How To Structure A Biographical Narrative
A biographical narrative is a nonfiction account of life. In this type of writing, the description of a person is through the eyes of the writer. This type of narrative writing relies on concrete details, images, spoken words, sensory description, and actions. Through these narrative elements, writer is illuminated or chronicle perceptions of a memorable person. Find someone of interest that was or is currently in your life. Iwriteessay.com recommends the following outline when writing a biographical narrative:
Autobiographical Narrative Outline
1.First Paragraph
Write about the significance of this person in your life. Who is it? What relation he has to the topic, if any. Explain the usual information about them so the reader gets a good well-rounded picture of them.
2.Second Paragraph
Why did you choose this person? What did this person do that makes him/her a significant person in your life? You will need to provide the information and/or incident that illustrate and describe why you chose them.
3.Third Paragraph
What sort of impact has this person had on your life? Again, you may use an incident/event that helps you illustrate a particular point.
4. Fourth Paragraph
5. Conclusion
- Consider the voice, tone, and point of view aspects to communicate scenes that illustrate the subject’s importance.
- You may write your essay in first person, third person, or from an omniscient point of view. The narrative conveys the significance of the person, place, or event
Strategies of Developing a Narrative
1. Characterization
ü Use concrete details that create visual imagery.
ü Describe subject’s immediate environment, workplace, or living place.
ü Describe subject’s routines, habits, or typical activities.
ü Use dialogue, sayings, or verbal expressions.
ü Comparison or contrast to other people.
ü Assert or generalize about the subject’s character based on his or her actions.
ü Significance: State the significance explicitly
ü Give a history of the relationship between the writer and the subject.
ü Describe incidents that implicitly reveal the importance of that person.
ü Present details about the subject in such a way that there is a conveyance of the writer’s attitude toward the subject
2. Incident (s) to Support Characterization
ü Orient the reader to the incident (time, place, and context).
ü Use dialogue that moves the action.
ü Give names of people, objects, quantities, or numbers.
ü Describe specific narrative action (movement, gestures, or expressions).
ü Build tension through surprise or suspense.
ü Tone: Use a language that evokes a sense
ü Select details that convey a sense of the person’s significance.
ü Develop the incident chronologically.
ü Develop the incidents through a sequence of related anecdotes.