: Cultural or Personal
• The Impact of Music or Art on My Life
• Addressing Diversity in the Classroom
• Exploring Entrepreneurial Ambitions
• My Experience with Research Projects
• Overcoming Impostor Syndrome in College
• The Importance of Networking in College
• Finding Resilience During Tough Times
• The Impact of Global Issues on Local Perspectives
• The Influence of Family Expectations on Education
• Lessons from a Part-Time Job
• Exploring the College Sports Culture
• The Role of Technology in Modern Education
• The Journey of Self-Discovery Through Education

Narrative Essay Comparison

Narrative essay vs. descriptive essay.

Here’s our first narrative essay comparison! While both narrative and descriptive essays focus on vividly portraying a subject or an event, they differ in their primary objectives and approaches. Now, let’s delve into the nuances of comparison on narrative essays.

Narrative Essay:

Storytelling: Focuses on narrating a personal experience or event.

Chronological Order: Follows a structured timeline of events to tell a story.

Message or Lesson: Often includes a central message, moral, or lesson learned from the experience.

Engagement: Aims to captivate the reader through a compelling storyline and character development.

First-Person Perspective: Typically narrated from the writer’s point of view, using “I” and expressing personal emotions and thoughts.

Plot Development: Emphasizes a plot with a beginning, middle, climax, and resolution.

Character Development: Focuses on describing characters, their interactions, emotions, and growth.

Conflict or Challenge: Usually involves a central conflict or challenge that drives the narrative forward.

Dialogue: Incorporates conversations to bring characters and their interactions to life.

Reflection: Concludes with reflection or insight gained from the experience.

Descriptive Essay:

Vivid Description: Aims to vividly depict a person, place, object, or event.

Imagery and Details: Focuses on sensory details to create a vivid image in the reader’s mind.

Emotion through Description: Uses descriptive language to evoke emotions and engage the reader’s senses.

Painting a Picture: Creates a sensory-rich description allowing the reader to visualize the subject.

Imagery and Sensory Details: Focuses on providing rich sensory descriptions, using vivid language and adjectives.

Point of Focus: Concentrates on describing a specific subject or scene in detail.

Spatial Organization: Often employs spatial organization to describe from one area or aspect to another.

Objective Observations: Typically avoids the use of personal opinions or emotions; instead, the focus remains on providing a detailed and objective description.

Comparison:

Focus: Narrative essays emphasize storytelling, while descriptive essays focus on vividly describing a subject or scene.

Perspective: Narrative essays are often written from a first-person perspective, while descriptive essays may use a more objective viewpoint.

Purpose: Narrative essays aim to convey a message or lesson through a story, while descriptive essays aim to paint a detailed picture for the reader without necessarily conveying a specific message.

Narrative Essay vs. Argumentative Essay

The narrative essay and the argumentative essay serve distinct purposes and employ different approaches:

Engagement and Emotion: Aims to captivate the reader through a compelling story.

Reflective: Often includes reflection on the significance of the experience or lessons learned.

First-Person Perspective: Typically narrated from the writer’s point of view, sharing personal emotions and thoughts.

Plot Development: Emphasizes a storyline with a beginning, middle, climax, and resolution.

Message or Lesson: Conveys a central message, moral, or insight derived from the experience.

Argumentative Essay:

Persuasion and Argumentation: Aims to persuade the reader to adopt the writer’s viewpoint on a specific topic.

Logical Reasoning: Presents evidence, facts, and reasoning to support a particular argument or stance.

Debate and Counterarguments: Acknowledge opposing views and counter them with evidence and reasoning.

Thesis Statement: Includes a clear thesis statement that outlines the writer’s position on the topic.

Thesis and Evidence: Starts with a strong thesis statement and supports it with factual evidence, statistics, expert opinions, or logical reasoning.

Counterarguments: Addresses opposing viewpoints and provides rebuttals with evidence.

Logical Structure: Follows a logical structure with an introduction, body paragraphs presenting arguments and evidence, and a conclusion reaffirming the thesis.

Formal Language: Uses formal language and avoids personal anecdotes or emotional appeals.

Objective: Argumentative essays focus on presenting a logical argument supported by evidence, while narrative essays prioritize storytelling and personal reflection.

Purpose: Argumentative essays aim to persuade and convince the reader of a particular viewpoint, while narrative essays aim to engage, entertain, and share personal experiences.

Structure: Narrative essays follow a storytelling structure with character development and plot, while argumentative essays follow a more formal, structured approach with logical arguments and evidence.

In essence, while both essays involve writing and presenting information, the narrative essay focuses on sharing a personal experience, whereas the argumentative essay aims to persuade the audience by presenting a well-supported argument.

Narrative Essay vs. Personal Essay

While there can be an overlap between narrative and personal essays, they have distinctive characteristics:

Storytelling: Emphasizes recounting a specific experience or event in a structured narrative form.

Engagement through Story: Aims to engage the reader through a compelling story with characters, plot, and a central theme or message.

Reflective: Often includes reflection on the significance of the experience and the lessons learned.

First-Person Perspective: Typically narrated from the writer’s viewpoint, expressing personal emotions and thoughts.

Plot Development: Focuses on developing a storyline with a clear beginning, middle, climax, and resolution.

Character Development: Includes descriptions of characters, their interactions, emotions, and growth.

Central Message: Conveys a central message, moral, or insight derived from the experience.

Personal Essay:

Exploration of Ideas or Themes: Explores personal ideas, opinions, or reflections on a particular topic or subject.

Expression of Thoughts and Opinions: Expresses the writer’s thoughts, feelings, and perspectives on a specific subject matter.

Reflection and Introspection: Often involves self-reflection and introspection on personal experiences, beliefs, or values.

Varied Structure and Content: Can encompass various forms, including memoirs, personal anecdotes, or reflections on life experiences.

Flexibility in Structure: Allows for diverse structures and forms based on the writer’s intent, which could be narrative-like or more reflective.

Theme-Centric Writing: Focuses on exploring a central theme or idea, with personal anecdotes or experiences supporting and illustrating the theme.

Expressive Language: Utilizes descriptive and expressive language to convey personal perspectives, emotions, and opinions.

Focus: Narrative essays primarily focus on storytelling through a structured narrative, while personal essays encompass a broader range of personal expression, which can include storytelling but isn’t limited to it.

Structure: Narrative essays have a more structured plot development with characters and a clear sequence of events, while personal essays might adopt various structures, focusing more on personal reflection, ideas, or themes.

Intent: While both involve personal experiences, narrative essays emphasize telling a story with a message or lesson learned, while personal essays aim to explore personal thoughts, feelings, or opinions on a broader range of topics or themes.

A narrative essay is more than just telling a story. It’s also meant to engage the reader, get them thinking, and leave a lasting impact. Whether it’s to amuse, motivate, teach, or reflect, these essays are a great way to communicate with your audience. This interesting narrative essay guide was all about letting you understand the narrative essay, its importance, and how can you write one.

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Narrative Essay

Narrative Essay Examples

10+ Interesting Narrative Essay Examples Plus Writing Tips!

People also read

Narrative Essay - A Complete Writing Guide with Examples

Writing a Personal Narrative Essay: Everything You Need to Know

Best Narrative Essay Topics 2023 for Students

Crafting a Winning Narrative Essay Outline: A Step-by-Step Guide

Many students struggle with crafting engaging and impactful narrative essays. They often find it challenging to weave their personal experiences into coherent and compelling stories.

If you’re having a hard time, don't worry! 

We’ve compiled a range of narrative essay examples that will serve as helpful tools for you to get started. These examples will provide a clear path for crafting engaging and powerful narrative essays.

So, keep reading and find our expertly written examples!

• 1. Narrative Essay Definition
• 2. Narrative Essay Examples
• 3. Narrative Essay Examples for Students
• 4. Narrative Essay Topics
• 5. Narrative Essay Writing Tips

Narrative Essay Definition

Writing a narrative essay is a unique form of storytelling that revolves around personal experiences, aiming to immerse the reader in the author's world. It's a piece of writing that delves into the depths of thoughts and feelings. 

In a narrative essay, life experiences take center stage, serving as the main substance of the story. It's a powerful tool for writers to convey a personal journey, turning experiences into a captivating tale. This form of storytelling is an artful display of emotions intended to engage readers, leaving the reader feeling like they are a part of the story.

By focusing on a specific theme, event, emotions, and reflections, a narrative essay weaves a storyline that leads the reader through the author's experiences. 

The Essentials of Narrative Essays

Let's start with the basics. The four types of essays are argumentative essays , descriptive essays , expository essays , and narrative essays.

The goal of a narrative essay is to tell a compelling tale from one person's perspective. A narrative essay uses all components you’d find in a typical story, such as a beginning, middle, and conclusion, as well as plot, characters, setting, and climax.

The narrative essay's goal is the plot, which should be detailed enough to reach a climax. Here's how it works:

• It's usually presented in chronological order.
• It has a function. This is typically evident in the thesis statement's opening paragraph.
• It may include speech.
• It's told with sensory details and vivid language, drawing the reader in. All of these elements are connected to the writer's major argument in some way.

Before writing your essay, make sure you go through a sufficient number of narrative essay examples. These examples will help you in knowing the dos and don’ts of a good narrative essay.

It is always a better option to have some sense of direction before you start anything. Below, you can find important details and a bunch of narrative essay examples. These examples will also help you build your content according to the format. 

Here is a how to start a narrative essay example:

Sample Narrative Essay

The examples inform the readers about the writing style and structure of the narration. The essay below will help you understand how to create a story and build this type of essay in no time.

Here is another narrative essay examples 500 words:

Narrative Essay Examples for Students

Narrative essays offer students a platform to express their experiences and creativity. These examples show how to effectively structure and present personal stories for education.

Here are some helpful narrative essay examples:

Narrative Essay Examples Middle School

Narrative Essay Examples for Grade 7

Narrative Essay Examples for Grade 8

Grade 11 Narrative Essay Examples

Narrative Essay Example For High School

Narrative Essay Example For College

Personal Narrative Essay Example

Descriptive Narrative Essay Example

3rd Person Narrative Essay Example

Narrative Essay Topics

Here are some narrative essay topics to help you get started with your narrative essay writing.

• When I got my first bunny
• When I moved to Canada
• I haven’t experienced this freezing temperature ever before
• The moment I won the basketball finale
• A memorable day at the museum
• How I talk to my parrot
• The day I saw the death
• When I finally rebelled against my professor

Need more topics? Check out these extensive narrative essay topics to get creative ideas!

Narrative Essay Writing Tips

Narrative essays give you the freedom to be creative, but it can be tough to make yours special. Use these tips to make your story interesting:

• Share your story from a personal viewpoint, engaging the reader with your experiences.
• Use vivid descriptions to paint a clear picture of the setting, characters, and emotions involved.
• Organize events in chronological order for a smooth and understandable narrative.
• Bring characters to life through their actions, dialogue, and personalities.
• Employ dialogue sparingly to add realism and progression to the narrative.
• Engage readers by evoking emotions through your storytelling.
• End with reflection or a lesson learned from the experience, providing insight.

Now you have essay examples and tips to help you get started, you have a solid starting point for crafting compelling narrative essays.

However, if storytelling isn't your forte, you can always turn to our essay service for help.

Our writers are specialists who can tackle any type of essay with great skill. With their experience, you get a top-quality, 100% plagiarism-free essay everytime.

So, let our narrative essay writing service make sure your narrative essay stands out. Order now!

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What is a Narrative Essay — Examples, Format & Techniques

I was in the Amazon jungle the first time I wrote a narrative essay, enlightened and enraptured by the influence of ayahuasca. That’s not true. I’ve never been to South America nor have I ever taken ayahuasca. The purpose of that opening is to show how to craft a narrative essay intro — hook, line, and sinker. Narrative essays rely on hooking the reader, and enticing them to read on. But what is a narrative essay? We’re going to break down everything you need to know about these essays — definition, examples, tips and tricks included. By the end, you’ll be ready to craft your own narrative essay for school or for publication.

What’s a Narrative Essay?

First, let’s define narrative essay.

Narrative essays share a lot of similarities with personal essays, but whereas the former can be fictional or non-fictional, the latter are strictly non-fictional. The goal of the narrative essay is to use established storytelling techniques, like theme , conflict , and irony , in a uniquely personal way.

The responsibility of the narrative essayist is to make the reader feel connected to their story, regardless of the topic. This next video explores how writers can use structural elements and techniques to better engage their readers. 

Personal Narrative Essay Examples With Essay Pro

Narrative essays rely on tried and true structure components, including:

• First-person POV
• Personal inspiration
• Focus on a central theme

By keeping these major tenets in mind, you’ll be better prepared to recognize weaknesses and strengths in your own works.

NARRATIVE ESSAY DEFINITION

What is a narrative essay.

A narrative essay is a prose-written story that’s focused on the commentary of a central theme. Narrative essays are generally written in the first-person POV, and are usually about a topic that’s personal to the writer. Everything in these essays should take place in an established timeline, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. 

Famous Narrative Essay Examples

• Ticker to the Fair by David Foster Wallace
• After Life by Joan Didion
• Here is a Lesson in Creative Writing by Kurt Vonnegut

Narrative Writing Explained

How to start a narrative essay.

When you go to sleep at night, what do you think of? Flying squirrels? Lost loved ones? That time you called your teacher ‘mom’? Whatever it is, that’s what you need to write about. There’s a reason those ideas and moments have stuck with you over time. Your job is to figure out why.

Once you realize what makes a moment important to you, it’s your job to make it important to the reader too. In this next video, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker J. Christian Jensen explains the power of the personal narrative. 

Narrative Writing and the Personal Narrative Essay  •  Video by TEDx Talks

Anything and everything can be the topic of your essay. It could be as benign as a walk to school or as grandiose as a trip to the moon — so long as that narrative exists within reality. Give your thoughts and opinions on the matter too — don’t be afraid to say “this is what I think” so long as it’s supported by storytelling techniques. Remember, never limit yourself as a writer, just keep in mind that certain topics will be harder to make engaging than others.

Narrative Essay Outline

How to write a narrative essay.

First step, game plan. You’re going to want to map out the story from beginning to end, then mark major story beats in your document.

Like all stories, your narrative essay needs a clear beginning, middle, and end. Each section should generally conform to a specifically outlined structure. For reference, check out the outline below.

Narrative Essay Format  •  How to Write a Narrative Essay Step by Step

Make sure to reference back to this outline throughout the writing process to make sure you have all your major beats covered.

Purpose of narrative essay writing

Narrative essays give writers the ability to freely express themselves within the structure of a traditional story. Nearly all universities ask applicants to submit a narrative essay with their formal application. This is done for two reasons: they allow institutions to judge the linguistic and grammar capabilities of its applicants, as well as their raw creative side.

If you’re considering studying creative writing in an undergraduate or graduate program, then you’re going to write A LOT of narrative style essays. This process may seem indomitable; How am I supposed to write hundreds of pages about… me? But by the end, you’ll be a better writer and you’ll have a better understanding of yourself.

One thing that all successful essayists have in common is that they make radical, often defiant statements on the world at large. Think Ralph Waldo Emerson, Virginia Woolf, and Langston Hughes for example.

Being a professional essayist isn’t easy, and it’s near-impossible to be one who makes a lot of money. Many essayists work as professors, editors, and curriculum designers as well. 

This next video features the late, award-winning essayist Brian Doyle. He explains all the things you need to hear when thinking about writing a story.

Narrative Essay Examples “Lecture” via Boston University

We can learn a lot from the way Doyle “opens” his stories. My favorite is how he begins with the statement, “I met the Dalai Lama once.” How can we not be interested in learning more? 

This brings us all the way back to the beginning. Start with a hook, rattle off the line, then reel in the sinker. If you entice the reader, develop a personal plot, and finish with a resolute ending, you’ll have a lot of success in essay writing. 

 Up Next

Narrative essay topics.

We've curated a collection of narrative essay topics that will spark your creativity and bring your experiences to life. Dive into the rich tapestry of your memories, explore the unique threads of your life, and let your narrative unfold.

Up Next: Narrative Essay Topics →

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Narrative Essay Guide

Narrative Essay Outline

Last updated on: Feb 9, 2023

How to Write a Narrative Essay Outline - Tips & Examples

By: Nathan D.

Reviewed By: Melisa C.

Published on: Jun 2, 2020

A narrative essay is a type of academic essay in which the writer narrates a story. It is the most commonly assigned form of academic writing. Students have to face the narrative essay writing task quite often, so it is essential to know how to handle it. 

A narrative essay is a story, so it's important to know how to write one. The best way to start your outline is by brainstorming ideas.

Who are the characters? What do they want? How does this conflict with their goals and who wins in the end?

There are many different types of essays you can write about, but all will have some sort of conflict. Once you've figured out the basics, be creative! You could explore an event that happened in your life or tell a fictional story.

In this blog, you’ll learn to write an outline for a narrative essay with examples. Start reading!

On this Page

A  narrative essay  is a type of academic essay in which the writer narrates a story. It is the most commonly assigned form of academic writing. Students have to face the narrative essay writing task quite often, so it is essential to know how to handle it.

Narrative Essay Outline Format

The narrative essay outline follows the standard structure. Like other types of essays, this essay normally follows a typical 5 paragraph essay format. The 5 paragraph outline includes one introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and one conclusion paragraph.

However, unlike other essays, the paragraphs of the narrative essay have specifically designated purposes:

1. Introduction Paragraph:  Gives an insight into the story

2. First Body Paragraph:  Discuss the rising action

3. Second Body Paragraph:  Present the climax of the story

4. Third Body Paragraph:  Provide the falling action

5. Conclusion Paragraph:  Discussion of the lesson learned from the story

Paragraph Narrative Essay Outline Template

Let's look at the detailed 5 paragraph narrative essay outline for college students.

How to Write a Narrative Essay Outline?

A narrative essay is all about sharing the stories. Therefore, you need to organize your story into an essay format. As a writer, you are supposed to tell a story from your personal experience and why you are sharing that specific experience. Later, you need to discuss why this story or experience is important to share.

Let's look at how to craft an outline for a narrative essay. Follow the steps in the same sequence, and at the end, you’ll get a perfect outline. The writing process will become less stressful and daunting if you follow the steps given below.

1. Write the Introduction

The introduction paragraph is meant to engage the reader with the story. The first paragraph plays the most crucial role in making an impression on the reader’s mind. It allows you to share your perspective and how it relates to you. The following elements are involved in writing a strong narrative essay introduction.

• Create a Hook Statement  Draw the reader in with an intriguing and attention-grabbing hook statement. Create a strong hook that makes your reader want to read further. You can use a quote, rhetorical question, or fact to create a persuasive hook statement.
• Set the Scene:  Give your reader an idea of what is going to happen. Do not tell the whole story; just give a glimpse into it and keep your reader intrigued. Tell the reader how the points of the story relate to you.
• Define the Thesis Statement:  Finally, tell your reader what your story is all about with the help of a thesis statement. Give a sneak peek of what is about to come but avoid telling the lesson you have learned from the situation yet; just give a hint.

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2. Draft the Body Paragraphs

The main body of a narrative essay is the most important part because it tells the whole story. This is where you state the facts, provide examples, give details, and guide the reader through the plot. According to the five paragraphs essay structure, it has three body paragraphs, but it can depend on the length and word count.

Below elements must be kept in mind while writing the narrative essay body paragraphs:

• Write Chronologically:  The timelines of a story should be presented in chronological order. Otherwise, the reader will get confused, and it becomes hard for them to understand the story. To keep your paper organized, you should present things in sequential order.
• Share the Relevant and Vivid Details:  As a narrative essay is all about creating a mood and scene to follow, do that creatively. Set up the story with descriptive and concise language. Provide the reader with the most important details of your story. These details may include the characters, setting, plot, and the onset of the story.
• Avoid Narration Deviation:  The narrative essay is usually written in the first person unless you share someone else’s story. The third-person narrative only works best when you are telling a story you heard from someone else.

3. Write a Compelling Conclusion

The conclusion paragraph is the final section of the essay where you give some final comments about the story. Summarize your essay and connect your reader back to the story. Follow these steps to write an impressive conclusion.

• Restate Some Key Details:  Restate the thesis statement and some key details you have shared in the body. It will help you connect your reader with your story.
• Share the Lesson:  Stress the lesson you have learned from the story and leave the reader with something to think about.
• Call to Action:  In the end, provide a call to action that convinces the reader to think more about the topic.

Narrative Essay Outline Worksheet

Use the given worksheet below to write a narrative essay with ease.

Narrative Essay Outline Example

Here are some  narrative essay examples  and samples for your convenience. Use these templates and learn to write a good narrative essay easily.

Narrative Essay Outline for Middle School

College Narrative Essay Outline

Personal Narrative Essay Outline Template

Descriptive Narrative Essay Outline

Literacy Narrative Essay Outline

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However, if you still have some concerns about writing a perfect outline, you can contact our essay writers. 5StarEssays.com is a legit and reliable ‘ write my essay for me? ’ service that provides you with highly qualified and professional writers.

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Literature, College Essay

Nathan completed his Ph.D. in journalism and has been writing articles for well-respected publications for many years now. His work is carefully researched and insightful, showing a true passion for the written word. Nathan's clients appreciate his expertise, deep understanding of the process, and ability to communicate difficult concepts clearly.

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• Narrative Essay - An Ultimate Guide With Examples & Topics

• Narrative Essay Topics - Best Topic Ideas for Your Essay

• Narrative Essay Examples: Samples & Tips

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How to Write a Narrative Essay Step by Step

Essay writing comes in various styles, many of which do not demand extensive research. One such style is the narrative essay, which combines personal storytelling with academic reflection. Unlike other essay types, narrative essays are not bound by strict requirements or the need for a bibliography. They feature a more flexible structure, creative language, and a singular focus: to tell a story.

This genre provides a special opportunity for writers to connect with readers on a personal level. By sharing personal experiences and reflections, authors engage their audience emotionally while imparting meaningful messages or lessons. In the sections that follow, our custom term paper writing experts will delve into different aspects of narrative writing, from selecting a topic to structuring your essay effectively.

What Is a Narrative Essay

A narrative essay, as the name suggests, is characterized by the presence of a narrative. Unlike argumentative essays, which present and defend a position, or analytical essays, which dissect another text, narrative essays tell a coherent story. Their goal is to convey a point or impart a lesson through personal experiences. These essays are frequently assigned in high school and for college admissions.

An effective narrative essay generally follows a chronological sequence of events and exhibits three main traits:

• Centers on one main idea.
• Utilizes specific details to illustrate that idea.
• Adheres to a clear sequence of events.

Structurally, a narrative essay resembles short stories, featuring vivid descriptions, plots, characters, and discussions. However, there are key differences. These essays focus on a central theme or argument and conclude decisively, whereas short stories often leave readers with a more abstract moral or message.

A narrative essay is typically written in the first person and follows a standard format with an introduction, body, and conclusion. In contrast, short stories can adopt various formats and may not adhere to the same structured approach.

What is the Purpose of a Narrative Essay

No matter what you write — fiction, non-fiction, memoir, biography — grasping narrative writing helps you connect with your reader, giving them a glimpse of your world. Here, we outline its key purposes:

• Academic Assignments: They fulfill requirements for school assignments, allowing students to demonstrate their understanding and creativity.
• Self-Reflection: As a key purpose of a narrative essay, this type of writing enables individuals to reflect on personal achievements or significant events, fostering introspection and self-awareness.
• Professional Endeavors: They are used when applying for jobs or scholarships, showcasing one's communication skills, experiences, and character.
• Literary Analysis: Narrative storytelling is employed in analyzing literature, providing a medium to explore themes, characters, and storytelling techniques.
• Cultural Exploration: They facilitate the exploration of different cultures, allowing individuals to share insights and experiences from diverse perspectives.
• Creative Expression: These essays offer a means of expressing oneself creatively, weaving personal narratives into compelling stories.
• Communication of Messages: Through storytelling, narrative writing conveys messages or lessons, engaging readers and imparting wisdom or insights.
• Engagement: Above all, these essays connect with the audience on a personal level, fostering empathy, understanding, and emotional resonance.

Meanwhile, if you’re willing to describe your life in greater depth, our guide on how to write an autobiography might be just what you need!

How to Write a Narrative Essay in 5 Steps

Writing a narrative essay is a unique process compared to other types of school essays. Rather than analyzing topics or defending a position, it focuses on sharing personal experiences through storytelling. By following a few straightforward steps, you can transform your ideas into an engaging narrative.

Step 1: Start with a Topic Selection

When crafting a narrative essay, begin by selecting a topic that either relates to your personal experiences or aligns with a given prompt. If a prompt is provided, consider its requirements and brainstorm ideas that fit within its scope.

As you brainstorm, jot down key moments or points you want to include in your essay. Evaluate how each point will fit into the overall structure of your narrative and ensure it adheres to any word count limits.

Think about the tone and style you wish to adopt. Will your essay be reflective, humorous, or something else? Consider incorporating specific stylistic elements, such as repeated phrases or cliffhanger endings, to enhance your storytelling and engage your reader.

Remain flexible throughout this process. As you explore different ideas, be open to tweaking your topic, tone, and style to better suit your narrative.

For more inspiration and to skip the brainstorming phase, check out a ready-made Narrative Essay Topic list!

Step 2: Make a Clear Outline

Once you have your topic, it's time to draft your narrative essay outline. This outline serves as a blueprint, guiding you in crafting a coherent and engaging story. Start by pinpointing the main points you wish to address, such as pivotal moments or insights gained, and allocate each to a separate paragraph to maintain a clear sequence.

Your outline should help you structure the flow of your narrative, planning out the sequence of events and the level of detail to include. For example, if your essay is about a memorable trip, your outline might start with a paragraph setting the scene, followed by paragraphs describing key experiences and interactions, and concluding with reflections on how the trip impacted you.

When outlining your conclusion, think about how to effectively wrap up your story by summarizing the main events and the significance they hold. For a more systematic approach, make sure to check out how to write an essay conclusion .

Step 3: Write Your Narrative Essay

Using your outline as a guide, now, it's time to start writing a narrative essay.  Remember that narrative essays provide you with a creative outlet, so feel free to break away from the constraints of traditional academic writing styles. Captivating the reader and giving your narrative life should be your main goals.

Tip 💡 Use first-person : Infuse your essay with personal authenticity and engagement by embracing pronouns like 'I' and 'me'.

Tip 💡 Employ storytelling techniques : Draw upon the techniques employed in fiction and creative nonfiction, such as dialogue and symbolism, to enrich your narrative and captivate your audience.

Tip 💡 Demonstrate, don't merely state : Instead of blandly presenting facts, immerse your reader in your narrative by employing vivid descriptions and sensory details.

Tip 💡 Remain authentic: Preserve the integrity of your voice and experiences. Candidly share your thoughts and emotions to ensure your narrative essay resonates as genuine and relatable.

Step 4: Don't Forget to Revise

After completing your initial draft, it's essential to revise and polish your essay. Begin by taking a break to refresh your perspective before returning with a clear mind - this is one of the best tips for writing a narrative essay!

When revisiting your essay, carefully review it to ensure logical coherence and flow. Address any inconsistencies or narrative gaps, refining your essay for improved clarity. Pay attention to elements such as tense, point of view, and narrative voice throughout.

Step 5: Proofread Your Writing

Now that you understand how to end a narrative essay, don’t forget to dedicate time to meticulous proofreading to catch any lingering errors or typos. Pay close attention to formatting and citation style, if applicable.

Sharing your essay with trusted individuals such as friends, family, or educators can provide valuable feedback and fresh insights. Incorporate the feedback received, along with your own observations from the revision process, to strengthen the impact and effectiveness of your essay. 

Narrative Essay Topics: The List 

Let's go back to the topics and give you some handy, ready-made options. Sure, you can think of ideas on your own, but we can lend a hand with these suggestions before you commit to the writing process.

• Reflecting on earning my first degree: a pivotal milestone in my life.
• The most awful dish I’ve ever tasted: my unforgettable tale.
• How a personal experience changed my attitudes and actions.
• The worst exam experience I’ve ever had: a harrowing tale.
• Encountering something eerie: a chilling moment in my life.
• Fond memories of summer vacations during my childhood.
• The story of a heroic act that saved someone's life.
• My top tunes: songs that resonate deeply with me.
• The origins and meanings of my nicknames.
• The superpower I wish I had and why.
• A lecture that profoundly changed my perspective.
• Does my school prioritize digital skills for students?
• Great summer reads for book lovers: my top suggestions.
• The music genres and melodies that reflect my tastes and emotions.
• Passions and interests that drive my aspirations.
• My ultimate guide to spending Sundays efficiently.
• Questions and curiosities about how the world works.
• Values and principles I'd risk my life for.
• How much do I follow global current events?
• Steps I’ve taken to achieve my dream job.

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Narrative Essay Examples

For inspiration on your upcoming essay, check out these excellent samples from our essay writer . Use them as a guide to help craft your own story, ensuring that your unique voice and experiences come through in your work.

If sharing your personal stories is not your cup of tea, you can buy essays online from our expert writers, who will customize the paper to your particular writing style and tone.

Final Recap

Now that you understand what makes a narrative essay tick, you're probably itching to write your own standout piece. Let our skilled research paper writing service lend you a hand! We're here to offer personalized services tailored to your needs. By providing value with flexible pricing and quick turnaround times, we'll bring your narrative to life together!

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What Is A Narrative Essay?

How to start a narrative essay, how to write a good narrative essay.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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Ultimate guide to writing a five paragraph essay.

Are you struggling with writing essays? Do you find yourself lost in a sea of ideas, unable to structure your thoughts cohesively? The five paragraph essay is a tried-and-true method that can guide you through the writing process with ease. By mastering this format, you can unlock the key to successful and organized writing.

In this article, we will break down the five paragraph essay into easy steps that anyone can follow. From crafting a strong thesis statement to effectively supporting your arguments, we will cover all the essential components of a well-written essay. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned writer, these tips will help you hone your skills and express your ideas clearly.

Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering the Five Paragraph Essay

Writing a successful five paragraph essay can seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach and strategies, it can become much more manageable. Follow these steps to master the art of writing a powerful five paragraph essay:

• Understand the structure: The five paragraph essay consists of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph serves a specific purpose in conveying your message effectively.
• Brainstorm and plan: Before you start writing, take the time to brainstorm ideas and create an outline. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure that your essay flows smoothly.
• Write the introduction: Start your essay with a strong hook to grab the reader’s attention. Your introduction should also include a thesis statement, which is the main argument of your essay.
• Develop the body paragraphs: Each body paragraph should focus on a single point that supports your thesis. Use evidence, examples, and analysis to strengthen your argument and make your points clear.
• Conclude effectively: In your conclusion, summarize your main points and restate your thesis in a new way. Leave the reader with a thought-provoking statement or a call to action.

By following these steps and practicing regularly, you can become proficient in writing five paragraph essays that are clear, coherent, and impactful. Remember to revise and edit your work for grammar, punctuation, and clarity to ensure that your essay is polished and professional.

Understanding the Structure of a Five Paragraph Essay

When writing a five paragraph essay, it is important to understand the basic structure that makes up this type of essay. The five paragraph essay consists of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Introduction: The introduction is the first paragraph of the essay and sets the tone for the rest of the piece. It should include a hook to grab the reader’s attention, a thesis statement that presents the main idea of the essay, and a brief overview of what will be discussed in the body paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs: The body paragraphs make up the core of the essay and each paragraph should focus on a single point that supports the thesis statement. These paragraphs should include a topic sentence that introduces the main idea, supporting details or evidence, and explanations or analysis of how the evidence supports the thesis.

Conclusion: The conclusion is the final paragraph of the essay and it should summarize the main points discussed in the body paragraphs. It should restate the thesis in different words, and provide a closing thought or reflection on the topic.

By understanding the structure of a five paragraph essay, writers can effectively organize their thoughts and present their ideas in a clear and coherent manner.

Choosing a Strong Thesis Statement

One of the most critical elements of a successful five-paragraph essay is a strong thesis statement. Your thesis statement should clearly and concisely present the main argument or point you will be making in your essay. It serves as the foundation for the entire essay, guiding the reader on what to expect and helping you stay focused throughout your writing.

When choosing a thesis statement, it’s important to make sure it is specific, debatable, and relevant to your topic. Avoid vague statements or generalizations, as they will weaken your argument and fail to provide a clear direction for your essay. Instead, choose a thesis statement that is narrow enough to be effectively supported within the confines of a five-paragraph essay, but broad enough to allow for meaningful discussion.

By choosing a strong thesis statement, you set yourself up for a successful essay that is well-organized, coherent, and persuasive. Take the time to carefully craft your thesis statement, as it will serve as the guiding force behind your entire essay.

Developing Supporting Arguments in Body Paragraphs

When crafting the body paragraphs of your five paragraph essay, it is crucial to develop strong and coherent supporting arguments that back up your thesis statement. Each body paragraph should focus on a single supporting argument that contributes to the overall discussion of your topic.

To effectively develop your supporting arguments, consider using a table to organize your ideas. Start by listing your main argument in the left column, and then provide evidence, examples, and analysis in the right column. This structured approach can help you ensure that each supporting argument is fully developed and logically presented.

Additionally, be sure to use transitional phrases to smoothly connect your supporting arguments within and between paragraphs. Words like “furthermore,” “in addition,” and “on the other hand” can help readers follow your train of thought and understand the progression of your ideas.

Remember, the body paragraphs are where you provide the meat of your argument, so take the time to develop each supporting argument thoroughly and clearly. By presenting compelling evidence and analysis, you can effectively persuade your readers and strengthen the overall impact of your essay.

Polishing Your Writing: Editing and Proofreading Tips

Editing and proofreading are crucial steps in the writing process that can make a significant difference in the clarity and effectiveness of your essay. Here are some tips to help you polish your writing:

1. Take a break before editing: After you finish writing your essay, take a break before starting the editing process. This will help you approach your work with fresh eyes and catch mistakes more easily.

2. Read your essay aloud: Reading your essay aloud can help you identify awkward phrasing, grammar errors, and inconsistencies. This technique can also help you evaluate the flow and coherence of your writing.

3. Use a spelling and grammar checker: Utilize spelling and grammar checkers available in word processing software to catch common errors. However, be mindful that these tools may not catch all mistakes, so it’s essential to manually review your essay as well.

4. Check for coherence and organization: Make sure your ideas flow logically and cohesively throughout your essay. Ensure that each paragraph connects smoothly to the next, and that your arguments are supported by relevant evidence.

5. Look for consistency: Check for consistency in your writing style, tone, and formatting. Ensure that you maintain a consistent voice and perspective throughout your essay to keep your argument coherent.

6. Seek feedback from others: Consider asking a peer, teacher, or tutor to review your essay and provide feedback. External perspectives can help you identify blind spots and areas for improvement in your writing.

7. Proofread carefully: Finally, proofread your essay carefully to catch any remaining errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting. Pay attention to details and make any necessary revisions before submitting your final draft.

By following these editing and proofreading tips, you can refine your writing and ensure that your essay is polished and ready for submission.

Tips for Successful Writing: Practice and Feedback

Writing is a skill that improves with practice. The more you write, the better you will become. Set aside time each day to practice writing essays, paragraph by paragraph. This consistent practice will help you develop your writing skills and grow more confident in expressing your ideas.

Seek feedback from your teachers, peers, or mentors. Constructive criticism can help you identify areas for improvement and provide valuable insights into your writing. Take their suggestions into consideration and use them to refine your writing style and structure.

• Set writing goals for yourself and track your progress. Whether it’s completing a certain number of essays in a week or improving your introductions, having specific goals will keep you motivated and focused on your writing development.
• Read widely to expand your vocabulary and expose yourself to different writing styles. The more you read, the more you will learn about effective writing techniques and ways to engage your readers.
• Revise and edit your essays carefully. Pay attention to sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. A well-polished essay will demonstrate your attention to detail and dedication to producing high-quality work.

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Volkswagen Is Investing Up To $5 Billion In Rivian

The two are also forming a software joint venture. The partnership between the young California EV maker and a global auto giant may position both to better compete with Tesla and Chinese rivals.

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Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume, left, and Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe

Upstart electric vehicle maker Rivian said Volkswagen is investing up to $5 billion in the electric vehicle maker and that the two companies are forming a joint venture to develop an automotive software platform based on Rivian technology. Collaborating with one of the world’s biggest automakers could also help Rivian reduce some of its component and materials costs.

Rivian shares, which rose about 9% on Tuesday, jumped more than 50% to $18.49 in after-hours Nasdaq trading.

“Initially, we are investing $1 billion in Rivian and are planning further investments of up to $4 billion,” CEO of Volkswagen Group Oliver Blume said in a media call. “The additional investments will take place through 2026,” assuming the partnership achieves specific technical milestones, he said, without elaborating.

Support for the Irvine, California-based electric vehicle maker from one of the world’s automotive giants — combined with its ongoing relationship with Amazon , its biggest investor and top buyer of its electric delivery trucks — may help ensure that Rivian launches its next products, the midsize R2 electric SUV and compact R3 crossover , on time. The new funds could also help it resume construction of its Georgia plant, mothballed early this year as a cost-saving measure.

The Rivian R3 electric crossover will arrive sometime after the company's new R2 SUV debuts in 2026.

Importantly, the partnership also positions Rivian to better compete with Elon Musk’s Tesla , as the leading EV maker aims to pivot its business model from selling ever greater numbers of vehicles to operating a robotaxi business .

The 50-50 tech venture between the companies, which doesn’t yet have a name, will focus on integrating infotainment, wireless connectivity and autonomous driving functions, among other things, Blume said. Rivian’s “zonal” hardware design and integrated technology platform will be the foundation for the new software platform the companies will share.

“Key for these types of collaborative relationships to work in our view is that there's mutual benefit to both sides,” said RJ Scaringe, Rivian’s founder and CEO. “The scale that Volkswagen brings, the portfolio of outstanding brands that they bring, the opportunity to apply that scale to achieve meaningful cost savings across our build of materials and across our business, coupled with the ability to drive the acceleration of this technology to more products on the Volkswagen side — it really is highly complementary.”

Volkswagen’s initial $1 billion investment is being made through a convertible note offering. An additional investment of up to $2 billion in Rivian’s stock is to take place in two portions of $1 billion each in 2025 and 2026, the companies said. Another $2 billion will come in the form of a cash payment when the new venture company begins operating and a loan in 2026.

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• Ray Kurzweil on how AI will transform the physical world

The changes will be particularly profound in energy, manufacturing and medicine, says the futurist

B Y THE TIME children born today are in kindergarten, artificial intelligence ( AI ) will probably have surpassed humans at all cognitive tasks, from science to creativity. When I first predicted in 1999 that we would have such artificial general intelligence ( AGI ) by 2029, most experts thought I’d switched to writing fiction. But since the spectacular breakthroughs of the past few years, many experts think we will have AGI even sooner—so I’ve technically gone from being an optimist to a pessimist, without changing my prediction at all.

After working in the field for 61 years—longer than anyone else alive—I am gratified to see AI at the heart of global conversation. Yet most commentary misses how large language models like Chat GPT and Gemini fit into an even larger story. AI is about to make the leap from revolutionising just the digital world to transforming the physical world as well. This will bring countless benefits, but three areas have especially profound implications: energy, manufacturing and medicine.

Sources of energy are among civilisation’s most fundamental resources. For two centuries the world has needed dirty, non-renewable fossil fuels. Yet harvesting just 0.01% of the sunlight the Earth receives would cover all human energy consumption. Since 1975, solar cells have become 99.7% cheaper per watt of capacity, allowing worldwide capacity to increase by around 2m times. So why doesn’t solar energy dominate yet?

The problem is two-fold. First, photovoltaic materials remain too expensive and inefficient to replace coal and gas completely. Second, because solar generation varies on both diurnal (day/night) and annual (summer/winter) scales, huge amounts of energy need to be stored until needed—and today’s battery technology isn’t quite cost-effective enough. The laws of physics suggest that massive improvements are possible, but the range of chemical possibilities to explore is so enormous that scientists have made achingly slow progress.

By contrast, AI can rapidly sift through billions of chemistries in simulation, and is already driving innovations in both photovoltaics and batteries. This is poised to accelerate dramatically. In all of history until November 2023, humans had discovered about 20,000 stable inorganic compounds for use across all technologies. Then, Google’s GN o ME AI discovered far more, increasing that figure overnight to 421,000. Yet this barely scratches the surface of materials-science applications. Once vastly smarter AGI finds fully optimal materials, photovoltaic megaprojects will become viable and solar energy can be so abundant as to be almost free.

Energy abundance enables another revolution: in manufacturing. The costs of almost all goods—from food and clothing to electronics and cars—come largely from a few common factors such as energy, labour (including cognitive labour like R & D and design) and raw materials. AI is on course to vastly lower all these costs.

After cheap, abundant solar energy, the next component is human labour, which is often backbreaking and dangerous. AI is making big strides in robotics that can greatly reduce labour costs. Robotics will also reduce raw-material extraction costs, and AI is finding ways to replace expensive rare-earth elements with common ones like zirconium, silicon and carbon-based graphene. Together, this means that most kinds of goods will become amazingly cheap and abundant.

These advanced manufacturing capabilities will allow the price-performance of computing to maintain the exponential trajectory of the past century—a 75-quadrillion-fold improvement since 1939. This is due to a feedback loop: today’s cutting-edge AI chips are used to optimise designs for next-generation chips. In terms of calculations per second per constant dollar, the best hardware available last November could do 48bn. Nvidia’s new B 200 GPU s exceed 500bn.

As we build the titanic computing power needed to simulate biology, we’ll unlock the third physical revolution from AI : medicine. Despite 200 years of dramatic progress, our understanding of the human body is still built on messy approximations that are usually mostly right for most patients, but probably aren’t totally right for you . Tens of thousands of Americans a year die from reactions to drugs that studies said should help them.

Yet AI is starting to turn medicine into an exact science. Instead of painstaking trial-and-error in an experimental lab, molecular biosimulation—precise computer modelling that aids the study of the human body and how drugs work—can quickly assess billions of options to find the most promising medicines. Last summer the first drug designed end-to-end by AI entered phase-2 trials for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease. Dozens of other AI -designed drugs are now entering trials.

Both the drug-discovery and trial pipelines will be supercharged as simulations incorporate the immensely richer data that AI makes possible. In all of history until 2022, science had determined the shapes of around 190,000 proteins. That year DeepMind’s AlphaFold 2 discovered over 200m, which have been released free of charge to researchers to help develop new treatments.

Much more laboratory research is needed to populate larger simulations accurately, but the roadmap is clear. Next, AI will simulate protein complexes, then organelles, cells, tissues, organs and—eventually—the whole body.

This will ultimately replace today’s clinical trials, which are expensive, risky, slow and statistically underpowered. Even in a phase-3 trial, there’s probably not one single subject who matches you on every relevant factor of genetics, lifestyle, comorbidities, drug interactions and disease variation.

Digital trials will let us tailor medicines to each individual patient. The potential is breathtaking: to cure not just diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s, but the harmful effects of ageing itself.

Today, scientific progress gives the average American or Briton an extra six to seven weeks of life expectancy each year. When AGI gives us full mastery over cellular biology, these gains will sharply accelerate. Once annual increases in life expectancy reach 12 months, we’ll achieve “longevity escape velocity”. For people diligent about healthy habits and using new therapies, I believe this will happen between 2029 and 2035—at which point ageing will not increase their annual chance of dying. And thanks to exponential price-performance improvement in computing, AI -driven therapies that are expensive at first will quickly become widely available.

This is AI ’s most transformative promise: longer, healthier lives unbounded by the scarcity and frailty that have limited humanity since its beginnings. ■

Ray Kurzweil is a computer scientist, inventor and the author of books including “The Age of Intelligent Machines” (1990), “The Age of Spiritual Machines” (1999) and “The Singularity is Near” (2005). His new book, “The Singularity is Nearer: When We Merge with AI”, will be published on June 25th.

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By invitation june 22nd 2024, vladimir putin’s war against ukraine is part of his revolution against the west.

From the June 22nd 2024 edition

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Sarah Becker, 'The Real World: Miami' Star, Dead at 52

Mtv's 'the real world' alum sarah becker dead at 52, 'the bear': jeremy allen white shares daughters' reaction to fans calling him 'chef' (exclusive), jonathan jackson is making his 'general hospital' return as lucky spencer, sika anoa'i, roman reigns' father and wwe hall of famer, dead at 79, katy perry sports 100-yard train dress for paris fashion week, britney spears' relationship with sons headed in 'right direction' after estrangement, sabrina carpenter gets sweet revenge on fan who said 'please please please' was a 'fumble', 'bridgerton' author julia quinn defends francesca's gender-swapped love story, corinne foxx reveals moment that secured dad jamie's stamp of approval on fiancé joe (exclusive), lupita nyong'o reveals her dream co-star in a romantic comedy (exclusive), see celine dion suffer intense seizure in new doc, kevin costner makes 'horizon' premiere a family night with son hayes, travis kelce ranks his favorite taylor swift songs, 'the notebook's allie, gena rowlands, battling alzheimer's disease, 'maxxxine' director ti west on possibility of more 'x' movies (exclusive), steve martin and martin short roast each other, watch 'orphan' star isabelle fuhrman's full-circle moment at 'horizon' premiere (exclusive), jeremy renner goes shirtless, shows off snowplow accident scars, jamie campbell bower confirms vecna's return in 'stranger things' final season (exclusive), giancarlo esposito calls mcu role a 'jumping off point' (exclusive), shifty shellshock, crazy town frontman and 'butterfly' singer, dead at 49, sarah becker, who appeared on 'the real world: miami' in 1996, reportedly died of an apparent suicide..

Sarah Becker, who starred in MTV's  The Real World: Miami  in 1996, has reportedly died of suicide, her family told  TMZ . She was 52. 

According to the outlet, Becker had been struggling with mental health issues in recent years after moving from California to Illinois to take care of her ailing mother and sister. She had also suffered a skateboarding accident, which is believed to have added to her struggles, her family said. 

Becker appeared on season five of The Real World , which took place in Miami, Florida. At the time, she was 25 and working in the comic book industry. 

After news broke of her death, MTV released a statement to ET, which reads, "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sarah Becker. Our hearts go out to her family and friends in this time of grief."

Becker's Real World co-stars also began speaking out. 

Co-star Flora Alekseyeun posted the news, writing, "I am beyond myself and sad to just hear that my roommate Sarah died. I can’t believe this . She was the most selfless person I knew. She was always kind and helpful to everyone. I haven’t spoken to her in years and never knew she was troubled. My prayers go out to her family. RIP my roommate, my friend. May you skate with angels and never feel pain again #therealworldmiami."

Dan Renzi posted on social media , saying he had "not spoken" to Becker since the show ended, but shared his condolences. 

"The seven of us in that cast went through a bizarre, intense, and sometimes traumatic experience together, and that creates a connection between people, even when they choose to not associate with each other," he wrote. "I can only say, it's very sad." 

Fellow cast member Cynthia Roberts posted to her Instagram Story, writing, "RIP Roomy. I pray there's happiness for you on the other side." 

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to  suicidepreventionlifeline.org .

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How Biden’s New Immigration Policy Works

The new policy will give some 500,000 people a pathway to citizenship.

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By Hamed Aleaziz

President Biden’s new immigration policy protects some 500,000 people who are married to U.S. citizens from deportation and gives them a pathway to citizenship.

The election-year move comes just two weeks after Mr. Biden imposed a major crackdown at the U.S.-Mexico border, cutting off access to asylum for people who crossed into the United States illegally.

The policy announced on Tuesday is aimed at people who have been living in the United States for more than a decade and have built their lives and families here.

Here is how it works:

Why do the spouses of American citizens need protection?

Marrying an American citizen generally provides a pathway to U.S. citizenship. But people who crossed the southern border illegally — rather than arriving in the country with a visa — must return to their home countries to complete the process for a green card, something that can take years. The new program allows families to remain in the country while they pursue legal status.

Who is eligible?

There are roughly 1.1 million undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens in the United States, according to Fwd.us , an immigration advocacy group, but not all of them are eligible for the program.

The spouses must have lived in the United States for 10 years and have been married to an American citizen as of June 17. They cannot have a criminal record. Officials estimate that the policy will provide legal status and protections for about 500,000 people. The benefits would also extend to the roughly 50,000 children of undocumented spouses who became stepchildren to American citizens.

When will the program take effect?

Biden administration officials said they expected the program to start by the end of the summer. Those eligible will then be able to apply for the benefits.

Why is President Biden doing this now?

Mr. Biden is trying to strike a tricky balance on immigration, which is a serious political vulnerability for him. Polls show Americans want tougher policies. Just two weeks ago, Mr. Biden announced a crackdown on asylum at the southern border.

His new policy, giving hundreds of thousands of immigrants new legal protections, is a way for him to answer the calls from the progressive base of the Democratic Party, which has accused the White House of betraying campaign promises to enact a more humane approach to immigrants.

Hamed Aleaziz covers the Department of Homeland Security and immigration policy. More about Hamed Aleaziz