Narrative Essay: Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Goals

Name: ______Period: ______Date: ______Assign #: 28

Narrative Essay: Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Goals

Directions: Read the following prompt carefully and RUTO it below.

For centuries, story telling has been the definitive means of passing down knowledge and information from generation to generation. This tradition has been seen in all cultures and prevails in various forms even today.You have read several stories and Greek myths recounting the trials and tribulations of both humans and gods/goddesses. In the epic poem, The Odyssey, Odysseus is willing to face any and all obstacles to achieve his goal of returning home to his family.
In your own future, you will encounter and have to overcome obstacles to achieve your goals. Write a narrative essay about how you will achieve a specific goal that you have for your future. Your story should include all of the elements of a narrative and thoroughly illustrate how the future you will overcome obstacles to achieve this goal. Describe the journey so vividly that your readers will feel that they were right there with the future you.
Read the prompt.
Underline ALL the important parts of the prompt.
Turn the MAIN sentences into a question. Write the question here: / Outline your essay. Begin it by first answering your question. Your answer to this question will become your thesis. Write your thesis here:

Timeline/Due Dates:

The following lists the important due dates for this paper. Be sure to follow them so you will not fall behind. Not meeting any of the following deadlines will result in being assigned to Homework Hall:

Sept 15/16
In Class: RUTO Prompt (pg. 1)
Exemplar Essay Analysis / 17
DUE: Brainstorming Activity (pg. 2) / 18/19
DUE: Pre-Writing(pgs. 3-4)
22/23
DUE: First Draft
In Class: Peer Review (pg. 5) / 24
In Class: The Odyssey Reading Quiz / 25/26
DUE: First Draft with Revisions
In Class: Writer’s Workshop
29/30
DUE: Final Draft (with completed essay packet)
In Class: UNIT 1 EXAM

Final Draft Format Requirements:*Final Draft can also be neatly handwritten

☐Typed, 12 pt., double-spaced* / ☐Times New Roman or Cambria* / ☐3pages if typed, 5 if handwritten
☐ESAT Heading (No Cover page) / ☐Creative Title / ☐Page numbers
Brainstorming:
☐Step 1: It is now time to begin brainstorming your own original narrative. Follow eachstep below to get your ideas flowing:
1) Make a list of potential, attainable future goals you have:
Examples: attending a university, travelling to another country, accomplishing a physical feat,attaining your dream career, excelling in a hobby, etc.

2) Select a goal from your list that is meaningful to you and that you know will be challenging to achieve.
3) Reflect on the goal that you have chosen:

What does it look like to achieve it?

What steps have to be taken to achieve this goal?

What are challenging aspects of achieving this goal?

What effect would it have on you, other people, and/orsociety if you achieve it?

4) Ask yourself, what if? Imagine and brainstorm all of the possibilities...
☐Step 2: The future you. Use the following to guide you in your writing and development of your protagonist
What are some of your traits or characteristics that are strengths?
What are some of your traits or characteristics that are weaknesses? (Flaws, faults, etc.)
What traits or characteristics are necessary to achieve your goal?
Prewriting:
☐Step 3: Answer the following questions to begin drafting the background of your story:
1)Purpose:

Why do you have this goal?

What obstacles will you have to overcome?

2) Theme:

What message or universal truth will be developedthroughout your narrative?

3) Additional Characters:

Briefly name and describe your main character, you in the future (protagonist).Include specific character traits (physical characteristics, personality traits).

Who else will be a part of your story that either contribute to the obstacles or help you to overcome them? (e.g. family, friends, employers, rivals, etc.)

4) Give details about the setting of your story. Remember that setting includes not only time and place, but also environmental details and circumstances.

☐Step 4: Fill out the following plot chart to begin drafting your story.

Plot Structure / List Details of Your Story
Exposition
(Who? Where? Wants What?)

Introduce the main character (you)
Establish the setting
Decide what the character wants (your goal)

Conflict
(But?)

Decide on the problem that is keeping the character from achieving the goal

Rising Action
(So?)

Create events in your story that show the main character trying to overcome the conflicts

Climax
(So?)

Create an event or happening in your story that is a turning point and lets the reader know the problem will be (or is) solved.

Falling Action(Then?)

Write about what happens because the mainproblem is out of the way. Have the character achieve their goal.

Resolution/Denouement
(Finally?)

Write an ending that gives the reader a sense of completeness; that everything is going to be okay.

Peer Review

Directions for the writer: After you write your rough draft, give it to a peer with this page.

Directions for the reviewer:Complete your review by using the following symbols on your peer’s draft as well as on the chart below.

+ = Great / ✓ = Okay, but could be better / X = Needs improvement
Score / Comments/Explanation of your score
The protagonist is fully developed with details and traits/ characteristics
Other characters are included and developed as protagonist or antagonists
The protagonist works to achieve an attainable goal
Realistic obstacles are described
The narrative is written entirely in first or third person
Specific & vivid words are used to paint pictures with words (imagery)
The narrative flows & is easy to understand
The narrative makes sense
Proper nouns are capitalized correctly and there are no spelling mistakes
The narrative captured & kept my attention from beginning to end
Reviewer’s Signature

What I liked most about your myth was:

Your myth could have been better if: