Grade 7: Personal Narrative

Catch your reader's attention in the first paragraph. Try these ideas.

Start with a feeling.

I awoke with a knot in my stomach—part fear, part excitement. Today I would lead the marching band as drum major in the Memorial Day parade. My feelings turned to dread as I looked outdoors. It was raining.

Ask an interesting question.

Have you ever tried to get a cat down from a tree? It's not easy, especially with a yowling, scratching, terrified feline like my tiger cat, Fifi.

Describe an action.

I raced into the kitchen, the loud screech of the smoke alarm filling my ears. I opened the oven. There they were: little burnt mounds that should have been fluffy macaroons.

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