Directions:

Write a Narrative Essay about a personal event in your life (real or fictional)
Should be 3-5 paragraphs with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Preparing the Outline
Before you start writing your narrative, it is important to outline your thoughts in a graphic organizer. This is not the format you will submit your final essay in, but it does help to make sense of the story before you put the information into a paragraph essay. Use the guide below to help you outline your family narrative:

Narrative Essay Topic
Write the topic of your essay-
Paragraph 1 - Exposition
Describe the setting
(Time, place/location, people)
(2-3 sentences)

What happens first that sets the scene?
(2 sentences)

Introduce the conflict- It should be introduced before the climax. Conflict is the problem
Paragraph 2 - Rising Action
What happens at the beginning of your story?
(2-3 sentences)

How do you feel about this part of the story?
(2-3 sentences)

Paragraph 3 - Climax
What happens in the middle of the story that is a turning point in the story? What important decision do you or your family have to make?
(2-3 sentences)

What are your thoughts and feelings?
(2-3 sentences)

Paragraph 4 - Falling Action
What happens at the end of the story?
What happens as a result of the decision made in the climax?
(2-3 sentences)

How do you feel about this part of the story?
(2-3 sentences)

Paragraph 5 - Resolution
How do you choose to move on/grow/take from this experience?
(2-3 sentences)

How did this experience impact you?
What did you learn as a result of this experience?
(2-3 sentences)

Topic is "How are you and your parents alike and different?"

11 answers

Narrative Essay Outline

Narrative Essay Topic: How are you and your parents alike and different?

Paragraph 1 - Exposition
The setting is my childhood home, nestled in a quiet suburban neighborhood during the warm summer of 2010. My parents are both grounded individuals: my father, a meticulous engineer, and my mother, an expressive artist, while I was a curious teenager caught between their worlds. As I prepared for an important school art show, the contrast and similarities between us began to emerge, creating a backdrop for conflict rooted in my need for self-expression versus their practical expectations.

What happens first that sets the scene?
Excited yet nervous, I gathered my artwork for the school’s upcoming art show, determined to impress not only my teachers but also my parents. That evening, however, my father critiqued my pieces, focusing solely on the technical flaws rather than the emotions I sought to express.

Introduce the conflict - It should be introduced before the climax.
This moment highlighted the conflict: my desire to pursue art is met with my father's insistence on practicality, instilling doubt about my passion and future.


Paragraph 2 - Rising Action
As the days progressed, I worked tirelessly on my pieces, pouring my heart into each brushstroke while feeling increasingly anxious about the judgment to come. My mother, in her characteristic supportive fashion, encouraged me to embrace my creativity without fear, reminding me that art speaks a language beyond technicality. Despite her encouragement, I felt like I was disappointing my father by not following a more conventional path that he considered stable.

How do you feel about this part of the story?
I felt torn between the nurturing influence of my mother and the high expectations set by my father, which only amplified my self-doubt. The weight of their differing perspectives on success left me uncertain about how to present myself and my work to the world.


Paragraph 3 - Climax
The day of the art show arrived, and I stood in front of my pieces, contemplating the words I would share with my parents. In a moment of vulnerability, I decided to speak candidly during the event about my artistic journey, emphasizing the emotions and stories behind each piece rather than their technical execution. This decision to assert my feelings and the purpose behind my art marked a turning point for me.

What are your thoughts and feelings?
As I spoke, waves of anxiety washed over me, but with them came a sense of liberation. I felt proud revealing my truth and hoped that my parents would finally understand the essence of my passion.


Paragraph 4 - Falling Action
At the end of the show, my father approached me, visibly impressed by not just the artwork but also the confidence I exuded while presenting. He admitted that while he might not fully grasp my artistic vision, he appreciated the depth that art brought into my life. My mother beamed with pride, and I felt a bridge forming between my worlds, igniting a hopeful understanding between us all.

How do you feel about this part of the story?
I felt exhilarated, buoyed by the realization that my parents were not as polarized in their support as I had once believed. There was an emerging blend of acceptance and pride among us, inviting both art and practicality into our lives collectively.


Paragraph 5 - Resolution
Moving forward, this experience taught me the importance of expressing my identity and creative spirit while valuing the practical qualities my parents offered. I learned that embracing both my individuality and the perspectives of my parents would create a more holistic view of success and happiness.

How did this experience impact you? What did you learn as a result of this experience?
This experience solidified my belief that differences can foster understanding and growth rather than conflict. It ultimately helped me recognize that while I may inherit distinct traits from my parents, both our similarities and differences are vital threads in the tapestry of our family story.

Make your wording as simple as possible pls

Narrative Essay Outline

Narrative Essay Topic: How are you and your parents alike and different?

Paragraph 1 - Exposition
The setting is my childhood home in a quiet neighborhood during the summer of 2010. My parents are different: my dad is a careful engineer, and my mom is a lively artist. I am a curious teenager trying to find my own way between their two different worlds. As I got ready for an important school art show, I noticed how alike and different we were, which created a problem about how I wanted to express myself versus what they expected from me.

What happens first that sets the scene?
I was excited and nervous as I prepared my artwork for the school art show. One night, my dad looked at my pieces and only pointed out what he thought were mistakes, instead of understanding what I wanted to say through my art.

Introduce the conflict - It should be introduced before the climax.
This moment showed the conflict: I wanted to follow my passion for art, but my dad only wanted me to be practical and find a stable job.


Paragraph 2 - Rising Action
As the art show got closer, I worked hard on my pieces, putting a lot of emotion into every stroke of my brush. My mom, supportive as always, encouraged me to be true to my feelings and to not be afraid. But I still felt like I was letting my dad down by not picking a safer career path.

How do you feel about this part of the story?
I felt stuck between my mom’s encouragement and my dad’s high expectations, which made me doubt myself even more. I wasn’t sure how to show my art and who I really was to my family.


Paragraph 3 - Climax
The day of the art show came, and I stood in front of my artwork, thinking about what to say to my parents. In a brave moment, I decided to share my thoughts during the show. I talked about the feelings behind my art instead of focusing on its flaws. This choice was a big change for me.

What are your thoughts and feelings?
As I spoke, I felt nervous but also free. I was proud to share my true self and hoped my parents would finally understand my love for art.


Paragraph 4 - Falling Action
After the show, my dad came to me and said he was impressed with my confidence and my art. He told me that even if he didn’t completely understand my artistic vision, he saw how much it mattered to me. My mom was proud too, and it felt like we were starting to understand each other better as a family.

How do you feel about this part of the story?
I felt happy and relieved, realizing that my parents could support me in different ways. There was a new sense of acceptance between us, and it made me feel hopeful.


Paragraph 5 - Resolution
From this experience, I learned to express who I am while also respecting my parents’ views. I realized that both my own creativity and my parents’ practical approach are important parts of who we are as a family.

How did this experience impact you? What did you learn as a result of this experience?
This experience showed me that differences can bring people together instead of pushing them apart. I learned that being myself and appreciating my parents’ strengths can help create a stronger relationship between us.

Make it as short as possible by the way. But not less than the amount of sentences required

Narrative Essay Outline

Narrative Essay Topic: How are you and your parents alike and different?

Paragraph 1 - Exposition
In the summer of 2010, I was at my childhood home in a quiet neighborhood. My dad is an engineer, and my mom is an artist, making them very different from each other. I was a curious teenager preparing for a school art show, where I saw our similarities and differences creating a conflict over my passion for art versus my dad's expectations.

What happens first that sets the scene?
As I prepared for the show, I felt excited and nervous. That night, my dad critiqued my artwork, only pointing out its flaws instead of understanding my feelings behind it.

Introduce the conflict - It should be introduced before the climax.
This led to conflict: I wanted to pursue art, while my dad wanted me to choose a practical career.


Paragraph 2 - Rising Action
In the days leading up to the show, I worked hard on my pieces, pouring my emotions into them. My mom encouraged me to be true to myself and not fear judgment, but I still felt I was disappointing my dad.

How do you feel about this part of the story?
I felt stuck between my parents, which increased my self-doubt. I was unsure how to present my art to them.


Paragraph 3 - Climax
On the day of the show, I decided to speak honestly about my art instead of just focusing on its flaws. This was a turning point for me, as I revealed my passions to my parents.

What are your thoughts and feelings?
I felt nervous but also liberated. I hoped my parents would finally understand my love for art.


Paragraph 4 - Falling Action
After the show, my dad told me he was impressed by my confidence and the depth of my art. He acknowledged that he might not fully understand it but appreciated how much it meant to me. My mom was proud too, and this created a better understanding among us.

How do you feel about this part of the story?
I felt happy and relieved. We started to accept each other’s differences, which gave me hope.


Paragraph 5 - Resolution
I learned to express who I am while respecting my parents' views. This experience helped me realize that both my creativity and my parents’ practicality are important in our family.

How did this experience impact you? What did you learn as a result of this experience?
I discovered that differences can strengthen relationships. Being myself and valuing my parents’ strengths can lead to a stronger family bond.

Ok no. My dad is a construction worker and my mom is a housewife. Where I saw how unalike we are is when we started arguing over something and my parents told me I have to obey them no matter what because they are older and are the parents which I disagree

Narrative Essay Outline

Narrative Essay Topic: How are you and your parents alike and different?

Paragraph 1 - Exposition
In our small family home, my parents and I lived together in a quiet neighborhood. My dad is a construction worker, and my mom is a housewife, making them quite different from me, a teenager seeking independence. One evening, a disagreement arose over my plans for the weekend, highlighting our differences.

What happens first that sets the scene?
As I shared my plans with my parents, they quickly shot down my ideas, insisting I had to obey them. They argued that as my parents, they always knew what was best for me because they were older.

Introduce the conflict - It should be introduced before the climax.
This conflict made me realize that I wanted more freedom to make my own choices, while they believed their authority should not be questioned.


Paragraph 2 - Rising Action
As the argument continued, I felt frustrated and trapped. My parents insisted that their experience meant I should listen to them without question. I wanted them to see that I had my own ideas and would like to have a voice.

How do you feel about this part of the story?
I felt angry and misunderstood, sensing a generation gap between us. I struggled to express my desire for independence while respecting their opinions.


Paragraph 3 - Climax
Finally, I took a deep breath and decided to stand my ground. I told my parents that while I respected them, I needed the chance to make my own decisions. This moment was crucial because it challenged their beliefs about authority.

What are your thoughts and feelings?
I felt nervous but empowered at that moment. I hoped they would start to understand my need for independence and respect my choices.


Paragraph 4 - Falling Action
After hearing me out, my parents paused and considered my words. They agreed that my feelings were valid but reminded me that their experiences were still important. This led to a calmer discussion about finding a balance between my independence and their guidance.

How do you feel about this part of the story?
I felt a sense of relief and accomplishment. We began to bridge the gap between our different viewpoints, allowing for some mutual understanding.


Paragraph 5 - Resolution
This experience taught me how to communicate openly with my parents about my feelings. I learned that while I am different from them, we all want what’s best for each other.

How did this experience impact you? What did you learn as a result of this experience?
I now understand that it’s okay to disagree, and respectful conversations can lead to better relationships. I realized that our differences don’t have to drive us apart; they can help us grow together.

That's the outline. Now make that into an essay

Narrative Essay: How Are You and Your Parents Alike and Different?

In our small family home, I live with my parents in a quiet neighborhood. My dad is a construction worker, and my mom is a housewife, which makes them quite different from me as a teenager seeking my own independence. One evening, everything came to a head during an argument over my plans for the weekend. It was a moment that highlighted our differences in ways I had never thought about before.

As I shared my plans for the weekend, I was excited, but my parents quickly shot them down. They insisted that I had to obey them because, as my parents, they always knew what was best for me since they were older. This moment made me realize how much I wanted the freedom to make my own choices, while they seemed to believe that their authority should never be questioned. I felt a growing tension between their expectations and my desire for independence.

The debate continued, and I felt frustrated and trapped under their insistence. They repeated that their life experiences meant I should listen to them without argument. Inside, I was feeling angry and misunderstood, aware that there was a generation gap between us. I struggled to express my wish for more autonomy while still wanting to show respect for their opinions. I knew I needed to say something, so I took a deep breath and decided to stand my ground.

In that pivotal moment, I told my parents that while I respected them, I also needed the chance to make my own decisions. I explained that I wanted them to understand my perspective, too. This was a crucial point in our discussion because it challenged their deep-rooted beliefs about parental authority. Although I felt nervous, I also felt empowered by the choice I had made to speak up.

After I expressed my thoughts, my parents paused and began to consider what I had said. They acknowledged that my feelings were valid, but emphasized that their life experiences were still valuable. This openness led to a calmer discussion about how we could find a balance between my desire for independence and their guidance. As we talked, I could feel a sense of relief wash over me. We began to bridge the gap between our differing views, creating an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect.

This whole experience taught me an important lesson about communicating openly with my parents. I learned that while I may be different from them, we all ultimately want what’s best for one another. This argument helped me see that it’s okay to disagree with my parents and that respectable conversations can strengthen our relationship. Our differences don’t have to drive us apart; instead, they can help us grow closer together as a family.

It was supposed to be 5 paragraphs remember?

Narrative Essay: How Are You and Your Parents Alike and Different?

In our small family home, I live with my parents in a quiet neighborhood. My dad is a construction worker, and my mom is a housewife, making them quite different from me, a teenager seeking independence. One evening, a disagreement arose over my plans for the weekend, and it highlighted our differences in a way I had never noticed before. This moment set the stage for an important discussion about authority and respect within our family.

As I excitedly shared my weekend plans, my parents quickly shot them down. They insisted that I had to obey them because, as my parents, they always knew what was best for me. Their belief in their authority left me feeling frustrated. I wanted the freedom to make my own choices, whereas they firmly believed I should follow their guidance without question. This conflict opened my eyes to the gap between our viewpoints.

The argument continued, and I felt trapped under their insistence. My parents emphasized their life experience, saying that I needed to listen to them. I felt angry and misunderstood, sensing a generation gap that was growing between us. I struggled to express my need for independence while wanting to show respect for their opinions. Finally, I knew I had to say something that would make them understand my feelings.

Taking a deep breath, I stood my ground and told them that I respected their authority, but I needed the chance to make my own decisions. I expressed my desire for them to see my perspective as well. This decision marked a turning point in our argument, as I challenged their beliefs about parental authority. Although I felt nervous, I was also empowered by my choice to speak up for myself.

After hearing me out, my parents paused to consider my words. They acknowledged that my feelings were valid but reminded me that their experiences were still important. This led to a calmer discussion and helped us find common ground. I felt relieved and proud of my ability to communicate openly, realizing that our differences didn’t have to create conflict. Instead, they could be a way for us to grow closer as a family. Through this experience, I learned that respectful conversations can strengthen our relationships and help us understand each other better.