narrative essay b1

How to Write a Story for B1 Preliminary (PET) Writing

Luis @ kse academy.

• noviembre 20, 2019

The B1 Preliminary (PET) exam has suffered some changes that become effective in January 2020. Among the parts most affected are Speaking and Writing . However, the B1 Writing part we will be reviewing today hasn’t suffered any changes, except for now belonging in Part 2 instead of Part 3, as there is no Part 3 in the new exam. So today I will teach you how to write a story at B1 level for your B1 Preliminary (PET) exam . We already saw how to write an email , so it’s now time to focus writing a story for PET .

Parts of a Story

Verb tenses.

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How to write a story for B1 Preliminary

Now, before seeing a sample task, we will focus on what is a story , so we can understand this kind of task better and have a more accurate expectation of what is expected of us in this part of the Writing for PET.

What is a story?

According to the Lexico.com ( before Oxford Dictionaries ), a story is « an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment «. For this reason, precisely, you have plenty more freedom to write, as you can make up most of the story. But  just like it happens with every other type of writing, a story must follow a particular structure which makes sense to the reader . So let’s move on to the different parts of a story.

A story can roughly be divided into the following parts :

• Title: The title should either summarise the whole story (without spoilers!) or have something to do with the main theme.
• Exposition: This is the beginning of the story, where the characters and setting are established. It serves as the introduction to the next part, the action, and the so-called conflict of our story.
• Action:  In this part, the characters deal with conflict and do things to solve it.
• Resolution:  This is where the conflict is resolved and the story concludes with an ending, normally without any loose ends.

Now that we know the different parts of a story, we should see an example.

Sample Story for B1 Writing

Let’s take a look at the following example of a Preliminary (PET) Writing Part 2 task , where we can see an answer to the sample task we saw above:

In the example above you can see  the different parts of a story  very well defined. Just like with emails or letters, your story should be visually appealing . For this reason I recommend the following:

• Write your title in capital letters .
• Leave a clear space between paragraphs .

Expressions to use in your story

In this section, we are going to focus on different expressions you can use in the different parts of a story . While the vocabulary used in the story will vary completely, depending on the topic, there is a set of expressions which you can make use of quite frequently if you memorise them beforehand. Let’s take a look:

How to begin a story

When you start a story , if the first sentence isn’t given to you, you can use phrases like these:

• It all began…
• When I first…
• At the beginning…
• It was a hot/cold summer/winter day. 

Just to be clear, these are only some simple examples which you can use , as there is no right or wrong way to start a story. That’s the beauty of it!

Time phrases

One of the great differences between writing a letter, essay, article and so on, and writing a story is the need to pay careful attention to the time over which the story develops . In order to define the order of the events in the story , we must use time expressions or time phrases. So let’s see a few:

• Not long aftewards
• Some time later
• A little later
• ____ minutes later
• a moment later
• Later (that morning/afternoon/day/night…)

It is essential to use these expressions properly. Otherwise, it won’t be clear exactly how the story develops.

Creating suspense

When writing a story, the aim is not to inform or to convey information; the real purpose is to entertain the reader, just like when you read a novel you expect to be entertained. For this reason, a story, even a story for Preliminary (PET) Writing Part 3 should aim to do so: entertain. And a cool way to entertain is to create suspense, which we can do by using some of the following expressions:

• All of a sudden
• Without warning
• Just at that moment
• Unexpectedly 
• Out of the blue
• Out of nowhere
• Straight away

Direct speech

In every story there are characters and they usually interact with each other , so it is always good if you know how to use direct speech, that is, reproduce the words the characters actually say or think . The tricky bit about this is the punctuation and the verbs to choose, because it’s good to use some verbs other than «say». Let’s take a look at some examples:

• « I’m coming with you,» she said.
• She said, «I’m coming with you.»
• «Do you like it?» he asked. 
• «Don’t do it!» he screamed. 

Pay close attention at where the comma (,) or other punctuation marks go (?, !). Also, don’t forget to use inverted commas («…») to enclose the direct speech . In British English we normally use single inverted commas (‘…’), but it’s not important so choose the one that suits you best.

Finishing your story

This paragraph, the  resolution , should be separated from the rest, and it’s a good idea to start it with one of the following expressions:

• When it was all over
• Eventually 
• After everything that happened

Again, these are just a few examples. There’s no right or wrong way to conclude a story , as long as it makes sense with the rest of the piece of writing.

One of the reasons why stories are particularly challenging for B1 students is that they tend to take place in the past , which makes it necessary to use a range of past tenses approriately . The main three past tenses you should really try to use are the following:

• Past simple (-ed/irregular form)
• Past continuous
• Past perfect

If you take a look at the example of Writing Part 3 above, you’ll see how I used these tenses in combination, when possible:

• Past simple and continuous: 

It was midnight and I was trying to sleep. 

• Past perfect and simple: 

I had completely forgotten it was my birthday.

• Past simple: 

This time I  picked up the phone quickly and  shouted , «Hello?!».

So that’s how you should try to tell your story. Please avoid a simple succession of past simple tenses alone, like:

I woke up and got out of bed. Then I went to the kitchen and made some coffee.

It’s not wrong, but it’s just not good enough for a story .

Another example story for B1 Writing Part 2

Now that we know what expressions we should be using when writing a story and how to combine the different tenses, let’s take another look at another task and a sample answer:

In the story above you can see different things:

• Well-defined structure:  3 clear paragraphs.
•  A variety of past tenses:  past simple ( was tired ,  didn’t want , etc.), past continuous ( was getting off ,  was sleeping , etc.) and past perfect ( had broken, had stopped , etc.).
• Time expressions: in the end ,  when, a few hours later .
• Suspense elements: all of a sudden, without a warning .

Top 5 Tips for Writing a Story for PET Writing

• Learn, memorise and use some of these expressions.  Make sure you already know a set of expressions to use in your next story. This will not only avoid you making mistakes, but also it will make your story so much better! It will give you points to use those expressions.
• Write a well-structured and visually-appealing story . One of the things Cambridge English examiners pay attention to is the organisation of your piece writing, so make sure not to write an incoherent story. Also, remember that  punctuation matters , so be sure to separate your sentences with stops and commas and don’t write sentences which are too long.
• Brainstorm before you write . Before starting to write your story, brainstorm a couple of things and write down some ideas. This can include vocabulary related to the topic, connectors, time phrases, etc. Also, decide before writing how the story is going to end.
• Revise, edit and improve . Don’t write all at once and then move on. Once you have finished your story go over it. Look for possible mistakes. Look for ways to improve it, maybe adding adjectives here and there. You can save many points by simply reviewing what you’ve written.
• Experiment at home, be conservative in the exam . Homework is the best chance to be creative and experiment with stories. So make sure you try your hardest to keep improving when you write at home. On the other hand, when you’re doing an exam, don’t risk trying out new words or expressions, as you may be making a terrible mistake. So be safe in your exam and stick to what you already know works .

If you found this post useful, don’t forget to comment and share. You can also follow KSE Academy on Facebook, Twitter & YouTube.

Oh, and don’t forget to keep smiling ! 🙂

46 comentarios en “How to Write a Story for B1 Preliminary (PET) Writing”

Muy claro, extenso y útil.

Gracias, Yolanda. Un saludo!

Excelente información, muchas gracias

Thank you! 🙂

Very useful thanks so much

Thank you, Francisco!

Great work,thank you!!

Thanks a lot for your comment. Take care! 🙂

Thanks Luis, This article is very usefull and complete. I’ll Try to do everythings you said. I hope to do a good story. Mary

Thank you, Mary. Take care and good luck! 🙂

Thanks Luis for your time, I really appreciate you teaching I will try to take your avise.

Thank you for your comment. I’m glad this site has helped you a little. Good luck!

Hola muchas gracias por el articulo, mi profesora me lo recomendó para realiar un Story de 120 palabras, me sirvió de mucho. Gracias !!!

Muchas gracias a ti y a tu profesora por leeros el artículo. Me alegro que os sea de utilidad. Un saludo!

Great help!!!!! So useful to explain to the students. Thanks a lot!

Thank you very much for your comment. 🙂

Hola, muy buen material para aprender, mi profe me pasó el articulo para que lo lea, Muchas gracias

¡Muchas gracias por tu comentario! 🙂

buen contenido me sirvio para estudiar

Thank you very much for sharing your work!

buen material

Perfect! Very clear and helpful. Thanks for sharing.

Great tips! Thanx Luis! Im def sharing this article with my students.

Thanks! Glad you liked it. Hope your students find it useful as well. 🙂

Me pareció muy interesante esta historia que me enseñara en un futuro muchas cosas. Valeria Palacios

Thanks Luis! It´s been very useful for teaching my students.

That’s awesome! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂

Excellent material thanks becauuse we can use it in our classes. I really appreciate your help.

Thank you, Sandra! 🙂

bonjour, merci beaucoup je l’ai trouvé très utile

Many thanks this lesson plan is really good!

Thank you for your comment, Roberta!

Thanks you! Very useful and complete.

Thank you very much for explaining so clearly how to write a good story.

Thank you, Flavia. 🙂

thanks luis!!!!

You’re welcome, Pepita. 🙂

Good work, I will improve my writting skills now. thank you

Thank you for your comment, Juan. Good luck!

Hello, I am Charles III, King of England, and I congratulate you for helping the people out there with their PET exam. This is great, thank you so much.

Yours, Charles III

Thank you, King Charles III. It’s been an honour!

MUY BUENA LA INFORMACION GRACIAS A ESTO APROBÉ LA MATERIA

Muchas gracias, Alberto. Un saludo!

Fabuloso, gracias por compartir. Isabel

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How to successfully write a story in B1 Preliminary exam

Are you a best-selling author or a storyteller of great renown?  Would you rather write an article or a story when doing the writing paper part 2 of the Cambridge B1 Preliminary exam?

Both are entertaining and colourful pieces. Still, the article is fully addressing the readers while keeping them engaged though personal anecdotes and experiences. The story though is the territory of narrative tenses, time expressions and unexpected twists in the plot. 

If you need to brush up on B1 Preliminary writing skills, check out the following posts:

• Insights into B1 Preliminary Writing
• How to do the Writing in the B1 Preliminary Cambridge Exam

Today, you will do a hands-on activity that will help you to write a story, easily and with flying colours.

Before we start, why don’t we first see how well you know what the main story ingredients are?

B1 Preliminary story key-elements

What does a great story have?

• Three parts: beginning, middle and ending
• Time adverbials: first, then …, next, later, while/as …, before …, an hour later, right at that moment, the next day, finally, etc.
• Narrative tenses: past simple, past continuous and past perfect (simple and continuous).
• Direct speech, e.g. “Shall we go out?”, she said. “Brilliant idea!” replied Katy.
• Strong adjectives to describe people, places, feelings, etc, e.g. huge, tiny, delighted, terrified, miserable , etc
• Adverbs to describe actions and adjectives, e.g. luckily, carefully, angrily, happily , etc.
• A clear ending, e.g. In the end …, I realized that … ; I’ll never forget what happened; After a great day … , etc.

Analysis of students' makeovers

Here is the question:

Your English teacher has asked you to write a story. Your story must begin with this sentence.

As Victoria entered the room, she couldn’t believe her eyes!

Write your story .

Let’s read three students’ makeovers.

Candidate A

Victoria’s birthday present

As Victoria entered the room, she couldn’t believe her eyes! It was Sunday, the day she was looking forward to for so long!

She had started to think about what present she wanted for her birthday before she went to school on Monday. Victoria loved riding her bike. She took up this amazing hobby when her family went camping two years ago. Victoria had a wish. She wanted to have something that would take her to the best places around the countryside.

When she got home on Monday, she told her grandparents, who were living on the ground floor, about her wish. During the week, she was so busy with school work that she couldn’t even ask her two best friends to dine out with her on Saturday.

On Sunday morning, she took her dog out for a walk.  Then she went upstairs to her room. When she opened the door, she saw her best friends and a huge box. What a surprise! She had never seen such a big box before. Do you know what was inside? A bicycle! Her dream came true! 

Candidate B

Victoria’s cure

As Victoria entered the room, she couldn’t believe her eyes! She finally discovered the cure for the virus. She told this on TV and became famous. Her vaccine saved a lot of lives. 

Some years later, she was asked to investigate a new virus which suddenly appeared. While she was investigating, she discovered that the virus came up because of her vaccine. Victoria wasn’t sure, so she decided to keep silence, but had to find the cure as quickly as possible.

She had the best laboratory in the country, with the latest technology in the field. So, she started to work day and night. Victoria went on working hard.

After a couple of years, she found the cure and saved the world for the second time.

Candidate C

The best present for Victoria

As Victoria entered the room, she couldn’t believe her eyes!

It was Friday, two days before her birthday. She went to school in the morning. On the way to school, she was thinking about what she wanted for her birthday. When she finished her classes, she went home and told her mum that she wanted a dog. Her mother said that it was a lot of responsibility, and they couldn’t afford one. Victoria felt really disappointed. 

Her mum had a friend who was a vet at an animal shelter. They had a coffee together on Saturday, and she told her they had found some abandoned puppies.

On Sunday, when Victoria opened the door, she heard a strange noise on her bed under the blanket. She went closer and found an adorable creature! It was a puppy! She was so happy that she started to cry. It was the best day ever!

Download the PDF below to tick or cross the above-mentioned key-elements.

Write a story

Have you ever had fun with chain crazy story writing?

In this game, your friends and you are sitting around a table with nothing but a pen and a sheet of paper in front of you. One person is chosen to conduct the game and come up with questions or prompts. Each one, in turns, should listen to the question and answer it by writing one sentence. Then the piece of paper is folded so that no one could see what has been written above. Everybody passes it on to the player on the right.

The game continues until there are no more questions. At the end, everyone unfolds the paper and reads out the story. A good laugh is guaranteed. 

Now, let’s start writing our story. You can either play with your friends or classmates, or simply answer the questions one by one. 

First and foremost, write the first sentence, which is already given in the exam task. Now, let’s go on and answer the questions. Try and use the narrative tense from the question.

What was the season?

What was the weather like?

What had the main character(s) (MC) done before that moment?

Why had the MC(s) done that?

What did the MC(s) decide to do?

Why did the MC(s) take that decision?

What did the MC(s) do first?

What did the MC(s) do next?

What happened afterwards?

How was/were the MC(s) feeling?

What happened all of a sudden?

Whom did the MC(s) see?

What did they say?

What had the MC(s) never thought of?

What made the MC(s) jump for joy or/and burst into tears?

Finally, what did it happen?

Why will the MC(s) never forget that day?

Story checklist

Read your story. Answer the following checklist questions :

• Have you started your story with the sentence given in the instructions?
• Have you got a WHO? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN?, and HOW?
• Have you used time expressions, e.g. before, during, after, when, while, until, first, then, next, immediately, as soon as, finally, in the end , etc?
• Have you used a variety of past tenses: past simple for events, past continuous to describe the background, and past perfect simple or continuous for things that happened before something else?
• Have you used adjectives and adverbs to describe the scene, people, etc?
• Have you got three paragraphs: beginning, middle, and end?
• Have you used direct speech?
• Have you got the right length?

If any of these are missing from the story, make sure you add them.

Last but not least, there is one secret sauce and your story is going to be a roaring success. What is it?

PHRASAL VERBS

Check out for phrasal verbs classified by topics in the following blog post: Phrasal Verbs By Topics 

I am sure that some phrasal verbs can be omnipresent in almost any story. Verbs like these could always be used to boast about your B1 English language control: set off,  put off, get out, come across, run into, cheer up , end up, believe in , look forward to , and others. 

Now your story has all it needs to surprise the audience and the readers. I am sure that with these question prompts you have excelled. You have written an amazing story, you have!

Bet you know how to successfully write a story in B1 Preliminary exam, don’t you?

Good luck with the Cambridge exam and in any other writing competition you decide to take part in.

Stay tuned for more words of advice and handy material!

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Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET): How to write a story in 2021

• Mandatory task: no
• Word count: around 100 words
• Main characteristics: interesting/engaging language, clear structure, specific language
• Structure: beginning, main part, ending
• Language: interesting adjectives & adverbs, past verb forms, direct speech, time expressions

As the plane flew lower, Lou saw the golden beaches of the island below. The sun was shining brightly and he said to the woman next to him, “I’m so excited about my holidays!” As soon as Lou got off the plane he left the airport and took a taxi to the city centre because he really wanted to swim in the clear water and sunbathe on the beautiful beach he had seen earlier. However, when he arrived at the beach he saw that the weather was changing and five minutes later it was raining heavily. Lou ran into a bar and was surprised because someone shouted, “Hi, it’s you again!” There was the woman from the plane! They started to talk and became very good friends.

Introduction

Part 1 of the the Writing exam in B1 Preliminary is always an email. You can’t choose this task, but in the second part of the test you can decide if you want to write an article or a story.

In every story task you get one sentence which has to be the first sentence of your story and the text has to be related to this. Your language should be neutral to informal.

>>> Find out how to write an amazing email for PET here. <<<

>>> For great information on PET article writing click here. <<<

What does a typical story task look like?

Whenever you get ready for a writing task in the PET exam, you need to think about a few questions. These questions help you understand the task better and make a plan for your story.

• What is the situation?
• What do I have to include in my story?
• Who is going to read my story?

Let’s have a look at a typical example task and see how we can answer the questions above.

You can see that there isn’t a lot of information, but we still have to check the task very carefully so we know exactly what to do.

In the given sentence a person called Lou is on a plane flying over an island and he’s looking at the beaches. The plane is going lower so it might be getting ready to land. This is the situation you have to start your story from and everything you write has to be related to this beginning .

The second question is a little bit more open than the first one because you can pretty much write about anything you like. The only restriction, again, is the first sentence and the situation that comes with it. You can make your story funny, sad, full of action or fantasy and include whatever you can imagine, but connect it to the first sentence.

Last but not least, your English teacher is going to read your story. In other writing tasks you need to be very careful with your language, but in a story you are freer. You decide if your characters use very formal English or if they are informal. Just remember, don’t use rude language or words that are not in the dictionary.

You see, there is a lot of freedom that you have when you write a story, but, at the same time, you have to make sure that you focus on the topic in the first sentence and that you are careful with your language because the rules are not as strict as in an email or article.

How to organise your story

The good thing about B1 Preliminary writing tasks is that you can always organise them in the same way. It is a little bit like a good cooking recipe because it works every time.

A good story usually has a beginning, a main part and an ending. The main part is the most important one so you want make it longer than the other parts. Most of the time, we get to a structure that looks like this:

First sentence / Beginning

• Main part paragraph 1
• Main part paragraph 2

Of course, you might have three main part paragraphs, but in most tasks the structure with only two works very well.

Always plan your story

If you start to write your story without thinking about it first, you might run into some big problems. You can’t really change everything once you’ve started because you only have 45 minutes to write your story AND an email.

That’s why you should always make a plan. Use the structure above and just add a few ideas so it works like a map. You will know exactly where your story is going and you only have to worry about using good language.

The different parts of a story

Now, we are going to find out what the different parts of a story typically look like and I will give you some useful tips about good language that will help you get good marks.

As I said above, in a PET story you always have to start with a sentence that you get directly from the task . Don’t change this sentence in any way, but simply copy it onto you answer sheet and begin your story from there.

I recommend adding one more sentence to complete the beginning of your story. For our example task this could look like this:

As the plane flew lower, Lou saw the golden beaches of the island below. The sun was shining brightly and he said to the woman next to him, “I’m so excited about my holidays!”

When we look at the first sentence from the task, there are a couple of things that are not 100% clear. For example, why was Lou on the plane? What island did he see? Why did the plane fly lower? In my second sentence I tried to make things a little bit clearer. Lou was on his way to spend his holidays on the island and the plane was getting ready for landing.

In terms of good language , I used past continuous (was shining), which we use to say what was happening in the background or at the same time as our main events. I also included an adverb (brightly) and an adjective (golden), which makes an action more interesting, and there is some direct speech (“I’m so excited about my holidays!”). This brings the reader closer to the characters compared to indirect or reported speech.

Always try to make sure to set the scene. Give some background information (past continuous) to introduce the main character(s). Add some adjectives and adverbs as well as direct speech because this makes the reader feel more interested in your story and they want to keep reading.

Main paragraphs

Once we set the scene, we can move on to the main part of the story. Here, we try to develop the plot and all the main events happen in these paragraphs. You can decide how many paragraphs you want to make, but in general you should be fine with two or three of them.

For our example task I chose two paragraphs:

As soon as Lou got off the plane he left the airport and took a taxi to the city centre because he really wanted to swim in the clear water and sunbathe on the beautiful beach he had seen earlier. However, when he arrived at the beach he saw that the weather was changing and five minutes later it was raining heavily. Lou ran into a bar and was surprised because someone shouted, “Hi, it’s you again!”

I tried to let the plot grow a little bit in my first main paragraph and, at the same time, create some excitement for the reader . Lou wants to go to the beach, but when I use the word ‘however’ to start the second paragraph, it is clear that something must be wrong. Finally, I end my main paragraphs with a mysterious voice calling for Lou in the bar. The reader wants to know how the story ends.

For useful language , you can find some time expressions (as soon as, when, five minutes later) as well as past perfect and past continuous (had seen, was changing, was raining). These verb forms help us to give extra information around the main events of the story. In addition, there are interesting adjectives (clear, beautiful, surprised) and adverbs (really, heavily). Once again, these words help us make our story more interesting for the reader.

It is also a good idea to use some contrast (however) and surprising elements (someone shouted) in your story because, again, you want to make the story as interesting as possible.

Every good story has an ending. In PET, you want to finish your story in a surprising and/or funny way so the reader is happy.

Make sure that the ending is connected to the topic. Don’t introduce new characters or let the story move in a completely different direction. Just write one or two last sentences and that’s it.

In my example story I wrote this:

There was the woman from the plane! They started to talk and became very good friends.

It’s a short ending with a little surprising element (the woman from the plane). It is nothing special or crazy, but it brings the whole story together in a nice way. That’s all you have to do to make the examiner happy and get great marks.

Useful language for PET story writing

In this part I’m going to give you a summary of the different types of useful language for your Cambridge B1 story.

Past verb forms

Past simple, past continuous and past perfect are the three most important verb forms when you write a story.

• Past simple describes the main events of your story.
• Past continuous describes what was happening at the same time as the main events.
• Past perfect describes what happened before the main events.

Study these verb tenses and practise as much as you can.

Time expressions

Time expressions put the events of your story in a sequence. When you use them in the right way, the reader understands what happened first and the sequence of events.

Some examples of time expressions that you can use in almost every story are:

• immediately
• next (day/morning etc.)
• x minutes/days/years later

Use one or two of these in every paragraph so the examiner is happy and gives you high marks. 🙂

Adjectives and adverbs

Adjectives and adverbs are like different spices in your food. Without them everything tastes a little bit boring so we want to make it as flavourful as possible. Just as with time expressions, always think about where you can use adjectives and adverbs to describe a person, an object, a place or an action in more detail.

Look again at my story with all the adjectives and adverbs highlighted:

As the plane flew lower, Lou saw the golden beaches of the island below. The sun was shining brightly and he said to the woman next to him, “I’m so excited about my holidays!” As soon as Lou got off the plane he left the airport and took a taxi to the city centre because he really wanted to swim in the clear water and sunbathe on the beautiful beach he had seen earlier. However, when he arrived at the beach he saw that the weather was changing and five minutes later it was raining heavily . Lou ran into a bar and was surprised because someone shouted, “Hi, it’s you again!” There was the woman from the plane! They started to talk and became very good friends.

You see that I didn’t overuse adjective and adverbs, but two or three in every paragraph are already going to improve your story a lot.

Direct speech

Direct speech describes the things that somebody actually says in that moment. We always use quotation marks (“) to show that we are using direct speech.

Used in a story it gives the reader the feeling of being closer to the action and the characters feel more alive. Always try to have a couple of sentences in direct speech in your stories.

My examples are:

• …he said to the woman next to him, “I’m so excited about my holidays!”
• …someone shouted, “Hi, it’s you again!”

Practise makes perfect

It is now your turn to practise story writing. Don’t wait until it is too late. With every story you write you will feel more confident and ready for the exam. Practise the different kinds of useful language and step by step you will improve.

I hope my article will help you and if you enjoy my content, leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Lots of love,

Teacher Phill 🙂

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• How to write a narrative essay | Example & tips

How to Write a Narrative Essay | Example & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A narrative essay tells a story. In most cases, this is a story about a personal experience you had. This type of essay , along with the descriptive essay , allows you to get personal and creative, unlike most academic writing .

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Table of contents

What is a narrative essay for, choosing a topic, interactive example of a narrative essay, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about narrative essays.

When assigned a narrative essay, you might find yourself wondering: Why does my teacher want to hear this story? Topics for narrative essays can range from the important to the trivial. Usually the point is not so much the story itself, but the way you tell it.

A narrative essay is a way of testing your ability to tell a story in a clear and interesting way. You’re expected to think about where your story begins and ends, and how to convey it with eye-catching language and a satisfying pace.

These skills are quite different from those needed for formal academic writing. For instance, in a narrative essay the use of the first person (“I”) is encouraged, as is the use of figurative language, dialogue, and suspense.

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Narrative essay assignments vary widely in the amount of direction you’re given about your topic. You may be assigned quite a specific topic or choice of topics to work with.

• Write a story about your first day of school.
• Write a story about your favorite holiday destination.

You may also be given prompts that leave you a much wider choice of topic.

• Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself.
• Write about an achievement you are proud of. What did you accomplish, and how?

In these cases, you might have to think harder to decide what story you want to tell. The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to talk about a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

For example, a trip where everything went according to plan makes for a less interesting story than one where something unexpected happened that you then had to respond to. Choose an experience that might surprise the reader or teach them something.

Narrative essays in college applications

When applying for college , you might be asked to write a narrative essay that expresses something about your personal qualities.

For example, this application prompt from Common App requires you to respond with a narrative essay.

In this context, choose a story that is not only interesting but also expresses the qualities the prompt is looking for—here, resilience and the ability to learn from failure—and frame the story in a way that emphasizes these qualities.

An example of a short narrative essay, responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” is shown below.

Hover over different parts of the text to see how the structure works.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

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If you’re not given much guidance on what your narrative essay should be about, consider the context and scope of the assignment. What kind of story is relevant, interesting, and possible to tell within the word count?

The best kind of story for a narrative essay is one you can use to reflect on a particular theme or lesson, or that takes a surprising turn somewhere along the way.

Don’t worry too much if your topic seems unoriginal. The point of a narrative essay is how you tell the story and the point you make with it, not the subject of the story itself.

Narrative essays are usually assigned as writing exercises at high school or in university composition classes. They may also form part of a university application.

When you are prompted to tell a story about your own life or experiences, a narrative essay is usually the right response.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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English Narratives: Crafting Simple Stories for B1 Level

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• 16th January 2024

What are English Narratives?

English narratives are a fundamental aspect of the English language and play a crucial role in developing language proficiency and storytelling skills. Narratives are essentially stories that are told in a sequential manner, with a plot, characters, and a specific purpose or message. In the context of English language learning, narratives help students develop their vocabulary, grammar, and speaking skills, while also enhancing their creativity and critical thinking abilities.

One of the key benefits of using English narratives in language learning is that they make the learning process more engaging and enjoyable for students. By immersing themselves in a story, students become active participants in the learning experience, which helps them to retain and apply their language skills more effectively. Narratives also provide an opportunity for students to encounter new vocabulary and grammatical structures in a meaningful context, allowing them to understand and use language more naturally.

Moreover, English narratives provide a platform for students to express themselves and share their own ideas and experiences. Through storytelling, students can unleash their creativity and imagination, as they create and narrate their own stories. This not only enhances their language skills but also boosts their confidence in using English to communicate their thoughts and emotions.

In addition to these benefits, working with English narratives allows students to develop their critical thinking skills. As they engage with the story and analyze its plot, characters, and themes, students are encouraged to think deeply and critically about the message or moral that the narrative conveys. This helps students develop their analytical skills and broaden their understanding of cultural and social aspects of the English-speaking world.

English narratives are a powerful tool for English language learners, providing them with an engaging and interactive way to develop their language skills. By immersing themselves in stories, students enhance their vocabulary, grammar, and speaking abilities, while also fostering their creativity and critical thinking skills. Incorporating narratives into English language teaching can make the learning process more meaningful and enjoyable, enabling students to become confident and proficient English speakers.

Why English Narratives are Beneficial for B1 Level Students?

1. improving language skills.

English narratives offer B1 level students a valuable opportunity to enhance their language skills. Engaging with storytelling helps students expand their vocabulary, improve grammar, and develop a deeper understanding of sentence structures. Through exposure to different writing styles and imaginative narratives, students can broaden their linguistic repertoire, enabling them to express themselves more fluently and accurately. Moreover, actively reading and analysing English narratives allows students to grasp the nuances of the language, building their confidence in using English in real-life scenarios.

2. Increasing Cultural and Literary Awareness

Exploring English narratives not only aids language development but also exposes B1 level students to the richness of English literature and culture. By engaging with narratives from various genres and time periods, students gain insights into the historical, social, and cultural contexts that shape English-speaking societies. This exposure fosters cross-cultural understanding and appreciation, broadening students’ perspectives and encouraging them to think critically. Moreover, immersing themselves in English narratives provides students with cultural references and familiarity with literary techniques, enhancing their comprehension skills and ability to interpret texts.

3. Enhancing Reading and Listening Skills

English narratives offer B1 level students the chance to practice and improve their reading and listening skills. Reading narratives exposes students to a wide range of vocabulary, sentence structures, and language patterns. This exposure enables students to refine their reading comprehension skills and build their confidence in tackling complex texts. Additionally, listening to narrated or audio versions of English narratives strengthens students’ ability to recognize and decipher spoken English. Through attentive listening, students can improve their pronunciation, intonation, and overall understanding of the language they are learning.

Incorporating English narratives into the learning process for B1 level students can be highly beneficial. Not only does it assist in developing language skills, it also fosters cultural awareness and enhances reading and listening abilities. Therefore, educators should encourage students to engage with various narratives in English, offering them a pathway towards achieving proficiency and fluency in the language.

How to Create Effective English Narratives for B1 Level?

Creating effective English narratives at the B1 level can be a challenging task, but with the right approach, it can also be a rewarding one. A narrative is a story that aims to entertain or inform the reader, and it follows a specific structure and style. To create an engaging narrative, consider the following tips.

Firstly, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of the narrative structure. Every story has an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. In the introduction, you should set the scene and introduce the main characters and the conflict. The body of the narrative should include the development of the conflict, including various events and challenges. Lastly, the conclusion should provide a resolution to the conflict and bring the story to a satisfying ending.

Secondly, pay attention to the language and vocabulary you use in your narrative. As a B1 level learner, it is important to showcase your understanding of the English language by incorporating a range of vocabulary and sentence structures. Be sure to use descriptive language to paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind and make your story more engaging.

Additionally, incorporating dialogue into your narrative can bring your characters to life and make the story more dynamic. Use quotation marks and appropriate tags to indicate who is speaking. Dialogue can add depth and personality to your characters and make the narrative more engaging for the reader.

In summary, creating effective English narratives at the B1 level requires understanding the narrative structure, using rich vocabulary and descriptive language, and incorporating dialogue to make characters come alive. Practice these techniques and allow your creativity to flow to create compelling stories that captivate your readers.

Tips for Crafting Compelling English Narratives

Start with a captivating opening.

When it comes to crafting compelling English narratives, starting with a captivating opening is essential. This is your chance to grab the reader’s attention and make them want to continue reading. Consider using an intriguing anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a vivid description to draw your readers into the story. By setting the tone and establishing intrigue from the beginning, your narrative will immediately become more engaging.

Create well-rounded characters

A vital element of a compelling English narrative is the creation of well-rounded characters. Characters are the driving force behind any story, and it is essential to make them relatable and believable. Give your characters depth by exploring their motivations, flaws, and desires. Develop their personalities through dialogue and actions, allowing readers to form a connection and become invested in their journey. By creating memorable characters, you will elevate the impact of your English narrative.

Use descriptive language and sensory details

One of the keys to crafting a compelling English narrative is using descriptive language and sensory details. Immerse your readers by painting a vivid picture with your words. Engage their senses by incorporating descriptions of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. This will transport your readers into the world you have created, making the narrative more immersive and memorable. It’s important to strike a balance between providing enough detail to enhance the story and allowing readers to use their imagination.

Resources for Practicing English Narratives at B1 Level

Books and novels.

For B1 level English learners who want to practice narratives and improve their language skills, there are several fantastic books and novels available. These literary works offer engaging stories and well-crafted narratives that captivate readers while providing ample opportunities for language practice. Popular options include classic novels like “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen or “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. These books not only expose learners to rich vocabulary and grammatical structures but also allow them to immerse themselves in the world of storytelling.

Online Reading Resources

In the digital age, there are numerous online platforms offering a wide range of reading materials designed for language learners. Websites such as British Council’s LearnEnglish Teens and News in Levels provide diversified articles and stories that cater to B1 level learners. These platforms offer engaging reading materials that cover a variety of topics, ensuring learners find narratives that interest them. Additionally, some websites provide interactive exercises and comprehension tasks that accompany the texts, enabling learners to practice their understanding and further enhance their narrative skills.

Short Film and TV Series

Another effective way to practice English narratives is by watching short films and TV series. Platforms like YouTube and Netflix offer a plethora of options that cater to B1 level learners. By watching these visual narratives, learners can not only improve their listening skills but also pick up new vocabulary and sentence structures. Short films, in particular, provide concise yet captivating stories that can be easily understood by B1 level learners. Moreover, some platforms even offer subtitles in English, assisting learners in comprehending the dialogues and enhancing their language proficiency.

By utilizing these resources, B1 level English learners can enhance their narrative skills while enjoying engaging stories from a variety of sources. Whether through classic novels, online reading platforms, or visual narratives, learners have access to a wealth of narrative content that will help them develop their language abilities and gain confidence in expressing themselves in English. With consistent practice and exposure, learners can progress further on their language-learning journey and become proficient storytellers in English.

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Are you a learner at B1 English level (intermediate) ? This section offers writing practice to help you write simple connected text on familiar topics that are of personal interest. Texts include forum posts, reviews, messages, short essays and emails.   

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• Citation Styles

How to write a narrative essay [Updated 2023]

A narrative essay is an opportunity to flex your creative muscles and craft a compelling story. In this blog post, we define what a narrative essay is and provide strategies and examples for writing one.

What is a narrative essay?

Similarly to a descriptive essay or a reflective essay, a narrative essay asks you to tell a story, rather than make an argument and present evidence. Most narrative essays describe a real, personal experience from your own life (for example, the story of your first big success).

Alternately, your narrative essay might focus on an imagined experience (for example, how your life would be if you had been born into different circumstances). While you don’t need to present a thesis statement or scholarly evidence, a narrative essay still needs to be well-structured and clearly organized so that the reader can follow your story.

When you might be asked to write a narrative essay

Although less popular than argumentative essays or expository essays, narrative essays are relatively common in high school and college writing classes.

The same techniques that you would use to write a college essay as part of a college or scholarship application are applicable to narrative essays, as well. In fact, the Common App that many students use to apply to multiple colleges asks you to submit a narrative essay.

How to choose a topic for a narrative essay

When you are asked to write a narrative essay, a topic may be assigned to you or you may be able to choose your own. With an assigned topic, the prompt will likely fall into one of two categories: specific or open-ended.

Examples of specific prompts:

• Write about the last vacation you took.
• Write about your final year of middle school.

Examples of open-ended prompts:

• Write about a time when you felt all hope was lost.
• Write about a brief, seemingly insignificant event that ended up having a big impact on your life.

A narrative essay tells a story and all good stories are centered on a conflict of some sort. Experiences with unexpected obstacles, twists, or turns make for much more compelling essays and reveal more about your character and views on life.

If you’re writing a narrative essay as part of an admissions application, remember that the people reviewing your essay will be looking at it to gain a sense of not just your writing ability, but who you are as a person.

In these cases, it’s wise to choose a topic and experience from your life that demonstrates the qualities that the prompt is looking for, such as resilience, perseverance, the ability to stay calm under pressure, etc.

It’s also important to remember that your choice of topic is just a starting point. Many students find that they arrive at new ideas and insights as they write their first draft, so the final form of your essay may have a different focus than the one you started with.

How to outline and format a narrative essay

Even though you’re not advancing an argument or proving a point of view, a narrative essay still needs to have a coherent structure. Your reader has to be able to follow you as you tell the story and to figure out the larger point that you’re making.

You’ll be evaluated on is your handling of the topic and how you structure your essay. Even though a narrative essay doesn’t use the same structure as other essay types, you should still sketch out a loose outline so you can tell your story in a clear and compelling way.

To outline a narrative essay, you’ll want to determine:

• how your story will start
• what points or specifics that you want to cover
• how your story will end
• what pace and tone you will use

In the vast majority of cases, a narrative essay should be written in the first-person, using “I.” Also, most narrative essays will follow typical formatting guidelines, so you should choose a readable font like Times New Roman in size 11 or 12. Double-space your paragraphs and use 1” margins.

To get your creative wheels turning, consider how your story compares to archetypes and famous historical and literary figures both past and present. Weave these comparisons into your essay to improve the quality of your writing and connect your personal experience to a larger context.

How to write a narrative essay

Writing a narrative essay can sometimes be a challenge for students who typically write argumentative essays or research papers in a formal, objective style. To give you a better sense of how you can write a narrative essay, here is a short example of an essay in response to the prompt, “Write about an experience that challenged your view of yourself.”

Narrative essay example

Even as a child, I always had what people might call a reserved personality. It was sometimes framed as a positive (“Sarah is a good listener”) and at other times it was put in less-than-admiring terms (“Sarah is withdrawn and not very talkative”). It was the latter kind of comments that caused me to see my introverted nature as a drawback and as something I should work to eliminate. That is, until I joined my high school’s student council.

The first paragraph, or introduction, sets up the context, establishing the situation and introducing the meaningful event upon which the essay will focus.

The other four students making up the council were very outspoken and enthusiastic. I enjoyed being around them, and I often agreed with their ideas. However, when it came to overhauling our school’s recycling plan, we butted heads. When I spoke up and offered a different point of view, one of my fellow student council members launched into a speech, advocating for her point of view. As her voice filled the room, I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. I wondered if I should try to match her tone, volume, and assertiveness as a way to be heard. But I just couldn’t do it—it’s not my way, and it never has been. For a fleeting moment, I felt defeated. But then, something in me shifted.

In this paragraph, the writer goes into greater depth about how her existing thinking brought her to this point.

I reminded myself that my view was valid and deserved to be heard. So I waited. I let my fellow council member speak her piece and when she was finished, I deliberately waited a few moments before calmly stating my case. I chose my words well, and I spoke them succinctly. Just because I’m not a big talker doesn’t mean I’m not a big thinker. I thought of the quotation “still waters run deep” and I tried to embody that. The effect on the room was palpable. People listened. And I hadn’t had to shout my point to be heard.

This paragraph demonstrates the turn in the story, the moment when everything changed. The use of the quotation “still waters run deep” imbues the story with a dash of poetry and emotion.

We eventually reached a compromise on the matter and concluded the student council meeting. Our council supervisor came to me afterward and said: “You handled that so well, with such grace and poise. I was very impressed.” Her words in that moment changed me. I realized that a bombastic nature isn't necessarily a powerful one. There is power in quiet, too. This experience taught me to view my reserved personality not as a character flaw, but as a strength.

The final paragraph, or conclusion, closes with a statement about the significance of this event and how it ended up changing the writer in a meaningful way.

Narrative essay writing tips

1. pick a meaningful story that has a conflict and a clear “moral.”.

If you’re able to choose your own topic, pick a story that has meaning and that reveals how you became the person your are today. In other words, write a narrative with a clear “moral” that you can connect with your main points.

2. Use an outline to arrange the structure of your story and organize your main points.

Although a narrative essay is different from argumentative essays, it’s still beneficial to construct an outline so that your story is well-structured and organized. Note how you want to start and end your story, and what points you want to make to tie everything together.

3. Be clear, concise, concrete, and correct in your writing.

You should use descriptive writing in your narrative essay, but don’t overdo it. Use clear, concise, and correct language and grammar throughout. Additionally, make concrete points that reinforce the main idea of your narrative.

4. Ask a friend or family member to proofread your essay.

No matter what kind of writing you’re doing, you should always plan to proofread and revise. To ensure that your narrative essay is coherent and interesting, ask a friend or family member to read over your paper. This is especially important if your essay is responding to a prompt. It helps to have another person check to make sure that you’ve fully responded to the prompt or question.

Frequently Asked Questions about narrative essays

A narrative essay, like any essay, has three main parts: an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Structuring and outlining your essay before you start writing will help you write a clear story that your readers can follow.

The first paragraph of your essay, or introduction, sets up the context, establishing the situation and introducing the meaningful event upon which the essay will focus.

In the vast majority of cases, a narrative essay should be written in the first-person, using “I.”

The 4 main types of essays are the argumentative essay, narrative essay, exploratory essay, and expository essay. You may be asked to write different types of essays at different points in your education.

Most narrative essays will be around five paragraphs, or more, depending on the topic and requirements. Make sure to check in with your instructor about the guidelines for your essay. If you’re writing a narrative essay for a college application, pay close attention to word or page count requirements.

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Telling a story

This lesson plan for teachers of teenage and adult students at intermediate level and above is based on the theme of telling stories. Students will develop fluency and work towards developing accuracy.

Introduction

Narrative, telling stories and anecdotes forms an important part of our everyday communication. This lesson is aimed at developing the ability to tell stories or anecdotes.

The lesson is based on an idea from 'Once Upon a time' by John Morgan & Mario Rinvolucri. It starts with fluency practice and works towards developing accuracy. The lesson also includes a grammatical focus session that aims to develop understanding of the meaning and form of narrative tenses.

Storytelling

Intermediate and above

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General Education

A narrative essay is one of the most intimidating assignments you can be handed at any level of your education. Where you've previously written argumentative essays that make a point or analytic essays that dissect meaning, a narrative essay asks you to write what is effectively a story .

But unlike a simple work of creative fiction, your narrative essay must have a clear and concrete motif —a recurring theme or idea that you’ll explore throughout. Narrative essays are less rigid, more creative in expression, and therefore pretty different from most other essays you’ll be writing.

But not to fear—in this article, we’ll be covering what a narrative essay is, how to write a good one, and also analyzing some personal narrative essay examples to show you what a great one looks like.

What Is a Narrative Essay?

At first glance, a narrative essay might sound like you’re just writing a story. Like the stories you're used to reading, a narrative essay is generally (but not always) chronological, following a clear throughline from beginning to end. Even if the story jumps around in time, all the details will come back to one specific theme, demonstrated through your choice in motifs.

Unlike many creative stories, however, your narrative essay should be based in fact. That doesn’t mean that every detail needs to be pure and untainted by imagination, but rather that you shouldn’t wholly invent the events of your narrative essay. There’s nothing wrong with inventing a person’s words if you can’t remember them exactly, but you shouldn’t say they said something they weren’t even close to saying.

Another big difference between narrative essays and creative fiction—as well as other kinds of essays—is that narrative essays are based on motifs. A motif is a dominant idea or theme, one that you establish before writing the essay. As you’re crafting the narrative, it’ll feed back into your motif to create a comprehensive picture of whatever that motif is.

For example, say you want to write a narrative essay about how your first day in high school helped you establish your identity. You might discuss events like trying to figure out where to sit in the cafeteria, having to describe yourself in five words as an icebreaker in your math class, or being unsure what to do during your lunch break because it’s no longer acceptable to go outside and play during lunch. All of those ideas feed back into the central motif of establishing your identity.

The important thing to remember is that while a narrative essay is typically told chronologically and intended to read like a story, it is not purely for entertainment value. A narrative essay delivers its theme by deliberately weaving the motifs through the events, scenes, and details. While a narrative essay may be entertaining, its primary purpose is to tell a complete story based on a central meaning.

Unlike other essay forms, it is totally okay—even expected—to use first-person narration in narrative essays. If you’re writing a story about yourself, it’s natural to refer to yourself within the essay. It’s also okay to use other perspectives, such as third- or even second-person, but that should only be done if it better serves your motif. Generally speaking, your narrative essay should be in first-person perspective.

Though your motif choices may feel at times like you’re making a point the way you would in an argumentative essay, a narrative essay’s goal is to tell a story, not convince the reader of anything. Your reader should be able to tell what your motif is from reading, but you don’t have to change their mind about anything. If they don’t understand the point you are making, you should consider strengthening the delivery of the events and descriptions that support your motif.

Narrative essays also share some features with analytical essays, in which you derive meaning from a book, film, or other media. But narrative essays work differently—you’re not trying to draw meaning from an existing text, but rather using an event you’ve experienced to convey meaning. In an analytical essay, you examine narrative, whereas in a narrative essay you create narrative.

The structure of a narrative essay is also a bit different than other essays. You’ll generally be getting your point across chronologically as opposed to grouping together specific arguments in paragraphs or sections. To return to the example of an essay discussing your first day of high school and how it impacted the shaping of your identity, it would be weird to put the events out of order, even if not knowing what to do after lunch feels like a stronger idea than choosing where to sit. Instead of organizing to deliver your information based on maximum impact, you’ll be telling your story as it happened, using concrete details to reinforce your theme.

3 Great Narrative Essay Examples

One of the best ways to learn how to write a narrative essay is to look at a great narrative essay sample. Let’s take a look at some truly stellar narrative essay examples and dive into what exactly makes them work so well.

A Ticket to the Fair by David Foster Wallace

Today is Press Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, and I’m supposed to be at the fairgrounds by 9:00 A.M. to get my credentials. I imagine credentials to be a small white card in the band of a fedora. I’ve never been considered press before. My real interest in credentials is getting into rides and shows for free. I’m fresh in from the East Coast, for an East Coast magazine. Why exactly they’re interested in the Illinois State Fair remains unclear to me. I suspect that every so often editors at East Coast magazines slap their foreheads and remember that about 90 percent of the United States lies between the coasts, and figure they’ll engage somebody to do pith-helmeted anthropological reporting on something rural and heartlandish. I think they asked me to do this because I grew up here, just a couple hours’ drive from downstate Springfield. I never did go to the state fair, though—I pretty much topped out at the county fair level. Actually, I haven’t been back to Illinois for a long time, and I can’t say I’ve missed it.

Throughout this essay, David Foster Wallace recounts his experience as press at the Illinois State Fair. But it’s clear from this opening that he’s not just reporting on the events exactly as they happened—though that’s also true— but rather making a point about how the East Coast, where he lives and works, thinks about the Midwest.

In his opening paragraph, Wallace states that outright: “Why exactly they’re interested in the Illinois State Fair remains unclear to me. I suspect that every so often editors at East Coast magazines slap their foreheads and remember that about 90 percent of the United States lies between the coasts, and figure they’ll engage somebody to do pith-helmeted anthropological reporting on something rural and heartlandish.”

Not every motif needs to be stated this clearly , but in an essay as long as Wallace’s, particularly since the audience for such a piece may feel similarly and forget that such a large portion of the country exists, it’s important to make that point clear.

But Wallace doesn’t just rest on introducing his motif and telling the events exactly as they occurred from there. It’s clear that he selects events that remind us of that idea of East Coast cynicism , such as when he realizes that the Help Me Grow tent is standing on top of fake grass that is killing the real grass beneath, when he realizes the hypocrisy of craving a corn dog when faced with a real, suffering pig, when he’s upset for his friend even though he’s not the one being sexually harassed, and when he witnesses another East Coast person doing something he wouldn’t dare to do.

Wallace is literally telling the audience exactly what happened, complete with dates and timestamps for when each event occurred. But he’s also choosing those events with a purpose—he doesn’t focus on details that don’t serve his motif. That’s why he discusses the experiences of people, how the smells are unappealing to him, and how all the people he meets, in cowboy hats, overalls, or “black spandex that looks like cheesecake leotards,” feel almost alien to him.

All of these details feed back into the throughline of East Coast thinking that Wallace introduces in the first paragraph. He also refers back to it in the essay’s final paragraph, stating:

At last, an overarching theory blooms inside my head: megalopolitan East Coasters’ summer treats and breaks and literally ‘getaways,’ flights-from—from crowds, noise, heat, dirt, the stress of too many sensory choices….The East Coast existential treat is escape from confines and stimuli—quiet, rustic vistas that hold still, turn inward, turn away. Not so in the rural Midwest. Here you’re pretty much away all the time….Something in a Midwesterner sort of actuates , deep down, at a public event….The real spectacle that draws us here is us.

Throughout this journey, Wallace has tried to demonstrate how the East Coast thinks about the Midwest, ultimately concluding that they are captivated by the Midwest’s less stimuli-filled life, but that the real reason they are interested in events like the Illinois State Fair is that they are, in some ways, a means of looking at the East Coast in a new, estranging way.

The reason this works so well is that Wallace has carefully chosen his examples, outlined his motif and themes in the first paragraph, and eventually circled back to the original motif with a clearer understanding of his original point.

When outlining your own narrative essay, try to do the same. Start with a theme, build upon it with examples, and return to it in the end with an even deeper understanding of the original issue. You don’t need this much space to explore a theme, either—as we’ll see in the next example, a strong narrative essay can also be very short.

Death of a Moth by Virginia Woolf

After a time, tired by his dancing apparently, he settled on the window ledge in the sun, and, the queer spectacle being at an end, I forgot about him. Then, looking up, my eye was caught by him. He was trying to resume his dancing, but seemed either so stiff or so awkward that he could only flutter to the bottom of the window-pane; and when he tried to fly across it he failed. Being intent on other matters I watched these futile attempts for a time without thinking, unconsciously waiting for him to resume his flight, as one waits for a machine, that has stopped momentarily, to start again without considering the reason of its failure. After perhaps a seventh attempt he slipped from the wooden ledge and fell, fluttering his wings, on to his back on the window sill. The helplessness of his attitude roused me. It flashed upon me that he was in difficulties; he could no longer raise himself; his legs struggled vainly. But, as I stretched out a pencil, meaning to help him to right himself, it came over me that the failure and awkwardness were the approach of death. I laid the pencil down again.

In this essay, Virginia Woolf explains her encounter with a dying moth. On surface level, this essay is just a recounting of an afternoon in which she watched a moth die—it’s even established in the title. But there’s more to it than that. Though Woolf does not begin her essay with as clear a motif as Wallace, it’s not hard to pick out the evidence she uses to support her point, which is that the experience of this moth is also the human experience.

In the title, Woolf tells us this essay is about death. But in the first paragraph, she seems to mostly be discussing life—the moth is “content with life,” people are working in the fields, and birds are flying. However, she mentions that it is mid-September and that the fields were being plowed. It’s autumn and it’s time for the harvest; the time of year in which many things die.

In this short essay, she chronicles the experience of watching a moth seemingly embody life, then die. Though this essay is literally about a moth, it’s also about a whole lot more than that. After all, moths aren’t the only things that die—Woolf is also reflecting on her own mortality, as well as the mortality of everything around her.

At its core, the essay discusses the push and pull of life and death, not in a way that’s necessarily sad, but in a way that is accepting of both. Woolf begins by setting up the transitional fall season, often associated with things coming to an end, and raises the ideas of pleasure, vitality, and pity.

At one point, Woolf tries to help the dying moth, but reconsiders, as it would interfere with the natural order of the world. The moth’s death is part of the natural order of the world, just like fall, just like her own eventual death.

All these themes are set up in the beginning and explored throughout the essay’s narrative. Though Woolf doesn’t directly state her theme, she reinforces it by choosing a small, isolated event—watching a moth die—and illustrating her point through details.

With this essay, we can see that you don’t need a big, weird, exciting event to discuss an important meaning. Woolf is able to explore complicated ideas in a short essay by being deliberate about what details she includes, just as you can be in your own essays.

Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin

On the twenty-ninth of July, in 1943, my father died. On the same day, a few hours later, his last child was born. Over a month before this, while all our energies were concentrated in waiting for these events, there had been, in Detroit, one of the bloodiest race riots of the century. A few hours after my father’s funeral, while he lay in state in the undertaker’s chapel, a race riot broke out in Harlem. On the morning of the third of August, we drove my father to the graveyard through a wilderness of smashed plate glass.

Like Woolf, Baldwin does not lay out his themes in concrete terms—unlike Wallace, there’s no clear sentence that explains what he’ll be talking about. However, you can see the motifs quite clearly: death, fatherhood, struggle, and race.

Throughout the narrative essay, Baldwin discusses the circumstances of his father’s death, including his complicated relationship with his father. By introducing those motifs in the first paragraph, the reader understands that everything discussed in the essay will come back to those core ideas. When Baldwin talks about his experience with a white teacher taking an interest in him and his father’s resistance to that, he is also talking about race and his father’s death. When he talks about his father’s death, he is also talking about his views on race. When he talks about his encounters with segregation and racism, he is talking, in part, about his father.

Because his father was a hard, uncompromising man, Baldwin struggles to reconcile the knowledge that his father was right about many things with his desire to not let that hardness consume him, as well.

Baldwin doesn’t explicitly state any of this, but his writing so often touches on the same motifs that it becomes clear he wants us to think about all these ideas in conversation with one another.

At the end of the essay, Baldwin makes it more clear:

This fight begins, however, in the heart and it had now been laid to my charge to keep my own heart free of hatred and despair. This intimation made my heart heavy and, now that my father was irrecoverable, I wished that he had been beside me so that I could have searched his face for the answers which only the future would give me now.

Here, Baldwin ties together the themes and motifs into one clear statement: that he must continue to fight and recognize injustice, especially racial injustice, just as his father did. But unlike his father, he must do it beginning with himself—he must not let himself be closed off to the world as his father was. And yet, he still wishes he had his father for guidance, even as he establishes that he hopes to be a different man than his father.

In this essay, Baldwin loads the front of the essay with his motifs, and, through his narrative, weaves them together into a theme. In the end, he comes to a conclusion that connects all of those things together and leaves the reader with a lasting impression of completion—though the elements may have been initially disparate, in the end everything makes sense.

You can replicate this tactic of introducing seemingly unattached ideas and weaving them together in your own essays. By introducing those motifs, developing them throughout, and bringing them together in the end, you can demonstrate to your reader how all of them are related. However, it’s especially important to be sure that your motifs and clear and consistent throughout your essay so that the conclusion feels earned and consistent—if not, readers may feel mislead.

5 Key Tips for Writing Narrative Essays

Narrative essays can be a lot of fun to write since they’re so heavily based on creativity. But that can also feel intimidating—sometimes it’s easier to have strict guidelines than to have to make it all up yourself. Here are a few tips to keep your narrative essay feeling strong and fresh.

Develop Strong Motifs

Motifs are the foundation of a narrative essay . What are you trying to say? How can you say that using specific symbols or events? Those are your motifs.

In the same way that an argumentative essay’s body should support its thesis, the body of your narrative essay should include motifs that support your theme.

Try to avoid cliches, as these will feel tired to your readers. Instead of roses to symbolize love, try succulents. Instead of the ocean representing some vast, unknowable truth, try the depths of your brother’s bedroom. Keep your language and motifs fresh and your essay will be even stronger!

Use First-Person Perspective

In many essays, you’re expected to remove yourself so that your points stand on their own. Not so in a narrative essay—in this case, you want to make use of your own perspective.

Sometimes a different perspective can make your point even stronger. If you want someone to identify with your point of view, it may be tempting to choose a second-person perspective. However, be sure you really understand the function of second-person; it’s very easy to put a reader off if the narration isn’t expertly deployed.

If you want a little bit of distance, third-person perspective may be okay. But be careful—too much distance and your reader may feel like the narrative lacks truth.

That’s why first-person perspective is the standard. It keeps you, the writer, close to the narrative, reminding the reader that it really happened. And because you really know what happened and how, you’re free to inject your own opinion into the story without it detracting from your point, as it would in a different type of essay.

Stick to the Truth

Your essay should be true. However, this is a creative essay, and it’s okay to embellish a little. Rarely in life do we experience anything with a clear, concrete meaning the way somebody in a book might. If you flub the details a little, it’s okay—just don’t make them up entirely.

Also, nobody expects you to perfectly recall details that may have happened years ago. You may have to reconstruct dialog from your memory and your imagination. That’s okay, again, as long as you aren’t making it up entirely and assigning made-up statements to somebody.

Dialog is a powerful tool. A good conversation can add flavor and interest to a story, as we saw demonstrated in David Foster Wallace’s essay. As previously mentioned, it’s okay to flub it a little, especially because you’re likely writing about an experience you had without knowing that you’d be writing about it later.

However, don’t rely too much on it. Your narrative essay shouldn’t be told through people explaining things to one another; the motif comes through in the details. Dialog can be one of those details, but it shouldn’t be the only one.

Use Sensory Descriptions

Because a narrative essay is a story, you can use sensory details to make your writing more interesting. If you’re describing a particular experience, you can go into detail about things like taste, smell, and hearing in a way that you probably wouldn’t do in any other essay style.

These details can tie into your overall motifs and further your point. Woolf describes in great detail what she sees while watching the moth, giving us the sense that we, too, are watching the moth. In Wallace’s essay, he discusses the sights, sounds, and smells of the Illinois State Fair to help emphasize his point about its strangeness. And in Baldwin’s essay, he describes shattered glass as a “wilderness,” and uses the feelings of his body to describe his mental state.

All these descriptions anchor us not only in the story, but in the motifs and themes as well. One of the tools of a writer is making the reader feel as you felt, and sensory details help you achieve that.

What’s Next?

Looking to brush up on your essay-writing capabilities before the ACT? This guide to ACT English will walk you through some of the best strategies and practice questions to get you prepared!

Part of practicing for the ACT is ensuring your word choice and diction are on point. Check out this guide to some of the most common errors on the ACT English section to be sure that you're not making these common mistakes!

A solid understanding of English principles will help you make an effective point in a narrative essay, and you can get that understanding through taking a rigorous assortment of high school English classes !

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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Narrative Essay

Narrative Essay Examples

10+ Interesting Narrative Essay Examples Plus Writing Tips!

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Narrative Essay - A Complete Writing Guide with Examples

Writing a Personal Narrative Essay: Everything You Need to Know

Best Narrative Essay Topics 2023 for Students

Crafting a Winning Narrative Essay Outline: A Step-by-Step Guide

Many students struggle with crafting engaging and impactful narrative essays. They often find it challenging to weave their personal experiences into coherent and compelling stories.

If you’re having a hard time, don't worry! 

We’ve compiled a range of narrative essay examples that will serve as helpful tools for you to get started. These examples will provide a clear path for crafting engaging and powerful narrative essays.

So, keep reading and find our expertly written examples!

• 1. Narrative Essay Definition
• 2. Narrative Essay Examples
• 3. Narrative Essay Examples for Students
• 4. Narrative Essay Topics
• 5. Narrative Essay Writing Tips

Narrative Essay Definition

Writing a narrative essay is a unique form of storytelling that revolves around personal experiences, aiming to immerse the reader in the author's world. It's a piece of writing that delves into the depths of thoughts and feelings. 

In a narrative essay, life experiences take center stage, serving as the main substance of the story. It's a powerful tool for writers to convey a personal journey, turning experiences into a captivating tale. This form of storytelling is an artful display of emotions intended to engage readers, leaving the reader feeling like they are a part of the story.

By focusing on a specific theme, event, emotions, and reflections, a narrative essay weaves a storyline that leads the reader through the author's experiences. 

The Essentials of Narrative Essays

Let's start with the basics. The four types of essays are argumentative essays , descriptive essays , expository essays , and narrative essays.

The goal of a narrative essay is to tell a compelling tale from one person's perspective. A narrative essay uses all components you’d find in a typical story, such as a beginning, middle, and conclusion, as well as plot, characters, setting, and climax.

The narrative essay's goal is the plot, which should be detailed enough to reach a climax. Here's how it works:

• It's usually presented in chronological order.
• It has a function. This is typically evident in the thesis statement's opening paragraph.
• It may include speech.
• It's told with sensory details and vivid language, drawing the reader in. All of these elements are connected to the writer's major argument in some way.

Before writing your essay, make sure you go through a sufficient number of narrative essay examples. These examples will help you in knowing the dos and don’ts of a good narrative essay.

It is always a better option to have some sense of direction before you start anything. Below, you can find important details and a bunch of narrative essay examples. These examples will also help you build your content according to the format. 

Here is a how to start a narrative essay example:

Sample Narrative Essay

The examples inform the readers about the writing style and structure of the narration. The essay below will help you understand how to create a story and build this type of essay in no time.

Here is another narrative essay examples 500 words:

Narrative Essay Examples for Students

Narrative essays offer students a platform to express their experiences and creativity. These examples show how to effectively structure and present personal stories for education.

Here are some helpful narrative essay examples:

Narrative Essay Examples Middle School

Narrative Essay Examples for Grade 7

Narrative Essay Examples for Grade 8

Grade 11 Narrative Essay Examples

Narrative Essay Example For High School

Narrative Essay Example For College

Personal Narrative Essay Example

Descriptive Narrative Essay Example

3rd Person Narrative Essay Example

Narrative Essay Topics

Here are some narrative essay topics to help you get started with your narrative essay writing.

• When I got my first bunny
• When I moved to Canada
• I haven’t experienced this freezing temperature ever before
• The moment I won the basketball finale
• A memorable day at the museum
• How I talk to my parrot
• The day I saw the death
• When I finally rebelled against my professor

Need more topics? Check out these extensive narrative essay topics to get creative ideas!

Narrative Essay Writing Tips

Narrative essays give you the freedom to be creative, but it can be tough to make yours special. Use these tips to make your story interesting:

• Share your story from a personal viewpoint, engaging the reader with your experiences.
• Use vivid descriptions to paint a clear picture of the setting, characters, and emotions involved.
• Organize events in chronological order for a smooth and understandable narrative.
• Bring characters to life through their actions, dialogue, and personalities.
• Employ dialogue sparingly to add realism and progression to the narrative.
• Engage readers by evoking emotions through your storytelling.
• End with reflection or a lesson learned from the experience, providing insight.

Now you have essay examples and tips to help you get started, you have a solid starting point for crafting compelling narrative essays.

However, if storytelling isn't your forte, you can always turn to our essay writing service for help.

Our writers are specialists that can tackle any type of essay with great skill. With their experience, you get a top-quality, 100% plagiarism free essay everytime.

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Narrative Essay Topics: TOP 200 Choices for Students

Imagine yourself facing a blank page, ready to fill it with your memories and imagination. What story will you tell today?

As students, you often have to write narratives that capture people's attention. But with so many stories to choose from, where do you start? How do you find the perfect topic that will grab our readers' interest and make them think?

Join our essay service experts as we explore 200 topics for college where stories are waiting to be told, and experiences are ready to be shared. From everyday events to unforgettable moments, each topic is a chance to connect with your readers and make them feel something.

Best Narrative Essay Topics: How to Choose the One That Resonates 

A narrative essay is a type of writing that tells a personal story, including characters, plot, setting, and the order of events. Its main goal is to connect with readers emotionally and share a specific message or insight through the retelling of a meaningful experience.

Students write narrative essays as part of their studies for several reasons. Firstly, it allows them to express themselves creatively by sharing their unique experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Secondly, it helps them develop important writing skills like organizing ideas and thoughts effectively.

Choosing good narrative essay ideas involves looking at personal experiences, interests, and the potential for engaging storytelling. Here's a simple guide to help you pick the right topic:

• Think about significant moments in your life that had a lasting impact, such as personal growth or overcoming challenges.
• Choose topics related to your hobbies, interests, or areas of expertise to make your story more engaging.
• Consider what your audience would be interested in and choose topics that resonate with them.
• Focus on a specific event or detail to make your narrative more focused and impactful.
• Look for universal themes like love or personal transformation that connect with readers on a deeper level.
• Brainstorm ideas and write freely to uncover compelling topics.
• Decide on storytelling techniques like flashbacks or foreshadowing and choose a topic that fits.
• Get feedback from friends, peers, or instructors to see if your topics are interesting and impactful.
• Choose topics that evoke strong emotions for a more compelling narrative.
• Select a topic that you personally connect with to make your story authentic.

Once you've chosen a topic, brainstorm ideas and create an outline for your essay. Follow your professor's instructions carefully and consider seeking help from our narrative essay writing service if needed.

Bring your stories to life with EssayPro. Select from a vast array of narrative essay topics and let our professionals help you weave your tales into captivating essays. Whether it's adventure, reflection, or imagination, we're here to assist.

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Ideas for Narrative Essay Topics

After exploring how students write narrative paragraphs, we've put together a list of narrative essay topics designed specifically for college and school students. This list covers a wide range of subjects, so pick one that speaks to you! If you want to see how to develop a topic into a written essay, check out our narrative essay example . 

Literacy Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

How about delving into captivating literacy narrative essay topics designed specifically for college-level writing? Exciting, isn't it?

• How did learning to read change my perspective on the world?
• What was my favorite childhood book and why?
• How did writing my first story impact my love for storytelling?
• What challenges did I face when learning a new language?
• How did keeping a journal help me improve my writing skills?
• How did my family influence my attitude toward reading?
• What role did literature play in shaping my identity?
• How did participating in a book club enhance my reading experience?
• How did technology affect my reading habits?
• What was the most memorable book I read in school?
• How did my favorite teacher inspire my passion for literature?
• What impact did reading diverse perspectives have on my worldview?
• How did overcoming a reading difficulty shape my relationship with books?
• What lessons did I learn from writing my first poem?
• How did storytelling traditions in my culture influence my literacy journey?

Personal Narrative Essay Topics on Relationships

Take a moment to reflect on your past experiences and craft compelling personal narratives with these essay ideas.

• How did my relationship with my best friend change over time?
• What lessons did I learn from my first romantic relationship?
• How did my relationship with my sibling influence who I am today?
• What challenges did I face in maintaining a long-distance friendship?
• How did a conflict with a family member teach me about communication?
• What role do my pets play in my life and relationships?
• How did volunteering together strengthen my bond with a friend?
• What impact did a mentor have on my personal growth?
• How did a betrayal affect my trust in relationships?
• What did I learn from a failed friendship?
• How did traveling with a friend deepen our connection?
• What role does forgiveness play in maintaining healthy relationships?
• How did my relationship with my parents evolve as I grew older?
• What lessons did I learn about teamwork from a group project?
• How did a disagreement with a colleague teach me about compromise?

Best Narrative Essay Topics on Education and Learning

Consider the beauty of sharing your personal experiences and emotions in a captivating manner through these ideas for personal narrative essays.

• How did a particular teacher inspire me to excel in school?
• What challenges did I face while adapting to online learning?
• How did participating in extracurricular activities shape my educational experience?
• What lessons did I learn from a memorable field trip?
• How did studying abroad broaden my perspective on education?
• What role does technology play in modern education?
• How did overcoming a learning obstacle impact my academic journey?
• What did I gain from tutoring a classmate in a challenging subject?
• How did a hands-on learning experience change my understanding of a topic?
• What impact did a mentor have on my educational and career aspirations?
• How did peer collaboration enhance my learning in a group project?
• What lessons did I learn from a failure or setback in school?
• How did my cultural background influence my approach to education?
• What role does self-directed learning play in my academic success?
• How did participating in a debate or public speaking event shape my communication skills?

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Personal Narrative Essay Ideas on Reflection on Life

Why not ignite your creativity with a range of narrative essay topics, from extraordinary moments to everyday experiences?

• How did confronting a fear change my view on courage and growth?
• How do family traditions shape my personal values and beliefs?
• What does success mean to me, and how has it evolved?
• Reflecting on friendships as a source of support in tough times.
• How have travel experiences expanded my global perspective?
• How do my hobbies and passions bring fulfillment to my life?
• Exploring the link between self-love and mental well-being.
• How can challenges lead to unexpected personal growth?
• Reflecting on the importance of setting and reaching personal goals.
• What pivotal moments mark my journey to self-acceptance?
• Investigating how forgiveness resolves personal conflicts.
• How do cultural expectations shape my idea of success?
• Reflecting on the significance of self-care for overall well-being.
• Exploring how technology influences my connections and worldview.
• What did I learn from facing a life-changing decision?

Ideas for a Narrative Essay on Culture and Society

Engaging your readers with narrative essays on culture and society is a great way to spark interest, offering captivating ideas for exploration.

• How has my cultural heritage shaped my identity?
• Reflecting on a tradition or ceremony that holds significance in my culture.
• Exploring the impact of globalization on local traditions and customs.
• How does language influence the way I perceive the world around me?
• Investigating the role of food in cultural identity and expression.
• Reflecting on a cultural celebration or festival that left a lasting impression.
• How does media portrayal affect societal perceptions of different cultures?
• Exploring the intersection of culture and religion in shaping values and beliefs.
• Reflecting on experiences of cultural assimilation or integration.
• How do stereotypes impact individuals within a cultural group?
• Investigating the role of art and literature in preserving cultural heritage.
• Reflecting on the challenges and benefits of multiculturalism in society.
• Exploring the significance of storytelling in passing down cultural traditions.
• How do cultural norms influence gender roles and expectations?
• Reflecting on the cultural exchange experiences that have broadened my perspective.

Since you're working on essays, we think it's suitable to suggest you learn more about the case study format , which is another common college assignment.

Narrative Writing Topics on Hobbies and Interests

Wow your readers by turning your passions and hobbies into compelling narrative essay topics that will get them thinking.

• Describe a memorable adventure or experience related to your favorite hobby.
• Reflect on how your hobby has evolved over time and its significance in your life.
• Write about a moment when your hobby provided a sense of escape or relaxation.
• Explore the role of hobbies in promoting mental health and well-being.
• Share a story of how you discovered your passion for a particular hobby.
• Describe a challenge you faced while pursuing your hobby and how you overcame it.
• Reflect on the impact of your hobby on your relationships with others.
• Write about a hobby-related achievement or milestone that you are proud of.
• Explore how your hobby connects you to a community or group of like-minded individuals.
• Describe the process of learning a new hobby and the lessons you gained from it.
• Reflect on the role of hobbies in balancing work, leisure, and personal growth.
• Write about a hobby-related project or creation that you are passionate about.
• Explore the connection between your hobbies and your broader interests and values.
• Describe a favorite memory or experience involving your hobby.
• Reflect on how your hobbies have influenced your perspective on life and the world around you.

Narrative Essay Titles on Life-Changing Moments

Life is full of unexpected twists that can lead to life-changing moments. Take a look at these narrative essay titles for stories that have had a lasting impact on your life.

• How did meeting a lifelong friend change my life?
• What lessons did I learn from overcoming a major obstacle?
• How did traveling to a new country broaden my perspective?
• Reflecting on the day I discovered my passion.
• How did a health scare transform my lifestyle?
• What impact did volunteering in my community have on me?
• How did I find strength in a moment of loss?
• Reflecting on the decision that altered my path.
• How did a random act of kindness change my outlook?
• What lessons did I learn from a failed endeavor?
• How did confronting a fear empower me?
• Reflecting on the day I realized my potential.
• How did experiencing a natural disaster shape my priorities?
• What insights did I gain from a cultural exchange?
• How did a mentor's guidance impact my life trajectory?

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Good Narrative Topics on Travel and Adventure

Consider creating intriguing titles for your narrative essay ideas by exploring thrilling travel adventures.

• What was my most unforgettable travel experience?
• How did a solo journey change my perspective on life?
• Reflecting on an unexpected adventure in a foreign land.
• How did traveling on a budget lead to unexpected discoveries?
• What lessons did I learn from getting lost in a new city?
• How did a cultural immersion experience broaden my understanding of the world?
• Reflecting on the friendships formed during a travel adventure.
• What was the scariest moment I encountered while traveling?
• How did volunteering abroad impact my outlook on life?
• What cultural differences surprised me the most while traveling?
• Reflecting on the beauty of nature experienced during a hiking trip.
• How did traveling to a remote destination challenge my comfort zone?
• What was the most delicious food I tried while traveling?
• Reflecting on the kindness of strangers encountered during a journey.
• How did a travel mishap turn into a memorable experience?

Narrative Essay Topic Ideas on Career and Work Experience

College students can uncover captivating narrative essay ideas by exploring potential career paths or reminiscing about past job experiences.

• What was my first job, and what did I learn from it?
• Reflecting on a challenging project that taught me resilience.
• How did a career setback lead to unexpected opportunities?
• What lessons did I learn from transitioning to a new career?
• Reflecting on a mentor who influenced my career path.
• How did a workplace conflict teach me about communication?
• What was the most rewarding moment in my career so far?
• Reflecting on the importance of work-life balance in my career journey.
• How did networking help me advance in my career?
• What challenges did I face as a new graduate entering the workforce?
• Reflecting on the decision to pursue a passion versus stability in my career.
• How did a career change impact my sense of fulfillment?
• What skills did I develop through volunteer work that helped in my career?
• Reflecting on the role of mentors in my professional growth.
• How did a career milestone shape my future aspirations?

Interesting Narrative Essay Topics about Challenges and Obstacles

If you're not sure what to write about for your narrative essay, think back to the tough times you've had and how you managed to get through them.

• How did I overcome my fear of failure?
• Reflecting on a time when I felt like giving up but persevered.
• How did a personal setback lead to unexpected growth?
• What lessons did I learn from navigating a difficult relationship?
• Reflecting on a time when I had to step out of my comfort zone.
• How did I overcome a major health challenge?
• What strategies did I use to overcome procrastination?
• Reflecting on the resilience I developed after facing adversity.
• How did I navigate financial challenges and come out stronger?
• What did I learn from failing at something I was passionate about?
• Reflecting on the obstacles I faced while pursuing my dreams.
• How did I overcome imposter syndrome in my academic or professional life?
• What role did self-care play in helping me overcome challenges?
• Reflecting on a time when I had to stand up for myself in the face of adversity.
• How did I find motivation and inspiration during tough times?

Final Remarks

As we wrap up, our list of 200 narrative essay topics is here to fuel your creativity for your next writing project! Whether you're sharing a memorable event, reliving a childhood memory, or expressing a profound insight, crafting a narrative essay can be an uplifting experience that resonates deeply with readers.

And if you're gearing up for college admissions, why not check out our admission essay writing service ? We've already assisted countless students in securing their spots at their dream colleges, and we'd love to help you, too!

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English Writing Exercises for B1 – An opinion essay

English Writing Exercises for B1

Preparation

1. read the task and the essay. in which paragraph (a-d) does the writer ….

1   give his opinion?

2   introduce the topic?

3   make his proposals?

4   sum up the essay?

Some people think that the school curriculum should include subjects such as ‘leading a healthy lifestyle’. Write an essay in which you give your own opinion on this issue and propose ways in which this subject might be taught in schools.

[ A ]   If we can believe recent reports in the press, many teenagers are overweight and unfit. Some people argue that teaching children at school about a healthy lifestyle would help to solve this problem.

[ B ]   In my view , it would be very sensible to teach students how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Health problems later in life often start because people get into bad habits during their teenage years. It is sometimes said that this is the responsibility of the parent and not the school. But as I see it , everyone in society would benefit from this.

[ C ]   In order to tackle this problem , time should be set aside in the school timetable to teach children about the benefits of eating healthily and getting lots of exercise. Moreover , doctors could also play a part by coming into school and talking to students. I suggest that one or two hours a week should be spent on this topic.

[ D ]   To sum up , I agree with those people who believe that healthy living should be taught in schools. It seems to me that the students themselves and society in general would benefit from this proposal.

1 B   2 A   3 C   4 D

2. Complete the gaps with the underlined phrases from the essay.

1   Introducing your opinions

     in my opinion, 1 …………………………. 2 …………………………. 3 ………………………….

2   Introducing other people’s opinions

     It is a widely held view that

     Most people agree that

     It is a common belief that

      4 ………………………….

      5 ………………………….

3   Making an additional point

     What is more,      Not only that, but      Furthermore,

     6 ………………………….

4   Introducing proposals and solutions

     One solution might be to

     What I propose is that

     I would strongly recommend that

     It is vital that

     7 ………………………….  

     8 ………………………….

5   Concluding

      In conclusion,      To conclude,      9 ………………………….

1 In my view   2 as I see it   3 It seems to me that

4 Some people argue that   5 It is sometimes said that

6 Moreover   7 In order to tackle this problem

8 I suggest that   9 To sum up

Writing Guide

Many people think that teenagers spend too much time using electronic gadgets. Write an essay in which you give your own view of the problem and propose ways of solving it.

Writing Strategy

1   Divide your essay into an introduction, main body and conclusion.

2   If the task has more than one element, deal with them in different paragraphs within the main body.

3   Use formal language.

4   Support opinions with evidence or examples.

3. Read the task and the Writing Strategy above. In which paragraph (A-D) of your essay will you …

1   describe the problem?

2   introduce the topic: mention the problem (using different words from the task) and say that you will propose solutions?

3   sum up by saying that you are confident that your proposed solutions will help to solve the problem?

4   propose solutions?

1 B   2 A   3 D   4 C

4. Make notes about the headings below.

My view of the problem and its causes: …………………………….

Solutions to the problem: …………………………………….

your own answers

5. Write your essay. Follow the paragraph plan in exercise 3, and use your notes from exercise 4. Include some phrases from exercise 2.

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Essay – examples & model answers | B2 First (FCE)

FCE Essay Examples:  Topic (Environment) 

Example exam task:, example answer (grade: 3), example answer:.

I think that my country has problems with pollution to the environment like all other countries. This problem is normal for Russia. We have big problems with transport because there are too much cars in our country. And because of that we have problems with atmospeer, air in my city and in all Russia is really dirty and sometimes I can’t make a sigh because it smells around me and of course around that cars on the road. I’ve heard about tradition of one country. They don’t go anywhere by car one day a month or a year, they just use bycicle or their feet. I think it could be very good if we had a tradition like that.

So, what about the rivers and the seas? Yeah, there are some really good and clean rivers and seas where you can go, but there are not many of them. Once I saw the river OB in my city, it was about two years ago but I stil remember that in some places it was not blue, it was green or purple I didn’t really understand because it had different colours.

I don’t know what should we do. Maybe we should just open our eyes and look what we did. But Russian people don’t care about the world around them many people care only about themselves an that’s all.

So, the best idea is look around and try to do something good for our planet and for us and our children.

FCE, CAE, CPE

Practice, write & improve, examiners comments & grade:, example answer (grade: 3-4).

To begin with pollution and damage to the environment is the most serious and difficult problem for countries of all over the world. Scientists of different countries predict a global ecocatastrophe if people won’t change their attitude to our planet.

First of all a huge damage to the environment brings a transport. People can’t imagine their living without cars, buses, trains, ships and planes. But it’s an open secret that one of disadvantage of these accustomed things is harmful exhaust. Needless to say that use of environment friendly engines helps us to save atmosphere from pollution.

In addition to this our rivers and seas are in not less danger situation. It’s a fact of common knowledge that numerous factories and plants pour off their waste to ponds. Obviously that cleaning manufacturing water helps to avoid extinction of ocean residents.

Apart from this I’m inclined to believe that every person can and must contribute to solving this important problem. Doing a little steps for protection our environment every day we will be able to save our Earth. And it’s a task of each of us.

Model Answer (Grade: 5)

DEVELOPMENT VS ENVIRONMENT

If we surf the web looking for pollution and environmental catastrophes, we will find out that every country in the world suffers them. This is a natural consequence of the struggle between development and environment.

If a country decided to live isolated from the rest of the world, living on what it can naturally grow and produce, it surely wouldn’t be highly polluted. But we all want exotic food and technological items from all over the world, so we have to pay the price.

Investing on electrical transport would benefit the environment a lot. Even more if this electricity came from a natural source of energy like wind, rivers and solar boards. It’s difficult to achieve this because petrol companies will fight against these actions.

We also have to take care of our rivers and seas. We all have heard about factories throwing highly toxic substances to rivers, without minimizing their poisoning effects. A really strict law should be applied to fine these factories and make them change their policy.

But what about ourselves? We also can do a lot! If, when possible, we bought larger packs of food, we would be producing less rubbish. And this is only an example!

FCE Essay Examples: Topic (Fashion) 

In today’s world, the fashion industry has a strong importance in people’s lives. The fashion industry say to the society what to wear and creates new types of clothes all the time.

Some people claim that the fashion industry has a bad effect on people’s lives, they say that the fashion industry creates clothes that the society has to wear. Furthermore, the clothes’ price is extremely high and people, who can’t afford it, should not be in the society.

In the other hand, the fashion industry guide the people to be in a good appearance, because, nowadays, the appearance of the person is more important than the person itself.

In my opinion, the fashion industry doesn’t has a bad influence on people’s lives. It’s something which was created to help people what to wear.

Example Answer (Grade: 4)

Fashion industry is very a discussed subject nowadays: they create and design new clothes everyday in order to satisfy some people needs.

There are many people who claim that the fashion industry is important and good for society. According to them, this industry design beautiful clothes and thanks to that every person can wear shirts, trousers or any acessory which is on today’s fashion.

On the other hand, the fashion industry in some people opinion, controls the market of clothes and because of that they can’t wear what they want to. In addition, the industry can increase the price of clothes, forcing people who don’t want to be “oldfashioned” to buy and pay a large amount of money to keep “beautiful”.

In my opinion, we can’t let the fashion industry decide what we must or musn’t wear. We shouldn’t judge people for its appearance,because that is not important. We must wear whatever we like, want and feel confortable with.

The society we live today is characterised by technology in constant development, fast speed processes, information travelling and getting to people at a blink of an eye and a complex web of social networking. In this context, the fashion industry is becoming increasingly important and having a more and more paramount role in our lives.

On one hand, the fashion industry is undeniably a source of profit and income. It hires millions of people all over the world and generates millions of dollars every year. Furthermore, such profitable business is also believed to be able to spread and make known the culture of a people, encouraging and enhancing a better understanding of each other.

Nevertheless, for those who are neither impressed nor motivated by numbers and figures, the fashion industry is seen as one which segregates people, isolating those who not fit their laws and commands. It is stated that people place too much importance on appearance and the material, world, sadly true, and the fashion industry just spurs on such situation. Moreover, not only are the costs of fashion item unrealistically high, it is thought to be a money better spent on more pressing issues, such as poverty and hunger.

I do believe that the fashion industry, as it is today, has a harmful effect, because it values a minority of people in detriment to the majority. However, it has such a wide reach that, it put into a good use, it can save lives.

FCE Essay Examples: Topic (Languages) 

“There are more reasons to learn a foreign language than to pass a test”

Everything around us revolves around language(s), it is the most important thing in our lives. Society would just not function without it. They are It is our future and I would personaly love to learn as many as I possibly can.

Not everything in life is done because it is necessary. Learning a new language can be a lot of fun. Many people only do it as a hoby, or their knowledge is something that brings them pride and pleasure.

Secondly, we have people who do it simply to challenge themselves. Truly I believe that having a great outcome that stems from your hard work and dedication to learn something new is a wonderful way to challenge prove your ability to yourself and others. Then there is travelling. It is very important to be able to understand and have a conversation with someone abroad, unless you would like to get lost or worse.

To conclude, I think that learning a new language is an amazing thing no matter why you do it. It is always better to do things out of enjoyment, but even if you do it for a test, that knowledge will always be useful.

Learning a a foreign languages is very important nowadays. English, in particular, is essential because it allows is spoken all over the world. That’s the reason why we start studying it from the age of six years old. Going abroad and being able to speak to native people is very satisfying and that’s why I want to improve my knowledge about foreign languages.

I decided to take this exam to know how high my level of English is, but also because I need this certification to go abroad next summer. I really want to come back to Cornwall, an amazing region in the South-West of England. I’ve been there twice with my family, but now I want to go alone. Only being there to England I can really improve my English comprehension and speaking skills.

Fortunately I can will have some English lessons which taught in English at university and I can’t wait for it because it will be an interesting challenge for me. Studying foreign languages is essential to live and to travel. It isn’t simple and I surely have to challenge myself everyday, but the result is so satisfying that we I can’t do without it.

FCE Essay Example: Topic (History) 

A very common topic that is being discussed nowadays is wether schools should teach subjects that some may consider useless later in life. A clear example is history, since it is quite difficult to learn and does not help us in day-to-day activities.

However, many people do not realize the importance of it or that it affects our lives today. For example, our political system would not be this way if it weren’t for the Ancient Greeks, numerous politicians and wars who helped shape democracy and our constitution. Yet it is still thought that it’s useless.

In addition, it is very important that we never forget about our past since we must know where we were standing years ago. Moreover, there are some things, such as World War II, that we have to remember to prevent them from happening again. We should also know where we we were standing a century ago: our origins, our identity. The more you learn about your ethnicity, the better.

All in all, I think that it is extremely important to learn about one’s own country’s history. Anyone who gets the chance to do this should not waste it, since they are very fortunate to have this opportunity

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Guest Essay

José Andrés: Let People Eat

By José Andrés

Mr. Andrés is the founder of World Central Kitchen.

In the worst conditions you can imagine — after hurricanes, earthquakes, bombs and gunfire — the best of humanity shows up. Not once or twice but always.

The seven people killed on a World Central Kitchen mission in Gaza on Monday were the best of humanity. They are not faceless or nameless. They are not generic aid workers or collateral damage in war.

Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha, John Chapman, Jacob Flickinger, Zomi Frankcom, James Henderson, James Kirby and Damian Sobol risked everything for the most fundamentally human activity: to share our food with others.

These are people I served alongside in Ukraine, Turkey, Morocco, the Bahamas, Indonesia, Mexico, Gaza and Israel. They were far more than heroes.

Their work was based on the simple belief that food is a universal human right. It is not conditional on being good or bad, rich or poor, left or right. We do not ask what religion you belong to. We just ask how many meals you need.

From Day 1, we have fed Israelis as well as Palestinians. Across Israel, we have served more than 1.75 million hot meals. We have fed families displaced by Hezbollah rockets in the north. We have fed grieving families from the south. We delivered meals to the hospitals where hostages were reunited with their families. We have called consistently, repeatedly and passionately for the release of all the hostages.

All the while, we have communicated extensively with Israeli military and civilian officials. At the same time, we have worked closely with community leaders in Gaza, as well as Arab nations in the region. There is no way to bring a ship full of food to Gaza without doing so.

That’s how we served more than 43 million meals in Gaza, preparing hot food in 68 community kitchens where Palestinians are feeding Palestinians.

We know Israelis. Israelis, in their heart of hearts, know that food is not a weapon of war.

Israel is better than the way this war is being waged. It is better than blocking food and medicine to civilians. It is better than killing aid workers who had coordinated their movements with the Israel Defense Forces.

The Israeli government needs to open more land routes for food and medicine today. It needs to stop killing civilians and aid workers today. It needs to start the long journey to peace today.

In the worst conditions, after the worst terrorist attack in its history, it’s time for the best of Israel to show up. You cannot save the hostages by bombing every building in Gaza. You cannot win this war by starving an entire population.

We welcome the government’s promise of an investigation into how and why members of our World Central Kitchen family were killed. That investigation needs to start at the top, not just the bottom.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said of the Israeli killings of our team, “It happens in war.” It was a direct attack on clearly marked vehicles whose movements were known by the Israel Defense Forces.

It was also the direct result of a policy that squeezed humanitarian aid to desperate levels. Our team was en route from a delivery of almost 400 tons of aid by sea — our second shipment, funded by the United Arab Emirates, supported by Cyprus and with clearance from the Israel Defense Forces.

The team members put their lives at risk precisely because this food aid is so rare and desperately needed. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification global initiative, half the population of Gaza — 1.1. million people — faces the imminent risk of famine. The team would not have made the journey if there were enough food, traveling by truck across land, to feed the people of Gaza.

The peoples of the Mediterranean and Middle East, regardless of ethnicity and religion, share a culture that values food as a powerful statement of humanity and hospitality — of our shared hope for a better tomorrow.

There’s a reason, at this special time of year, Christians make Easter eggs, Muslims eat an egg at iftar dinners and an egg sits on the Seder plate. This symbol of life and hope reborn in spring extends across religions and cultures.

I have been a stranger at Seder dinners. I have heard the ancient Passover stories about being a stranger in the land of Egypt, the commandment to remember — with a feast before you — that the children of Israel were once slaves.

It is not a sign of weakness to feed strangers; it is a sign of strength. The people of Israel need to remember, at this darkest hour, what strength truly looks like.

José Andrés is a chef and the founder of World Central Kitchen.

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