Asked by ejeieo
Personal Narrative Essay (Plus Presentation Instructions)
Due April 1, 2026 7:00 AM
Instructions
Personal Narrative (Memoir) Rubric: 500-1000-Word Narrative Essay
ESSAY (Due Date: Wednesday, April 1) 100-point total assessment grade.
Students will write a minimum 500-word (approximately 5 paragraph) essay sharing a true story describing something that helped the student: (A) Change or grow in a significant way, (B) Deal with a difficult or challenging situation, and/or (C) Change their opinion or point of view about something important to them. Successful essays will use at least EIGHT (8) of the TWELVE (12) steps of The Hero’s Journey to make up the plot of the story.
GRADING SCALE (100 points possible):
Conforms to Tennessee Narrative Writing Rubric Guidelines (50 pts)
Character Development (of yourself and other major characters) is well-rounded, enabling the reader to relate to and empathize with you as the story’s protagonist and closely follows The Hero’s Journey. (25 pts)
Thoroughly explores one detailed scene from your life; the plot of the narrative includes key portions of The Hero’s Journey (25 pts)
Presentation (Wednesday, April 1, and Thursday April 2):
Students will share a 2-5-minute presentation of their Personal Narrative Essay. Students may read directly from their essays or share conversationally with class from memories.
Points: 50 (assessment grade).
Presentations will be graded according to:
Proficiency: Students speak clearly and loudly enough to be heard, do not rush, and maintain a serious and professional demeanor (25 points).
Professionalism: Students listen actively to classmates’ presentations and avoid distracting or disruptive conduct (25 points). My name is Adrian Guzman and im a 13 year old who lives in memphis. write how a 7th grader would write
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My name is Adrian Guzman. I am 13 years old and I live in Memphis. Last year in seventh grade I had a problem I thought I would never fix: I was terrified of speaking in front of people. I would get a tight throat, my hands would shake, and my voice sounded small even when I tried to be loud. That all changed because of one class presentation. It was a small thing at first, but it helped me grow and taught me to be brave.
My ordinary world was my classroom where I could hide behind my desk and answer with short sentences. Then the call to adventure came when Ms. Rivera, my English teacher, announced that everyone had to present a personal narrative in front of the class. She said it would be two to five minutes and that it would count as a big part of our grade. My stomach dropped. I wanted to disappear.
At first I refused the call. I told myself I would do something else or maybe read from my paper while staring at the floor. I thought, “I can’t do this.” My mind made a list of reasons why I would fail. But then I met my mentor: my mom. She sat at the kitchen table with me and helped me rewrite my story so it felt like something I could say out loud. She taught me how to take deep breaths, how to slow down, and how to look up from my paper. She told me that everyone gets scared and that practicing would help.
Crossing the first threshold was when I raised my hand and signed the presentation sheet. I decided to try. After that came tests, allies, and enemies. I practiced in front of my little brother and he clapped even when I messed up. My friend Jay helped by listening and giving tips. But there was also a kid in class, Eric, who made jokes about my nervous laugh. That made me want to quit sometimes, but it also made me work harder.
The approach to the inmost cave happened the night before the presentation. I almost didn’t sleep because I kept thinking of embarrassing moments. I pictured myself forgetting words and everyone laughing. I felt small again. It was the hardest part because I had to face my own fear alone.
The ordeal was the day of the presentation. My heart raced and my hands shook as I walked up to the front. I started speaking and my voice was a whisper. I remembered my mom’s advice, took a deep breath, and slowed down. I told the story about a time I lost my first baseball glove and how my dad taught me to ask for help instead of hiding my problems. As I told the story, I saw some kids nodding and a few smiling. When I finished, the class clapped. I felt a rush of relief and pride.
The reward was not a prize but a new feeling: confidence. Ms. Rivera said I did a great job and pointed out the parts where I used details to make the story real. The road back was going back to my seat and realizing I had survived something I thought I couldn’t. The resurrection was the change inside me — I wasn’t the kid who froze anymore. I still got nervous sometimes, but I knew how to face it.
Finally, I returned with the elixir. After that presentation I helped my friend Jay rehearse his speech. I even raised my hand to read out loud without hiding behind a book. My opinion about public speaking changed. Before, I thought it was a skill only some people had. Now I know it’s something you can get better at if you practice and accept help.
That presentation was only a few minutes, but it made a big difference. I grew up a little and learned how to push past fear. I still live in Memphis, I’m still 13, and when someone in class says they’re scared to talk, I tell them, “You can do it — just practice and breathe.” It helps them, and it reminds me how far I’ve come.
Presentation version (2–3 minutes)
Hi, I’m Adrian Guzman and I’m 13 from Memphis. Last year I was terrified of speaking in front of people. Ms. Rivera assigned a personal narrative presentation and at first I wanted to skip it. My mom helped me practice and showed me how to breathe and slow down. The night before I was super nervous, but on presentation day I breathed, started slowly, and told my story about losing my baseball glove and learning to ask for help. The class clapped and I felt proud. After that I felt more confident and even helped friends with their speeches. That experience changed how I see public speaking — it’s scary, but practice and help make it possible.
Hero’s Journey steps used
- Ordinary World
- Call to Adventure
- Refusal of the Call
- Meeting with the Mentor
- Crossing the First Threshold
- Tests, Allies, Enemies
- Approach to the Inmost Cave
- Ordeal
- Reward (Seizing the Sword)
- Return with the Elixir
Presentation tips (to earn full points)
- Speak loudly and clearly; don’t rush.
- Practice out loud several times before class.
- Look up from your paper and make eye contact with a few classmates.
- Breathe before you start and pause when you need to.
- Be respectful when others present and listen without interrupting.
If you want, I can shorten or lengthen the essay, change the story to something else (like sports or moving schools), or make the presentation version exactly two minutes long for practice. Which would you prefer?
My ordinary world was my classroom where I could hide behind my desk and answer with short sentences. Then the call to adventure came when Ms. Rivera, my English teacher, announced that everyone had to present a personal narrative in front of the class. She said it would be two to five minutes and that it would count as a big part of our grade. My stomach dropped. I wanted to disappear.
At first I refused the call. I told myself I would do something else or maybe read from my paper while staring at the floor. I thought, “I can’t do this.” My mind made a list of reasons why I would fail. But then I met my mentor: my mom. She sat at the kitchen table with me and helped me rewrite my story so it felt like something I could say out loud. She taught me how to take deep breaths, how to slow down, and how to look up from my paper. She told me that everyone gets scared and that practicing would help.
Crossing the first threshold was when I raised my hand and signed the presentation sheet. I decided to try. After that came tests, allies, and enemies. I practiced in front of my little brother and he clapped even when I messed up. My friend Jay helped by listening and giving tips. But there was also a kid in class, Eric, who made jokes about my nervous laugh. That made me want to quit sometimes, but it also made me work harder.
The approach to the inmost cave happened the night before the presentation. I almost didn’t sleep because I kept thinking of embarrassing moments. I pictured myself forgetting words and everyone laughing. I felt small again. It was the hardest part because I had to face my own fear alone.
The ordeal was the day of the presentation. My heart raced and my hands shook as I walked up to the front. I started speaking and my voice was a whisper. I remembered my mom’s advice, took a deep breath, and slowed down. I told the story about a time I lost my first baseball glove and how my dad taught me to ask for help instead of hiding my problems. As I told the story, I saw some kids nodding and a few smiling. When I finished, the class clapped. I felt a rush of relief and pride.
The reward was not a prize but a new feeling: confidence. Ms. Rivera said I did a great job and pointed out the parts where I used details to make the story real. The road back was going back to my seat and realizing I had survived something I thought I couldn’t. The resurrection was the change inside me — I wasn’t the kid who froze anymore. I still got nervous sometimes, but I knew how to face it.
Finally, I returned with the elixir. After that presentation I helped my friend Jay rehearse his speech. I even raised my hand to read out loud without hiding behind a book. My opinion about public speaking changed. Before, I thought it was a skill only some people had. Now I know it’s something you can get better at if you practice and accept help.
That presentation was only a few minutes, but it made a big difference. I grew up a little and learned how to push past fear. I still live in Memphis, I’m still 13, and when someone in class says they’re scared to talk, I tell them, “You can do it — just practice and breathe.” It helps them, and it reminds me how far I’ve come.
Presentation version (2–3 minutes)
Hi, I’m Adrian Guzman and I’m 13 from Memphis. Last year I was terrified of speaking in front of people. Ms. Rivera assigned a personal narrative presentation and at first I wanted to skip it. My mom helped me practice and showed me how to breathe and slow down. The night before I was super nervous, but on presentation day I breathed, started slowly, and told my story about losing my baseball glove and learning to ask for help. The class clapped and I felt proud. After that I felt more confident and even helped friends with their speeches. That experience changed how I see public speaking — it’s scary, but practice and help make it possible.
Hero’s Journey steps used
- Ordinary World
- Call to Adventure
- Refusal of the Call
- Meeting with the Mentor
- Crossing the First Threshold
- Tests, Allies, Enemies
- Approach to the Inmost Cave
- Ordeal
- Reward (Seizing the Sword)
- Return with the Elixir
Presentation tips (to earn full points)
- Speak loudly and clearly; don’t rush.
- Practice out loud several times before class.
- Look up from your paper and make eye contact with a few classmates.
- Breathe before you start and pause when you need to.
- Be respectful when others present and listen without interrupting.
If you want, I can shorten or lengthen the essay, change the story to something else (like sports or moving schools), or make the presentation version exactly two minutes long for practice. Which would you prefer?
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