Writing Workshop: Narrative Writing Answers

Read the quotation from Henry David Thoreau’s Walden.Some of my pleasantest hours were during the long rain-storms in the spring or fall, which confined me to the house for the afternoon as well as the forenoon, soothed by their ceaseless roar and pelting; when an early twilight ushered in a long evening in which many thoughts had time to take root and unfold themselves. In those driving northeast rains which tried the village houses so, when the maids stood ready with mop and pail in front entries to keep the deluge out, I sat behind my door in my little house, which was all entry, and thoroughly enjoyed its protection.Which is the best example of a vivid sensory detail?

Read the introduction to Jorge’s personal narrative, “Goodbye, My Friend.” When I was in eighth grade, my best friend’s parents told us that their family was moving away at the end of the school year. When that time finally ___, I decided to ___ her a proper sendoff: a huge surprise party! I just ___ her to know how much all of her friends would miss her. I invited everyone in my grade and made them promise not to tell Rebekah. Fill in the blanks in order.

Look at the brainstorming web. A brainstorming web can be an important tool in narrative writing because

Read the introduction to Mila’s personal narrative, “True Lessons.” “Smile, Mila! Smile!” When my little sister was almost three years old, she would ___ this every day when I ___ in the door from school. Fill in the blanks in order. repeated . . . walk repeat . . . walked repeated . . . walked repeat . . . walk

Read the paragraph from Carmen’s personal narrative, “At Bat.”“Carmen Martinez, number 42.” I took a deep breath as my name rumbled through the loudspeaker. I was so nervous! With each step from the on-deck circle to the batter’s box, I thought my knees would give out and I would collapse. My stomach was in knots.One chance. I had one chance to help my team win this game so we could go to the state semifinals. I could hear the crowd cheering for me. “You got this!” they screamed. “You can do this!” I hoped I could.Which is the best example of a vivid sensory detail?

Read the first two sentences of Mina’s personal narrative, “My First Tryout.” When I was in ninth grade, I ___ out for the lacrosse team, even though I had never played before. My older sister had been a star goalie when she was my age, and I ___ to follow in her footsteps. Fill in the blanks in order.

Read the quotation from Henry David Thoreau’s Walden.Once it chanced that I stood in the very abutment of a rainbow’s arch, which filled the lower stratum of the atmosphere, tinging the grass and leaves around, and dazzling me as if I looked through colored crystal. It was a lake of rainbow light, in which, for a short while, I lived like a dolphin. If it had lasted longer it might have tinged my employments and life.Which is the best example of a vivid sensory detail?

Read the introduction to Joel’s personal narrative, “The Jazz Band.” I ___ for the school jazz band my freshman year, my sophomore year, and my junior year. I didn’t make it until I was a senior. That’s four tryouts! I ___ four nerve-racking tryouts, but it was worth it. Fill in the blanks in order.

Read the sentences.Sentence 1: We were inseparable.Sentence 2: So when Karim’s parents told us that they were moving across the country, we didn’t believe it, and we didn’t know how our friendship would survive.Sentence 3: Karim, Johan, and I had been best friends since the seventh grade.Sentence 4: Sometimes we’d spend entire weekends reading comic books and playing basketball.What is the most logical way to sequence these sentences to create a logical narrative?

All of the following are essential to a strong essay outline, EXCEPT