What is a Narrative Essay? How to Write It (with Examples) | Paperpal


Although you’re required to tell the full story in writing a narrative essay, that is not what a narrative essay is limited to. A for example can fall under the category of what is a narrative essay. The aim of a book report is to inform the reader and not necessarily tell its story.


We recommend freewriting as preparation for your narrative essay, but in completing the assignment, you can’t just be writing aimlessly! A good narrative has a point, a lesson, or some important takeaway for the readers. Finding what your essay’s purpose is will help you write the best narrative essay.

Narrative essays aren’t the only type of essay that requires a purpose. In other words, your purpose is similar to your thesis statement and it acts as the core of your essay. When in doubt as you write a narrative essay, ask yourself what you aim to achieve by writing it and what you aim to share with your readers.

How to Write a Narrative Essay in 5 Steps - Grammarly

Your readers are most likely to finish your narrative essay from start to finish when it is not only engaging, but is clear, meaningful, and complete. A full story includes an introduction, a plot, a complete set of characters, a setting, a climax, and a conclusion. Without all these elements, you risk losing the attention of your readers. Not only that, but if this is an assignment, your narrative essay might be considered incomplete.

There are many perspectives to choose from when writing a narrative essay that isn’t limited to the main character or the author. Whether you’re choosing a first, second, or third-person perspective and choose to be more creative, make sure your chosen perspective is clear to the readers and easy to follow. A clear point of view is easier to read, understand and ultimately enjoy.

When reading a viewpoint type of narrative essay, it’s important to consider that the perspective could be skewed. Because readers are following the perspective of another, it could be unreliable and biased. An example of a narrative essay that uses viewpoint narrative is Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita. The narrator in the story has his own agenda which glosses over the realities of the plot.

A good narrative essay is heavily dependent on your choice of words. Similar to a descriptive type of essay. According to , the effectiveness of a narrative essay is based on your ability to choose words in a careful, particular, and artful way. Certain words and phrases can bring out specific emotions, reactions, and even senses from your readers.


What is a Narrative Essay — Examples, Format & Techniques

As opposed to a linear type of narrative writing, the non-linear type of essay does not present the story or events in chronological order. For example, the author might jump through the timeline going from present to past and back during the narration.

How To Write a Narrative Essay in 5 Steps (With Definition) - Indeed

You can easily set the tone of your narrative essay with a clear introduction. By following the proper structure of a narrative essay, you can ensure the organization and quality of your essay. It is imperative to let your readers know early on what your objectives are and what your purpose is. Narrative essays are what they are because they inform the reader instead of leaving questions answered and keeping them guessing.

How to Write a Narrative Essay: Definition, Format & Outline

Because of the linear telling of the sequence of events, this type of narrative essay shows causation clearly. The chronological order of events easily shows a pattern through cause and effect which is the purpose of this type of essay.

How to write a narrative essay [Updated 2024] - BibGuru Blog

As both writer and narrator, you are in charge of which direction the essay goes. Regardless of the route you choose, make sure your readers can follow the lead.

How to Write a Narrative Essay Step by Step - EssayPro 🖊️

“Linear” here refers to the proper sequence of events that transpire in the story being narrated. The events in your narrative essay’s plot follow the exact order in which they happened. Often known to be typical of realist fiction, examples of a linear narrative essay unfold similarly to how a character lives their life. Day by day, month by month, or year by year.

English Research: Narrative Essay - Miller F. Whittaker Library

When asked “what is a narrative essay?”, states that its purpose is to inform or tell a story. To do so, the writer takes the role of storyteller and narrator and describes people, scenes, and events. We know that the sequence of telling the plot can either take a chronological or non-chronological order, can be somewhat informal, and can include some dialogue.