The structure of academic essays is not that different from each other. The outline is likely to be the same for narrative, argumentative, descriptive, and expository essays. However, the content needs to be changed according to the type of essay that you are about to write.
Those who are unaware of academic writing standards often get confused when they get an essay assignment. However, constructive essay help can alleviate the nervousness and complete the task efficiently.
In this article, you will explore 10 suggestions to make your narrative essay exactly according to academic standards without losing the main point.
- Start with A Story or A Memory
You have to begin a narrative essay with a defining point that can help grab the reader’s attention. You can use anything that can help make the start catchy. The use of relevant quotes, facts, and anecdotes is a great way to turn heads at the beginning.
- Make Sure That the Setting in The Story Is Clear
A quick, easy way to do this is to mention who you or any other characters are, where you are, what time it is, etc. right at the beginning of your narrative essay. This will keep things simple for your audience while still being descriptive enough to paint an accurate picture in their mind’s eye of what’s going on.
- Write About People You Know
Try discussing a person or an event that happened to you or someone else that you witnessed.
If you’re writing about an event that happened to you, you must describe everything as accurately and thoroughly as possible. Details like how the sun looked at a certain time of day or the smell of freshly cut grass can make your piece more vivid for your audience.
- Try to Avoid Using Simple Words
Skip the use of simple words (e.g., ‘said, ‘go’) when possible; instead, opt to use more descriptive verbs (e.g., whisper, sprint).
The more detail you include in your narrative essay, the easier it will be for your audience to imagine what’s going on in your head, what actually happened, etc. Write just the way you manage your budget by taking simple notes.
- Use Dialogue Sparingly but Effectively
Make sure your audience can distinguish between characters by their actions, thoughts, or dialogue alone without having to label who is saying what every time they speak; use italics for thoughts.
Try not to have too many conversations going on at the same time so it doesn’t become confusing for your audience as to who’s talking to whom about what because of all the other details you’re including.
Dialogue should only be included if it helps shed light on something, accomplishes something, or adds another dimension to your piece that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.
- Make Sure Your Tone Always Remains Consistent
Try not to go from funny to serious within one piece unless it is clear that you are transitioning between two different events.
It’s okay to make your narrative essay funny or light-hearted (e.g., in a story about how you learned how to ride a bike), but just remember not to go too over the top with this kind of tone. If you’re writing about an event that was pretty serious or emotional, tie it up with something more somber such as sadness or regret.
- Create A Clear Thesis Statement
Write an effective thesis statement that acts as the foundation for your essay after the intro paragraph; make sure there are at least three supporting details before getting into your main argument.
Make sure you have an objective in mind when writing your narrative essay so you have a sense of where you want things to go. Think about what you want your audience to take away from the story after they’ve finished reading it, and include that in your thesis statement.
- Ensure That All of Your Ideas Follow One Another Logically
Narrative essays are stories, so be sure that everything is written in chronological order; if you’re including dialogue or describing events simultaneously, put them side-by-side so the events don’t appear out of nowhere to your audience.
- Keep Sentences Flowing Smoothly
You can make it happen by using transitional words and phrases (e.g., consequently, however) and linking ideas across paragraphs.
It’s okay to have separate topics within your narrative essay but make sure your sentences are long enough to make the transition between them smooth, easy to navigate, and clear.
- Start with A Hook So Readers Know Why They Should Keep Reading
Everyone starts stories differently; some people like to get straight into the action while others prefer setting up some kind of foreshadowing or mystery. You can experiment with both if you want, but be sure that whatever strategy you choose is effective and grabs your audience’s attention from the get-go.
Ending Remarks
When writing a narrative essay, it can be helpful to remember that detail and description play an important role in making your story come alive for your audience.
Make sure you’re using an appropriate amount of detail throughout the piece; if you’re including too many unnecessary details, trim them down so that they don’t detract from your writing.
Don’t forget to proofread! A great narrative isn’t just well-written but error-free too. Before you move on to submit your assignment, make sure it does not include any sort of errors or omissions.
