Each person has been in trouble at one time or another because he or she did something bad or said something wrong. Write a multi-paragraph narrative describing an instance when you did something you later regretted and the lesson you learned in the process.

A Meaningful Song

When you want to listen to music, you turn on the radio or your MP3 player, or take out one of your favorite CDs. Many times, listening to a particular song can bring back memories of a particular time, event, or person in your life. When you hear your favorite songs, what do you think of?

Write a story about the memories which one or more favorite songs bring to mind.

A Memorable Childhood Event

Think of a childhood event that you remember vividly. It might be the first time you rode on a school bus, the day you played in an important Little League game, the day you learned to ride a bike, or another memorable event.

Write a story about the event. Describe what happened and explain why it was so memorable. Tell your story in an interesting way to engage the reader. Remember to make sure the reader has enough details about your experience so he or she can picture it in his or her mind.

An Important Change

Think of a time in your life when something important changed. You may have moved to a new home, changed schools, or had neighbors move away, for example, or a local business may have closed its doors.

Write a narrative telling what happened when something important changed and how you felt about the changes that occurred.

An Important Choice

Write a narrative essay about a time you had to make an important choice.

Athletic Challenges

Most of us have strong memories of the first time we experienced an athletic challenge.

Write about your first attempt participating in any athletic activity. The activity may be one that looked easy but turned out to be a real challenge, or it might be one that came quite naturally to you. As you write, try to picture the time, place, people involved, and how you felt. Describe the experience in as much detail as possible. Be sure to tell why this experience was important to you and how it impacted your life.

Bad Things Lead to Good

We have all encountered bad situations in our lives that later turned out to lead to good things. Think of a time when a bad situation actually resulted in a good outcome. What happened? What did you learn from this experience?

Write a narrative about a bad situation that you have encountered that later turned out positively and what you learned from the experience.

Boy Reading

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Coming of Age

Recall a time in your life when a particular event changed the way you thought about a certain concept, which signaled your transition from childhood to adulthood. Use the texts supplied by your teacher, and/or other readings, as a guideline for using figurative language in coming-of-age stories. Then, using figurative language, write a personal narrative about your coming-of-age experience, and conclude with a reflection on that experience.

Couple with Bicycles (picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Create Your Own Fable

Aesop's fables use animals and fanciful settings to highlight different aspects of the human condition and to teach important moral lessons. If you were to create a modern-day fable, what characters would you use? What lesson would you teach?

In a detailed essay, create your own fable in which the characters must learn an important lesson about life. Be sure that your story contains all of the elements included in a meaningful fable.

Day with a Historical Person or Fictional Character

If you could spend one day with an historical person or a fictional character, who would it be? What would you do during your day together? Where would you go? What would you talk about?

Write a narrative essay describing where you and this person would go and what you and this person would do. Be sure to use details and evidence supporting your ideas.

Reprinted by permission from the California Department of Education, CDE Press, 1430 N Street, Suite 3207, Sacramento, CA 95814.

Facing Your Fears

Everybody is afraid of something. Some people may be afraid of certain places, such as a very tall building or a dark forest late at night. Other people might find themselves fearful of certain experiences, such as trying out for a sport or speaking in public. Still others may find themselves frightened by spiders or ferocious dogs.

Think about an experience in which you had to face one of your greatest fears. Write an essay in which you use concrete sensory details and images to describe your experience of facing this fearful situation. Did you learn anything by facing, or not facing, your fears?

Fortunato’s Version of "The Cask of Amontillado"

After reading “The Cask of Amontillado,” by Edgar Allan Poe, rewrite the story from the point of view of Fortunato. Include dialogue, description, and pacing to introduce the characters from his view, establish the situation, and describe events.

Having a Superpower for a Day

Imagine you were suddenly granted the superpower of your choice for a day. Consider which superpower you would want to have and what you would do on the day you had your special power.

Influenced by Power

Write an essay about a time when you were influenced by power.

Jet Window (picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Jumping to Conclusions

There were many times in history when people jumped to conclusions because they were afraid. Unfortunately, there are still times today when we prejudge based on fear or peer pressure.

In a multi-paragraph essay, discuss a time when you jumped to conclusions too quickly and made a bad decision because you were scared or felt pressured. Make sure to include specific details and examples to support your explanation.

Life Without Electricity

Suppose you woke up one morning and found that all the electricity in the country was off and would not be restored. What do you think life would be like?

Write a story about what you imagine would happen if you woke up in a world without electricity. Explain the setting and details of the experience. Tell your story in an interesting way to engage the readers. Remember to make sure the readers have enough details about your experience so they can picture it in their minds.

Love Story

"Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, it's what you are expected to give -- which is everything." – Anonymous

Write a narrative essay about a person you love and how this love has influenced who you are.

Middle of the Road (picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Positive Influence

Write an essay about someone who influenced you in a positive way.

Real Courage

Courage often enables people to face danger, fear, or change. Think of a time when you did something that took real courage. You might have taken a risk, stood up for something you believed was right, or did something that others thought you couldn't.

Write a narrative describing the event. Tell what happened and how the experience affected you.

The Value of Sacrifice

In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich. -- Henry Ward Beecher

Some people think that sacrificing something important for the well being of another is one of the strongest virtues a person can possess. By sacrificing, we learn much about ourselves and those around us.

Write a personal narrative in which you describe a time you had to sacrifice something important for someone else. What did you sacrifice? What made this action so special, and what lessons did you learn? Be sure to include specific details to support your narrative.

Time Spent with a Famous Person

You have been given the chance to spend a day with a famous person of your choosing. This person may be a character from a book, a movie, television or some other source. Why did you choose the person you did? Why is meeting with this person important to you?

Write a narrative about the time you spent with the famous person you have chosen.

Where I Grew Up

Some of the fondest memories we carry are those of the places where we grew up. These memories may be about the friends who lived in our neighborhood, the great times spent in our family home, or the important lessons we learned.

Write a narrative in which you describe the place where you grew up. What makes this place so special in your memory? Be sure to use specific details to make your recollection vivid to the readers.

Write a Creation Myth

All cultures have their own story of creation that describes the first appearance of people on Earth or of the people of their civilization. For example, the Navajo believe that the first beings crawled up through a reed from the three underworlds into the Fourth World , where the process of creating all living things began. These creation myths frequently involve deities and different materials, like swirling waters or mud, from which the earth is made. If you lived in an ancient civilization, how might you have believed that the earth was created? Would your creation myth involve deities, already existing animals or creatures, and mountains or volcanoes?

Write a myth as a member of an ancient civilization in which you describe how the earth and its creatures were created.

Pilot Prompts

A Life Experience That Demonstrates My Character (pilot)

Oftentimes, a particular experience can reveal a person’s character or help to shape it. Many experiences, such as participating in volunteer work, clubs, teams, or church-related events allow for opportunities to demonstrate or shape a person’s character.

Tell a story about an experience in your life that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.

A Time When You Offended Someone (pilot)

Think about a time when you offended another person. It may have been a comment that made someone feel inferior or excluded from your group, a strong opinion that you voiced without regard to others, or a judgment made about an issue that did not account for an individual's personal situation. If you have never been involved in a situation like this, create a scenario in which it has occurred. What happened and how did you deal with the situation?

Write a story that recounts a time, real or imagined, when you offended another person. Include specific details about what happened and explain how you dealt with the situation. Tell your story in an interesting way so the readers can picture the scenario in their minds.

An Encounter with "Character" (pilot)

"Character" is a word often used to refer to a person's integrity, but it is also used to describe an object or place that exhibits a certain charm or appeal. Some people might even say that an old building has "character," meaning that its design elements seem to have personality.

Write a narrative in which you encounter an object, building, or particular place that has "character." Use vivid details so that your readers will experience the charm or appeal you have identified.

Reprinted by permission from the California Department of Education, CDE Press, 1430 N Street, Suite 32 07 , Sacramento , CA 95814 .

Army Instead of Internment (pilot)

Imagine you are a young Japanese American citizen at the end of World War II. During the war, all California residents of Japanese descent were forcibly sent to internment camps. Many of the young adults had been given the option to join the Army or to move to the camps.

Write a first person narrative in which you describe your decision to join the Army. Limit your narrative to the 24 hour period in which you made the decision. Remember to convey the reasons for your decision by including dialogue, sensory detail, and figurative language.

Cleaning Up the Marsh (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Designing a Workout Program for Yourself (pilot)

If you were a personal trainer, what workout program would you design for yourself?

Figuring It Out (pilot)

Think of a time when you suddenly figured something out that you had not understood before. It might have been an idea in class or a skill in sports that you just could not get, for example.

Write a narrative telling about the events that led up to your moment of understanding and how you felt afterward.

Girl Climbing a Tree (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Handling an Offensive Incident (pilot)

Think about a time when you were offended by an incident or person. What thoughts and emotions did you experience during and afterward? How did you resolve the situation? Would you do anything differently if it happened again?

Write a story that recounts a time, real or imagined, when an incident or person offended you. Include specific details about what happened and explain how you dealt with the situation. Be sure to tell your story in an interesting way so the readers can picture the scenario in their minds.

Handling an Uncomfortable Situation (pilot)

There are times when we find ourselves in very uncomfortable situations. Arguably, one of the most uncomfortable situations is when negative racial comments and undertones are prevalent in a conversation. Think about a time when you felt uncomfortable as a result of someone talking negatively about race. Did you change the subject, confront the person, or engage in the conversation? What were the views of the others involved and how did those views impact the situation?

Write a story that recounts a time when you felt uncomfortable as a result of someone talking negatively about race. Include specific details about what happened and how the situation was handled or resolved. Be sure to tell the story in an interesting way so the readers can picture the scenario in their minds.

Happy Couple (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Human Impact on Earth's Ecosystems (pilot)

Write a narrative on what you have read or heard recently about the human impact on Earth's ecosystems. What do you think we can do to ensure that the natural systems will survive and be sustainable for the future?

Internment Instead of Army (pilot)

Write a first person narrative in which you describe your decision NOT to join the Army, but rather to go with your family to the internment camp. Limit your narrative to the 24 hour period in which you made the decision. Remember to convey the reasons for your decision by including dialogue, sensory detail, and figurative language.

Landfill Dwellers (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Liberty Enlightening the World (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Littered Beach (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Making Connections with "Yesterday" by the Beatles (pilot)

The Beatles' song "Yesterday" topped the charts when it was released in 1965; in fact, the song has remained popular through the years, with over 3,000 cover versions of the song recorded. Part of the reason it has remained so popular is that many people can relate to its theme. The singer longs for "yesterday" when all his "troubles seemed so far away." How can you relate the lyrics of this song to your own life? Have you longed for a simpler or more peaceful time where you felt carefree without any problems?

In a detailed narrative essay, make connections with "Yesterday" by the Beatles and your own life experiences. Discuss a time in your life that connects with the theme of the song. Provide details and examples to enhance your story, citing lyrics from the song when possible.

Malala Yousafzai’s Walk to School (pilot)

Malala Yousafzai grew up in the town of Mingora in the Swat District of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The daughter of a local education activist, Malala wrote a blog about her life under Taliban rule for the BBC when she was only eleven years old. Three years later, Malala had distinguished herself as an advocate for education for young women and was shot in the head and neck in an assassination attempt, while riding home on a school bus. She eventually recovered and in 2013 was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Write a well thought out narrative in the third person in which you describe Malala Yousafzai’s walk to school. Include the perspective of Malala and at least two other characters. Possible characters include her parents, a fellow classmate, or an antagonist on the street. Remember to capture the significance of the experience using dialogue, sensory details, and figurative language.

Memories of September 11, 2001 (pilot)

Dramatic and important events in history freeze us in time. We never forget where we were or what we were doing when we heard about such an event. Think back and write a description of where you were and how you heard about the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City . Make your memories more detailed by describing all the things you felt, saw, heard, and said after hearing the news.

Observations of an Object (pilot)

American scientist Louis Agassiz believed that objects should be studied closely to understand the natural world. His students would study a single natural object carefully, spending hours and sometimes days in the examination. In the end, they had a greater understanding of a particular part of the natural world.

Write a narrative in which you describe a time when you examined something very closely. You might discuss an object in the natural world, an author's use of language, or a picture. Whatever you choose to discuss, describe the occasion so vividly that your readers will feel they were right there with you.

Reprinted by permission from the California Department of Education, CDE Press, 1430 N Street, Suite 3207 , Sacramento , CA 95814 .

Oil-coated Bird (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Pizza (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Rafting (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Relating to Beth Orton's "Pass in Time" (pilot)

The song "Pass in Time" by Beth Orton relays the story of a daughter remembering her mother's advice that time heals all wounds. Suffering emotionally from a particular situation, such as a breakup or some type of loss can be painful. However, this is just a period of time that requires emotional healing, and time is said to heal all wounds. In the song, the daughter remembers her mother telling her that life is worth living, and after this "pass in time," she should go back to living her life as she always did. Now, compare the ideas behind this song to your own life. Can you relate to the theme of this song in some way? Have you ever experienced some type of setback in life that was healed in time?

In a detailed essay, write a personal narrative in which you relate the meaning of this song to an experience(s) you have had in your life. Remember to cite lyrics from the song when explaining your experience and connecting it to the meaning of the song.

Ruby Bridges’s Walk to School (pilot)

In the spring of 1960, Ruby Bridges was the only black child to enter William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Local opposition to the integration of the school made it necessary for U.S. Marshals to escort Ruby and ensure her safety.

Write a well thought out narrative in the third person in which you describe Ruby Bridges’s walk to school. Include the perspective of Ruby and at least two other characters. Possible characters include her parents, a U.S. Marshal, or a fellow classmate. Remember to capture the significance of the experience using dialogue, sensory details, and figurative language.

Side View Mirror (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Smoke-filled Sky (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Story about the "Real" You (pilot)

It is difficult for our friends and family to know everything about us. Many times we feel that a very important part of ourselves remains hidden from those who think that they know us best. If you could write a story that would reveal the "real" you, what characters would be in the story and how would the plot develop?

Write a story that reveals the "real" you to readers. Use characters, plot, and setting to show the side of you that others do not see.

The Trash Picker (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Trio Outdoors (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Trusting Your Instincts (pilot)

Have you ever been advised to trust your instincts? Many times in life we just have a certain feeling about someone or something; this particular feeling is known as intuition or an instinct. Have you ever had a particular experience where you trusted your instincts and it led to a positive outcome? Or, have you had an experience where you did not trust your instincts and it led to a negative outcome?

In a detailed essay, describe a particular experience in which you either trusted or did not trust your instincts, and explain what the outcome of this experience was and what you learned from the experience.

Upside Down on a Roller coaster (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Using the Map (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Waiting Room (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

Walking Girls (pilot picture)

Every picture tells a story. Use your imagination and experience to write a story about the picture. Be sure to develop your characters, setting, plot, conflict and resolution.

What Happens to the Book of Sand? (pilot)

"The Book of Sand," the story by Jorge Luis Borges, shares a brief glimpse into the life of a man who comes across a supernatural and mysterious manuscript. At the end of the story, Borges leaves us wondering who will be the next to pick up the Book of Sand. After carefully reading the story, write a multi-paragraph narrative that tells the story of what happens to the next owner of this possession.

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HS_Narrative_Prompts.doc

High School (9-12) Narrative Writing Prompts