For homework you read about narration, and you did some practice exercises. A narration is simply a story, and people tell stories to each other all the time. As your book states, there are four important aspects to a good narration:
- It reveals something important about you--this is your main point.
- It includes all the major events (primary support).
- It has details that bring the story to life (secondary support).
- It presents the events in an order that is clear and easy for the reader to follow.
When writing a narrative, it is important to lead the reader from one event to the next. There is a list of good transition words on page 128 of your book. Many of those words are used in the sample paragraph below.
The first time I tried ice skating, it was a disaster. Some friends dragged me out to Delaware Park lake on a cold January day. They already owned skates, but I needed to rent some. Although they told me to lace my skates up tight, I didn't understand that they meant really tight--like too tight. So when I tried to stand up, my ankles wobbled all over, and I fell before I was even on the ice! I tightened my skates up a lot, and then at least I could stay upright on land. After that, there was nothing to do but face the ice. One friend was already out on the lake at least 50 feet, and another glided out smoothly, making everything look easy. One stayed behind to guide me. I tentatively put one foot on to the ice, and it felt like nothing under the blade of my skate, like I had stepped out on to air, and it was scary. I put my other skate onto the ice, and there I was, feeling suspended on nothing. I tried to glide, but gliding is not nearly as easy as my friends made it look. My glides turned into slips, flops, and crashes again and again. Sometimes I'd be getting up from a fall, and I'd slip and fall back down before I could even stand up! That was the worst because it made everyone laugh, even me. Finally, after a long time, I managed to glide more than a few steps without falling. Everyone applauded, but of course they were doing turns and easy spins--showoffs!
The first time I tried wakeboarding was a terrible experience. We went on vacation to a lake house we rented in the U.P. of Michigan. We brought our boat and my brother brought his wake boarding gear along with his friends. We got on the lake, and all the older kids on the boat were doing it and were very good at it. I wanted to be just like them. When the older kids were tired, it was my turn to try. I was determined to get up and be behind that boat doing it, but I couldn’t get up. It didn’t help that I had my older brother and all his friends in the boat yelling out to me trying to give me advice on what to do. I realized my weight was too far over my boat, and I kept falling forward while trying to get up. It took me awhile to correct my mistake, but after many falls I finally got it. I was up behind the boat wakeboarding. It was a lot of fun and for the rest of the trip to the lake house I was out there every day determined to get as good as my older brother and his friends. I still wakeboard to this day, and I have gotten a lot better I am able now to do jump the wake and do spins and flips.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI remember my first cross country race like no other race I've done. It was a hot Saturday morning, and I was very nervous for my first cross country race in high school. I was so scared, and I couldn't stop the feeling of my heart wanting to jump out of my chest. I remember I wasn't sure what to expect during the race. Our team did our warm up together, and my captain gave me a talk before the race started. She told me that I would do great, and I shouldn’t be too nervous. I then started to walk to the line where the race began. I was trying not to be nervous, but I was thinking of every possible situation that could happen to ruin the race. When I was standing at the line, it felt like I was waiting for hours. I was being very impatient. When the gun went off, I felt a rush going through my brain and my legs were running faster than I imagined. The course ended up being easier than I expected at least. At the end of the race, I sprinted as fast as I possibly could. I was trying to beat the girl who was next to me the whole race. When we both sprinted down the hill I thought for sure I would finish before her. But I was wrong. She ended up going faster than I could. Even though the other girl finished before me in the race, I was still very proud of myself.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I sky dived I thought I would never live to see another day. When I was about 12 years old, my oldest brother and his wife made my niece, nephew and I to Six Flags great America. After scaring me on a roller coaster my sister in-law thought it would be a great idea to sky dive! I right then and there thought “oh no” absolutely not. The next thing I knew I was in a line waiting to get suited up to go “flying”. Standing there waiting was just as scary. Knowing I had no choice, I swallowed hard and kept going. After I had this gear put on me, I was dragged away by my sister in-law and niece to go to the platform to get ready to launch. Eventually I was strapped down and on my way into the air. During my pull up they made sure and told me that I needed to keep my legs straight on the leg bar at all times. When we finally got to the top of the pull line my sister in-law laughed at me for being so scared. Meanwhile I hung high above the ground looking down, envisioning my life flashing before me. Next thing I knew I was instructed to pull the rip cord. Without thought, I did. As I was flying I realized I love the feeling and laughed for being so scared. Soon I was on the ground with both feet planted firmly. Even though I knew I was safely down, I still had a really uneasy feeling inside. Now I looked at my family laughed and thanked them for the experience and told them “I’ll do that again any day!” they laughed, smiled and we went on with our day with many more roller coasters!
ReplyDeleteThe first time I tried cooking, everything went wrong. Few years back my mom went to Mexico for vacation. So nobody was cooking in my house. One day I was so hungry and I was too lazy to go to buy something. I decided to cook. It was a horrible decision. First, I never cooked before. Second, I didn’t know where to start. I managed to try to make some pancakes. I went to the refrigerator to get all the ingredients. I mixed the flour, eggs and milk together. While I was mixing I realized that I needed more milk because the mix was too thick. Now the mix was to thin so I just left it as it was. Finally I was ready to cook but I realized that I had no butter to put to the pan. So I used oil instead of butter. Soon I smelled something burned, the pancake was burning. Last I tried not to put any oil to the pan. The pancake started to look good. When I was ready to take off the pancake from the pan, the pancake was stuck to the pan. I was so disappointed with myself. Finally I realized that cooking was not a very good choice for me.
ReplyDeleteEyoel Hailu
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time I came to the United States as if it was just yesterday. I was just about turning 9 years old. It was a cold, windy day in April. All of the trees had no leaves on them; I had never seen anything like it. Where am from its always warm so when I got here I couldn’t stand the cold weather. My aunt had given my mom and me some flowers in the airport and when we had gone outside and the wind blew it right out of my hands. I just couldn’t wait till we got to my aunt’s house and out of the cold weather. When I got to the house I took a hot shower and put on something warm and comfortable. I hated not being allowed to go outside and play soccer or something; I stayed mostly in the house until I started school. After a while I got used to everything and it started getting warm.
The first time I went horse racing it was fantastic! My girlfriend’s mother asked me to tag along; I figured it would be an adventure because I’ve been there before, plus my girlfriends son Dacian and I got to watch the horses as they came from the tunnel entering the winner’s circle. We went to Arlington Park and as soon as I got there I wanted to place a bet on the horse number 4 because that’s my favorite number. My girlfriend was smiling really hard as her mother was leaving to go place the bets because she knew I was going to bet on that number regardless of the horse and jockey. The race started before her mother could even get back from placing the bets. Long story short is my horse came in first place. I was so excited I wanted to place a bet on that horse again but my girlfriend told me that I might not win again so I choose a different horse but that horse lost. I didn’t win an entire race after I won the first one when I arrived but over all I enjoyed myself and had a great time.
ReplyDeleteAriadna Chavez
ReplyDeleteThe first time I started driving, I was so nervous. When I got in the car to search for some paperwork, I remember putting the keys on the passenger’s seat. I got out the car so quick because my aunt was calling me to go help her out with something. But I didn’t realize I had locked the car doors right when I got out because I am so used to locking them and I had a very quick reaction. Now I pay more attention to things and check if I have everything I need before I step out anyplace, not only my car. Since I left the keys in the car one time I’m always checking if I have them with me before I step out of the car. Sometimes, being nervous causes me to do things in a hurry and make a mistake. Recently, my dad had also left the keys in the car but gladly my mom was at a store close to home and she had extra keys. I realized things like that can happen to anybody. But it’s still better to be cautious with things.
Zombies attacked me and killed my friends… And by Zombies I mean children.
ReplyDeleteThis past summer I was privileged enough to work at a summer camp this year called Riverwoods, and I was one of the Male Counselors .As Counselors, we were each given about 5-7+ boys to be completely responsible for the entire week, Monday morning till Friday afternoon. There are two boys’ cabins, each big enough to house 35-40 kids. One cabin was supposed to have 3 of the 5 rooms devoted to teenage boys, while the rest are for 12-6 year olds. On one end of the one of the cabins, my cabin, there’s an emergency exit door, that lets off a siren whenever it’s opened. Remember that, it’ll be important. During the first week we had, for some unknown reason, been given about 73 twelve and under boys. All of these children took up the two cabins, so the teenagers had to move into an old cabin that hadn’t been used in years.
If the kids weren’t at the cabin, like at lunch, at the park or doing any number of other activities, they were at the cabin. And whenever they were at the cabins, things got VERY hectic, VERY quickly. We would do small games with the kids in the cabin to get them tired out so when it was time for bed they would fall asleep quickly. But one day, a Thursday, we were playing Zombies with the kids, all of the 35+ kids in our cabin. All of them screaming and running around, sometimes jumping on us and performing attacks on us that they mirrored perfectly from WWE. But one kid was running from another zombie, and he ended up running to the back door and opening it.
WEEPWEEPWEEPWEEPWEEPWWWEEEEEPPPPPPP went the siren! The other counselors and I went to investigate the siren and how to turn it off. One of my other co-workers Khalil, had looked around at the confusion and concern on these kids’ faces, and immediately had an idea influenced by the zombie-game we just had with the kids.
Now Khalil, is a very laid back, introverted, composed guy, so when I saw his face explode with emotion it was one of the memorable moments of my whole life.
“GET ON THE GROUND! EVERYBODY GET ON THE GROUND!!” Khalil shouted! The other counselors looked at each other for a millisecond, and silently knew what to do. I shouted “THIS IS NOT A DRILL! EVERYBODY COME ON!”
All of the kids dropped to the ground like their lives depended on it (and in their minds they probably did). We started barking out to them how serious this was, and they we told them to get in their rooms and duck under the beds with their hands over their heads. All of the boys RAN into their rooms so fast it was hilarious! Kids that were in the showers got out so quick they were still wet and were dripping through their clothes.
We had managed to turn off the door alarm, and now all of the boys were in their rooms. It was dead-silent for about 2 minutes straight, my co-workers and I were trying so hard not to die laughing but we just couldn’t help ourselves. Then my other co-worker, Dan, got another idea. He started screaming in pain like he was being attacked and began pounding his fist on the wall like he was being hit. The other counselors and I did the same and soon all the kids poured out of their rooms, relieved there was no real danger and that we were all alright. The rest of the day went pretty mildly actually. But that afternoon was so fantastically hilarious I will ALWAYS remember it. It was without a doubt, one the biggest highlights of the year.
My first time roller skating. I remember me and the family went out to roller skate in the city and I was excited, the only thing going through my mind was how am I so excited about something that I have no clue about doing?. We all got in the car and took off. On the highway I told my mom I was very excited about the event that was about to happen but I can’t do it. I know absolutely nothing about roller skating. My mom laughed at the thought of my silly words and said you can do it. When we got there it was packed. I mean there were so many people I gave up as soon as I walked in. I said mom its too many people what if I slip and bust my lip. What if I fall and bring somebody that I don’t even know down with me. My mom said try to relax and just glide your way to the floor. I did as my mom told me and took my first step on the floor then my second I didn’t move. I was stuck. I didn’t even know how to push. How am I going to fall and don’t know how to push? I finally figured it out and actually that night I avoided very much the sight of anyone catching me on the floor. I had a great night that night; I also learned how to skate for my first time.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I went I got strapped into a roller-coaster seat, it was very freighting. My brother had dragged me on this roller-coaster and he knew I didn’t like roller-coasters. So we waited in line for about three hours and so when we finally get to the front of the line, he decides to pick the front car to sit in. So we get in the car and we get strapped in, all you hear over the intercom “hold on to the bar and don’t try to stand up or don’t put your arms out the side of the car. Thank you enjoy your ride.” My facial expression was extremely funny. My mouth just dropped and I was like “does he mean hang on to the bar at all times?” I was so scared. Next thing you knew we were off! We started off very fast and I just felt my heart drop, we were going you a incline and next thing you knew we stopped, I looked straight down and I saw my life flash before my eyes. I just closed my eyes and we dropped, going fast zooming around corners, it was the craziest feeling in my life. The ride did a couple more loops and I felt my heart drop a couple more times and then the ride was over. After it was all said and done and the ride was over with I really wanted to do it again. So from that day on, whenever I go to a park with roller-coasters, I ride them all.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I took a plane, I felt very nervous but excited. I got many advices what should I do while I’m on the plane, what to take with me, what to eat, etc. On the way to the airport, I was thinking, and picturing myself on the plane, watching movie, eating nice food and sleeping. So, when I got to the airport, I said goodbye to my family, who were worried about me traveling alone to a foreign country. Holding all my documents to travel like passport and my plane ticket dragging my suitcases, I went to queue to check in. While queuing, I felt nervous, butterflies in my stomach and got sweaty hands. Trembling and worried how to responds to the questions of the attending officer on the check in table; so I was practicing how to answer possible questions, like where am I going and where I am staying. Because in my country if they knew you are traveling abroad they are going to ask you many questions and if they noticed that you are lying they won’t let you board. When I get to the check in, the officer asked some questions and thanks to God I was able to answer it.
ReplyDeleteBefore boarding the plane, I had time to explore what’s inside the airport. Having myself calmed, and relaxed, so I won’t get tense when I get to the plane. I ate in a bar and I did a short shopping or window shopping. Roaming around the waiting area, and when I got to my waiting area I sat down and watched TV. It was an adventure for me.
Finally, after a couple of minutes waiting, I boarded in a very huge plane. I was amazed. Meanwhile, the attendant asked me what my seat number was. I showed her my boarding pass, led me to my chair and helped me to put my hand carry-on luggage into the cabin. She was very friendly and kind though. She made me feel very comfortable. While waiting I was observing what’s inside the plane, looking around and smiling to my co passengers. All of sudden I heard a voice saying to put the seatbelt, stay calmed and get relaxed. And I felt the plane was moving, slowly at first, and later on got really fast and I felt myself like flying. My hands were getting sweaty again and I felt like vomiting and dizzy. I just closed my eyes, listened to the noise of the plane and prayed that I won’t vomit. After a couple of minutes, I felt that the plane was getting smooth, I didn’t feel bumpy and it was like I was riding in a car. So, that was my first experience flying in a plane. This adventurous and exciting experience I had will never be forgotten.
On my winter vacation we went on a Europe tour which was amazing. First we went to Italy which is really nice country to visit its better when you have relatives there. It was fun going out with them. First we went to a restaurant for a breakfast later in the noon we went to see the park which was really big park. While we were playing there in the park with my cousins my uncle decided to go to the garden which was full of orange trees and there I saw trees full of oranges. After that we came back home. Next morning we had to leave for Rome. On the 25th of December we were there whole day and night. We saw all the Christmas celebration going in the church and we also took so many pictures. After a week we went to Spain and I was surprised to see the roads because there on roads they use elevators, which was new to me. Also I saw people who are body painted and doing some tricks and making money. That winter vacation was the amazing winter vacation I had.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first golfed, it was just a frustrating time for me. It was this summer, when my friends dragged me to a golf course. I never ever had experience hitting a golf ball, and my friends they always golf, so I was just expecting the worst out of me. My friends told me not to hit the ball like a baseball and of course I didn’t listen to them. So my first attempt I just completely missed. The second attempt I hit the ball but the distance was probably twenty yards away from me. As I saw my friends hit the ball over two-hundred yards, I started getting frustrated. My friends and I are really competitive so were trying to one up each other and that’s why I got so frustrated. So I attempt to hit the ball again, and I hit the ball and it literally travels five feet away from me. My friends just started to laugh at me. Now I just felt embarrassed. So I told myself, ok time to listen to my friends and do the form they told me to do so. So that’s what I did, and the third ball I hit, it just flew from my club, and I knew I hit it good. It didn’t go far but it was good enough for me and I surprised my friends that I was able to hit the ball up in the air. Now it’s one of my favorite hobbies to do.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I tried driving was one of the scariest moments of my life. I was hanging with my uncle a couple of days after my tenth birthday in his brand new Audi convertible. He was driving and turned to me and said” nick you’re about to become a man now and a man should know how to drive”. My uncle turned into this empty parking lot and says” get in the driver’s seat and I’m going to teach you how to drive”. I couldn’t believe he wanted me to drive; he just got this car and me being ten had never even sat in the driver’s seat of a car let alone driven one. I remember being so nervous sweating profusely, heart beating out of my chest but I couldn’t throw away the chance to drive for the first time so I manned up and got in. I got in the driver’s seat and he says” put on your seatbelt, check your mirrors, and start the engine”. Although I could still barely breathe being so nervous and all, I made sure to do exactly what he said. He then says “put your hands ten and two and push lightly on the pedal, and start driving. When I did this the car jerked and I took my foot off the pedal thinking I was about to die. He laughed and said” again but this time a little gentler.” So I did and started to get the hang of things and proceeded to drive around the entire parking lot without a care in the world. I looked at my uncle and he looked back at me and said just a few words that stuck with me to this day,” Now you’re a man”. I was like a kid in a candy store thinking I could drive anywhere and do anything; I love my uncle for giving me that opportunity. I will never forget that day for as long as I live.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I went paintballing, I came home as a piece of artwork. I had always heard about how paintballing hurt a lot, and had seen the huge bruises it left. So, before I even went I was already a little scared to be shot by a paintball gun. I was about 12 when my dad asked my brother and I to go paintballing with him and even though I was scared out of my mind I said yes. I remember how the ride there seemed like it was lasting forever. I really was hoping my dad had gotten us lost so we’d turn around. Unfortunately he knew exactly where he was going and as we pulled up to this huge warehouse with Tri-City paintball on it, I knew there was no going back. As we got out of the car and were walking up to the front entrance, I was just looking skyward at the size of the building. Standing there holding the door, my dad was telling me to hurry up so, he could rent our equipment. Before we could start we had to watch a video on how our equipment worked and about safety. As I was sitting in that uncomfortable chair, my butterflies were all the way up in my throat and without knowing the video was over and the lights flicked on. We stood up and made our way to the table our equipment was on. I looked over at the battlefield we would be playing on and was just imagining getting lit up by the whole enemy team. I pulled my sweatshirt over my head thinking it would provide padding, pulled my mask down over my face and picked up my gun. Everything started to move in slow motion as we made our way to the battlefield. I could feel my adrenaline rush throughout my body. My heart started pounding faster and all I could hear was my own breathing. As my body was preparing itself for what was to come, I stepped on to the battlefield and made my way to the side my team was assigned to. Once everyone was to their sides and all guns were pointed behind us at the wall, I began to shake as the referee took his time before yelling GO! I ran straight forward and slid to a bunker that was right in front of me. Now all I heard was the popping as all the paintballs were bouncing off of my bunker. When they stopped I began returning fire, but the second I un-crouched SMACK! I got shot straight in the forehead and I fell on the ground. I was dazed by the pain, but slowly got back to my feet and pointed my gun in the air to signal I was out. I made my way out of the battlefield holding my forehead, over to where my dad and brother were waiting for me. They began to laugh, because when I got shot in the forehead the paint sprayed through my hair giving me a white Mohawk. After, that one time I sat out for the rest of the day and although it hurt I still enjoyed the day with my brother and dad.
ReplyDeleteI t was a cold autumn night, and my mom and I were walking around the block at night to chat about life . As it was getting darker we decided to sit on the stoop of our house. My body and mind were giving up on me, so I told my mom that I would be going inside to get my rest. I closed the front door then and my mom stayed in the stoop sitting alone thinking by herself about the same conversation we had been talking about. Suddenly a person approached from the shadows. My mom watched attentively at the actions of this person to judge if there was any danger surrounding her. As this person was getting closer and closer to my mom’s side she saw the face of a girl who looked to be a young teenager. The girl asked my mom if she could sleep over for the night, and my mom of course said yes to her, but my mom asked her why she was here all alone at night. The girl told my mom that her mom was a drug addict, and when she knocked on the door, her mom did not respond to open the door. She said that she was probably already drunk and asleep. My mom being a mom was worried about her situation so she asked her more questions. My mom asked her why she had arrived so late to her house, probably if she had been earlier she could of seen her mother, and she said that it was because her boyfriend that she had been with for three or so years wanted to rape her. Then my mom welcomed her in into my bedroom, I was already deeply asleep by the time she arrived. My mom asked her if she wanted to sleep in my bed next to me, and she replied no because I might wake up screaming in surprise, knowing that a stranger was sleeping right next to me.
ReplyDeleteMy first time going to Airport TSA security check point experience was the crazy time of entire life. I was on way to Chicago midway airport also I was flying to Orlando, FL with few of my family members, on bad and rainy early morning. While approaching TSA security check point where they was check for Id and boarding pass. I started to get nerves my mother said, “next my legs and hands where shake ,and then my entire body.” I tried to stay clams as possible is I can before I go to next the TSA security check point the one where scan your whole body, but I was so shocked how big this machine was I didn’t say a word to nothing no one. When TSA worker told me to step forward to the body scan take everything out my pocket immediately frozen like I was daydream. My brother and sister where standing looking at me also laughing say Towauna what you dreaming you hold up the line. Finally I close to last TSA check point put your electric devices in bins say okay to TSA worker. My face was so red when TSA worker drop my Toshiba laptop computer and I feel the blood running though my veins. I though, I was going to faint. My mother told me Towauna clams drown, put her arms around me don’t worry sweetheart going report this TSA worker I said ok. My eyes fill with tears I nodded crack side my laptop as open on the airplane, I was mad. I started to cry on plane until nodded we where so far from the runway begin look out the plane window seen that prepare for takeoff I set back close my eyes. The airplane takeoff so fast in air all I can see is clouds. As looking at my laptop computer again I started mad over again to I started to cry. I will never forget TSA security check point experience.
ReplyDelete