Tips and

Pitfalls
For the Literacy Narrative
Have an engaging attention getter
This will most likely be done through an anecdote.

“Although my literacy experiences ultimately have shaped who I am today, they

were not entirely positive.”
“I never thought to think that playing cornerback in high school football was a form
of literacy, but the reflection of my experiences taught me differently.”
“My mother always told me that I was going to become a doctor. Although her
intentions were good, I was never interested in that career path.”
A quote may also be effective. Is anyone doing anything else?
Have a strong thesis statement
Your thesis statement should contain your 2-3 literacy experiences and how they relate to your
happiness. This should be explicit, not a mystery, and I shouldn’t have to guess what they are.

“My essay will examine my experiences of literacy, specifically my ability to create websites and
my time in debate club, and how these experiences shaped my life for the better.”

“While my teacher calling on me to read in class was not entirely positive due to my stutter,
getting lost in a world of books after class helped me find a sanctuary.”

“Although my parents had good intentions, forcing me to play the violin and receive after
school tutoring only made me rebel against them.”

Your thesis statement should be at the end of your first paragraph.

Organize effectively
• Focus on specific events.
• Have a sense of time or progression throughout your narrative.
• Include details and description. Put the reader in the moment and the
scene.
• Your narrative should have an introduction, a conclusion, and appropriate
body paragraphs. Try to transition between body paragraphs. Avoid cliché
transitions. Your conclusion can simply restate your thesis statement and
end with final reflections, most likely summing up who you are today
based on your literacy experiences. It may examine the future.
• Do not write one large paragraph. Format to MLA conventions. A narrative
should be written in first-person perspective (I). Avoid second person (you)
and third person unless it is necessary. Remember, this is your story, so tell
it through your perspective.
Questions?
Questions can be about anything.
How can I help?
Activity
• Read through your narrative. When finished, switch with
someone and read through their narrative.
• 1. Is the attention getter engaging? How does the writer
draw in the audience?
• 2. Does the author have a thesis statement? Underline it.
Does it contain 2-3 literacy experiences and a reflection on
happiness?
• 3: Is the paper organized effectively for a reader? Is the
paper developed into appropriate paragraphs? Is it
formatted to MLA conventions? Does the author write only
in first-person perspective? Are there transitions between
paragraphs?