Narrative
Writing situation:
Everyone worries about some things. Many times worrying about something is actually worse or
more painful than living through the experience. Think about a time this happened to you. You
knew you were going to have to do something or go somewhere, and things could be really bad;
however, as it turned out, the experience wasn’t nearly as bad as you thought it could be.
Writing directions:
Write an article for your school newsletter, telling the story of a time that worrying about
something was worse than living through the experience. Be sure to include in your story what
happened and how you dealt with being worried. Also, show how others could learn from your
experience.
Narrative
Writing situation:
Almost everyone has been frightened at some point. Sometimes the things you fear most are
those things that you imagine, that really don’t exist except in your imagination: the monster
under the bed, the “thing” in the woods, “the noise behind the door” . . . .
Writing directions:
Write your story for students your age or slightly younger. Your story will be included in a
collection of stories entitled, “You Had to Be There!” Tell about your “frightening” experience
so that other students will understand what it was like. In your article, also explain how students
can work to overcome these types of fears.
Note: The title of the story collection violates a capitalization rule. Which one?
Narrative
Writing situation:
Most people remember embarrassing experiences for a long, long time. Everyone has done
something “stupid” or been caught in a situation that made other people laugh. Think about an
experience you have had.
Writing directions:
Write a speech you could give to students about your age. Tell the story of your “embarrassing”
experience to show other students how to live through an uncomfortable, embarrassing moment.
Explain what happened and describe what other students might learn from your experience.
Narrative
Writing situation:
Everyone knows how it feels to be disappointed. You count on people; you count on getting
particular gifts; you count on events to happen in ways that will make you happy; however,
sometimes situations don’t turn out the way you expect or want. Think about disappointing
experiences you have had. Choose one of the “best” or “worst,” depending on your perspective.
Writing directions:
Write your story in an article for a magazine for people your age. Tell about a time you were
disappointed so that other students can understand what it was like and what they could do if
they are ever caught in a similar situation.
Narrative
Writing situation:
Sometimes people do things, even though they know it’s not a good idea. How many times have
you done something . . . even though you had been told NOT to do it or you knew it was not a
good idea? You may be one of those people who can never turn down a dare, even though you
know it could be dangerous. Think about one of those experiences that had an unfortunate
outcome.
Writing directions:
Write your story that could be published in an online magazine for students your age. Tell about
your experience so that other students can understand what it was like. Explain what they could
do if they’re ever caught in a similar situation.
Narrative
Writing situation:
The power of peer pressure – Sometimes students are forced by other people into doing things
they really don’t want to do. Think of a time you behaved in a way or did something you really
didn’t want to become because of the people you were with.
Writing directions:
Write your story in an article for a popular magazine for people your age. Tell about your
experience so that other students can understand what it was like and what they could do if
they’re ever caught in a similar situation.
Narrative
Writing situation:
Asking for help is hard. Sometimes, though, the only way you know you’ll be able to learn
something or do something is to ask for help from someone. Think of a time you asked for help.
Writing directions:
Write a story about a time you asked for help for an article for a magazine for people your age.
Tell about your experience so that other students can understand what it was like. Explain what
they could do if they’re ever caught in a similar situation.
Narrative
Writing situation:
When you learn something new in school or when you learn how to do something, you have to
study and practice. Usually, if you study more, you learn more. If you practice more, you get
better at doing something. Think about a time you learned something new.
Writing directions:
Write your story in an article for your school’s newspaper. Tell about your experience so that
other students can understand what it was like. What could other students learn from your
experience?
Narrative
Writing situation:
Until you’re placed in a situation, you sometimes don’t know how much courage you have.
Sometimes you have to be brave; you have to face difficult situations or stand up to difficult
people. Think about times you have had to be brave to get through an experience.
Writing directions:
Write an article that tells your story to be posted on a website for students your age. Tell about
your experience so that other students can understand what it was like. Explain what they could
do if they’re ever caught in a similar situation.
Narrative
Writing situation:
Sometimes worry about something is worse than living through the experience. Sometimes you
worry about situations. You may not want to go somewhere, go through a particular experience,
or spend time with some people. You know it’s going to be a bad day before it ever begins.
Sometimes, however, you worry about things that turn out not to be as bad (or better) than you
expected. Think about experiences you have had like this.
Writing directions:
Write a speech that tells the story of one of your experiences. Tell your story so that other
students can understand what it was like. Explain what other students could learn from your
experience.
Narrative
Writing situation:
Almost everyone has been scared at one time or another. For many people, sometimes the worst
type of fear is when you’re afraid for someone else. You worry about your friends and relatives
who are in dangerous situations. You worry about people you know who have to deal with
tremendous challenges. Think about a time this happened to you.
Writing directions:
Write an article for a magazine for people your age. Tell about your experience so that other
students can understand what it was like. Explain what they could do if they’re ever caught in a
similar situation.
Narrative
Writing situation:
As part of the school wide Random Acts of Kindness program, your school is encouraging
students to give someone a gift costing less than $2. The gift may cost nothing at all.
Sometimes the best presents are those that cost the least. You can give wonderful gifts to other
people, even if you don’t have a great deal of money. Think about times you know you have
made people happy, just by giving something you knew was special to them.
Writing directions:
Write an article for your school’s website, telling the story of one of those times. Tell about your
experience so that other students can understand what it was like. Explain how other students
like you could give special gifts as well, even when they don’t have a great deal of money.
Narrative
Writing situation:
“If you ever ________, you’ll get in trouble.” “If you try to _______, you’ll get hurt.”
Everybody has been warned not to try to do certain things; however, sometimes when you’re told
specifically NOT to do something, you want to do it more than anything in the world. You want
to do things even when you know you could get in trouble or get hurt. Think about an
experience you have had.
Writing directions:
Write an article for a magazine for students a little younger than you. Tell about your experience
so that other students can understand what it was like. Explain what other students could do if
they have a similar experience.
Narrative
Writing situation:
Sometimes people are caught in dangerous situations because they thought they were stronger
than they really are. You try to carry something that’s too big or too heavy; you try to pull or
push something that you weren’t old enough to move; you try to control something that’s bigger
or stronger than you. Think about a time you’ve had this experience.
Writing directions:
Write an article for a magazine for people your age. Tell your story so that other students can
understand what the experience was like. Explain what other students could do if they get into a
similar situation.
Narrative
Writing situation:
At some point, nearly everyone has had to deal with a bully. Some bullies don’t beat you up, but
may just make fun of you in front of your friends, tease you all the time, pick on you, or
constantly borrow, or take things from you. Think about an experience you have had and how
you dealt with it.
Writing directions:
Write an article for a magazine for people your age. Tell the story of your experience so that
other students can understand what it was like. Explain what other students could do if they have
a similar experience.
Narrative
Writing situation:
As part of the Thanksgiving season, your school is sponsoring a “Just to Say Thanks!” column
on its website. Students have been invited to submit letters they have written (or should have
written) to those special friends who have helped them over the years. Good friends do many
things that remind you why you’re lucky to have them in your life. Friends are there for you;
they help you in so many ways. Sometimes you wonder how you would have made it through
some situations had it not been for your friends. Think about a time when a friend helped you
live through an experience.
Writing directions:
Write a letter of thanks to this person; however, the letter, while its first audience will be your
friend, will also be published in an online magazine for people your age. Tell the story of the
event, so that other students can understand the experience and how your friend helped you.
Explain how other students could be like your friend.
Narrative
Writing situation:
How do others see you? If someone else was asked to describe you in one word or phrase, what
would it be? Think of situations in your life when you have illustrated this word or phrase.
Writing directions:
Write a letter to a friend who knows you well, predicting what you think the word or phrase
would be and telling a story to illustrate this trait.
Note: I don’t think students will see a prompt like this one, but it’s a good reflective activity.
Narrative
Writing situation:
Sometimes the best part of doing a great job on a test or paper or getting a prize or winning
something is that other people are so proud of you. You are happy when you accomplish
something, but you feel even better when other people are celebrating with you. Think about an
experience you have had.
Writing directions:
Write a letter to someone who wasn’t present when you did something wonderful or something
wonderful happened to you. Choose someone who, when he/she gets your letter, will be even
happier than you are. Tell your success story, giving enough details that your audience can live
the experience with you, even though he or she wasn’t there.
Narrative
Writing situation:
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try or how organized you are, you can’t find things. Have
you ever misplaced something, searched for it for hours and hours . . . and then found it a few
days later when you aren’t looking for it? Think about experiences you have had.
Writing directions:
Write a post for a blog for students your age, telling the story of an experience you have had.
Tell about your experience so that your friend can understand what it was like. Explain what
your audience (your friend) should do if caught in a similar situation.
Narrative
Writing situation:
No matter who you are, you’re sometimes caught in embarrassing situations. You forget
something; you do the wrong thing; you are unaware that something about your appearance is
messed up. Being embarrassed is a miserable experience, but getting through the situation
becomes much easier if you can laugh at yourself. Think about an experience you have had that
became less painful because you managed to laugh at yourself.
Writing directions:
Your school is having an “I Wanted to Crawl Under a Rock” contest to commemorate these
moments in our lives. Write a speech you could give as a participant in this contest. Tell your
story, explaining what happened and how you dealt with people laughing at you. Explain what
your friend could do if he or she is ever caught in a similar situation.
Narrative
Writing situation:
Everyone loves to get gifts, but sometimes you get the “wrong” gift. You are deeply
disappointed because you expected to get something different, something better, something you
really, really, really wanted. Dealing with a disappointment like this one is very difficult. You
don’t want to hurt the feelings of the person who gave you the gift, so you have to be polite.
You have to act as if you’re thankful for the gift. Think about a time this has happened to you.
Writing directions:
Write an article for a magazine for students your age, telling the story of your experience. Tell
about your experience so that your audience can understand how you felt. Explain what you’ve
learned from the experience and someone could do if he/she is caught in a similar situation.