Personal Narrative Writing Packet with Brainstorming and Graphic Organizer

Now includes personal narrative examples and editing checklists! Personal narratives are challenging for many students because they don't follow a particular structure. This 14-page planning packet guides students through the writing process, from brainstorming to listing out characters, settings, sequenced events, and sensory details. After writing a draft, students can use the included checklists for revision, proofreading, and publishing. You can choose to print all pages or just the ones that fit your students’ needs. Additionally, you may choose to use the 5 included mentor texts as example personal narratives.

This resource includes:

• Cover Page: This page defines a personal narrative with examples and non-examples.
• Brainstorming: This page gives space for students to write down 5 ideas of experiences that could serve as the subject of their personal narrative. If students have trouble coming up with ideas, check out Personal Narrative Writing Prompts. If students struggle to narrow down and choose an idea, check out Topic Selection Graphic Organizer (which will also come in handy for future writing assignments!).
• Setting and Characters: This graphic organizer asks students to plan out the who, where, and when of their personal narrative.
• Outline: On this page, students will create an outline of the beginning, middle, and end of their narrative. They will also reflect on lessons learned.
• Sensory Details: This graphic organizer asks students to describe the things they saw, heard, smelled, tasted, and/or felt during their experience. Five example sentences are provided.
• Emotions: This page explains the importance of emotions in a personal narrative and gives an extensive list of emotions for students to consider. Students should circle, underline, or highlight emotions they experienced during their story.
• First Draft: Three lined pages are provided for students to draft on paper. With the rise of AI writing tools, many teachers are requiring students to write by hand. You may choose not to use these pages if you have other plans.
• Dialogue: On this page, students can read two excerpts from personal narratives with strong use of dialogue. Then, they can revisit their draft and identify places to incorporate dialogue. Additional space is provided for students to write new dialogue.
• Revise: This page provides 8 creative writing tips and asks students to look over their draft and identify places their writing would benefit from these tips. They can make these changes in their next draft. This page could also be used for peer editing.
• Proofreading: This checklist gives concrete items for students to address in their writing, such as spelling and punctuation, as well as additional items such as word choice, consistency, and flow. Teachers may choose to re-teach or otherwise address these skills through the writing assignment while students proofread.
• Finalize and Publish: This checklist gives 6 final items for students to check before they declare their work done. It also asks students to consider ways they could share their writing with others.

• Mentor Texts: This resource includes five example personal narratives for students to read. You may choose to use them for teaching specific skills such as dialogue and sensory details, or you may just have them available for students who are stuck.

In addition to the brand-new version updated in 2023, this resource includes the original 2016 version, which is simpler. I chose to include this version because I know many teachers have been using it for years and may want to stick with what they know.

Do your students need need ideas for what to write about? Check out Personal Narrative Writing Prompts: 25 Ideas for Narrative Story Topics!

Happy teaching!