A personal narrative tells a story from the writer's own life using first-person pronouns. It has a beginning, middle, and end. The example narrative describes an unpleasant experience the author had during a routine doctor's visit, where a nurse initially confused them for another patient and threatened them with a large needle. The narrative catches the reader's attention with its dramatic opening about an experience that "really takes the cake."

1. Personal Narrative A personal narrative is when you write about an event or experience that has personally happened to you. It has a beginning, middle, and an ending. It is written in first person using pronouns: me, my, I, we, or myself.

2. Personal Narrative Example Going to the doctor is never an experience I look forward to, but my visit to Dr. Kellsington’s office last week really takes the cake. First of all, I was only there for a physical exam, so I could join the swim team at school. Even so, I was kind of creeped-out having to be around medical stuff and smell that rubbing alcohol-smell. The nurse put me in a little room, and I spent another fifteen minutes waiting for Dr. Kellsington to arrive. Before he came in, a nurse arrived and thought I was some other kid. She came at me with a huge hypodermic needle saying, “Let’s deaden the area and then Dr. K. can take that off for you.” I panicked, let me tell you. “I’m just here for a swim team physical!” I shouted, backing away from Nurse Needle. I wanted out of that place, fast. She stared at me strangely and then checked the name on my chart. “Oh,” she said. “I thought you were someone else.” It was enough to give a kid heart failure.

3. Narrative Grabbers Grabbers catch our attention right at the beginning and make us want to read the rest of the story. They should make the reader feel curiosity, anger, sorrow, wonder, fear, or mystery.

4. Weak Grabbers Once upon a time there was a little girl. Jack lived with his mother. The little dog was brown.

5. Strong Grabbers Sally Romano was a ten-year-old girl who lived all alone in an empty house by the sea. “Mother,” called Jack. “The three beans have grown into a magical beanstalk that leads up to the sky!” The little brown dog limped through town, dragging one bloody paw behind him.