Choosing an appropriate hook and then deciding what else to include in the introduction of a personal narrative can be difficult. This free teaching resource is from Innovative Teaching Resources. You can access hundreds of their excellent resources here. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Innovative-Teaching-Ideas After brainstorming is complete, and it is time for drafting to begin, the introduction is the first step. Since this is the section of one’s personal narrative that gives readers the all-important first impression, special care and consideration must be provided to make sure this paragraph makes a lasting impression that motivates readers to keep reading. Examples and various techniques are included to provide clarity to what the introduction of a personal narrative should contain.

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2. 
The purpose of the introduction is to provide
background information.

Suggestions include:
› Describe the weather
› Discuss what you and the most important other
people were doing BEFORE the main emotionalfilled moment happen
› End the paragraph with a sentence that leads
into the most-intense seconds/ moment that you
will discuss in detail in your body.
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3. CAN YOU USE IRONY TO MAKE THE DAY
SEEM LIKE NOTHING SPECIAL IF YOU
ARE LEADING INTO A HAPPY MEMORY
OR VICE VERSA?

“It was a cold and snowy Christmas day.
When I saw all of the presents, I went into
a frenzy of ripping paper and tearing
into boxes to expose the different gifts…”
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4. TRY TO BUILD SOME DETAILS ABOUT YOUR
SETTING INTO THIS DISCUSSION OF
WHOSE PRESENT, IF POSSIBLE.

“The wind rushed past me blowing my hair in my face but I didn’t dare
move, I was determined to be the last one to be found. I was bundled
up so tightly in my dark purple coat that it was covering most of my eyes
so I could see a sliver of the huckleberry bushes that I was hiding under.
My faded blue jeans were scraping up against the dirt. I was sure that
by the time I got out of here, I would rips on the bottom half of my jeans.
My friends, Sarah and Rebekah (who were sisters) and I were playing
Hide – and – Go – Seek in their yard.
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5. •
•
•

IF YOU ARE WRITING ABOUT A SCARY MOMENT,
YOU MIGHT LEAD IN WITH YOUR ANXIETY…
IF YOU ARE WRITING ABOUT A SAD MEMORY, TRY
TO BUILD SUSPENSE…
IF YOU ARE WRITING ABOUT A HAPPY TIME, FOCUS
ON LEADING INTO THE EXCITEMENT.
Sarah was seeking and I could faintly hear off-white sneakers
slam against the wet grass towards my hiding spot. I heard
another set of shoes trailing behind her, occasionally tripping
and the high-pitched voice of Rebekah. Victory! I was going to
be the last one found. To bad my happiness couldn’t last, Sarah
and Rebekah stopped along the grass until they were standing
right in front of my hiding spot, at least that’s where I thought
they were, my coat was still in the way of most of my view. As
we were walking back, I was gloating my victory when my foot
snagged something warm and stick-like, I immediately
plummeted to the ground and then turned to look around. It
wasn’t a stick. There was a leg laying a few feet behind my now
muddy grass-stained pant leg.
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6. 
The introduction in a personal narrative
begins the process of reliving a special
memory using:
› Character description
› Setting description
› Interesting details
› Dialogue
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7. The lazy days of summer had become quite
action-filled when a routine doctor’s visit turned into a
premature rush to the hospital in preparation of our
baby boy’s birth. Afterwards, an unsuccessful delivery
attempt led to an emergency c-section, but at 11:57 A.
M., Jeremiah’s first cries were heard within the walls of
Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital. Joy was quickly
transformed into mere contentment for my husband,
Andy, and I, as our five-pound newborn bundle was
escorted off to the nursery for a much-needed supply
of Oxygen. Frequent reports of his progress and the
promise that we would see him soon kept my anxiety
at bay, but when the pediatrician entered my hospital
room for the second time that evening, it became
apparent that the all-to-quiet floors had let something
more than contentment creep down the colorless halls.
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8. At eighteen years of age, the world seems to be
always on your side. Cruising along in my bright gold
Chevrolet Beretta, I was entertaining just that thought. I
was excited to spend the afternoon with my best friend,
Leona. The twenty minute commute from my home out
in the hills of Wayne County to Monticello had been
uneventful. Well, that was until the repetition of boring
commercials in place of upbeat music led me to take
my eyes off the road. Little did I know that reaching
with my right hand to adjust the radio station in an
attempt to tune in some Alan Jackson, George Strait, or
one of my other favorite country stars would cost me
such an expensive penalty.
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9. 
Include some details related to your
setting.

A brief description of the people most
important to your memory.

A cliffhanger that prepares you to lead
into the rising action and the climax.
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