Narrative Techniques

​Narrative Techniques for Personal Essays

ERWC

Open Ended

What was a time you had to introduce yourself to someone (class, date, job interview) and what did you tell them about?

• Structure: Beginning (hook), middle (conflict or growth), end (reflection).

• Show, Don’t Tell: Use descriptive details to paint the moment.

• Voice: Keep it personal, conversational, but professional.

• Theme: Identify a core message (“resilience,” “curiosity,” “commitment”).

Main techniques

Narratives with Purpose

• Key traits:

  • Authenticity (real voice, true experiences)

  • Reflection (what you learned, how you grew)

  • Connection (tying the story to the audience’s needs: admissions, employers).

"The dinner rush hit at 7 PM sharp—orders flying from the printer, the sizzle of pans, and the choreographed dance of servers weaving between tables with steaming plates."

Vivid

"I worked in a busy restaurant"

Basic

Show Don't Tell

Open Ended

Describe a time you worked really hard. Could be personal, professional, or academic. Describe what it felt like using all five senses

Purposes of Professional Narratives

• Cover Letters: Focus on personal growth, skills, and professional values.

• Mission Statements: Show passion and future goals through anecdotes.

Career

• College Essays: Focus on personal growth, values, and impact.

• Cover Letters: Frame experiences as stories that highlight skills and fit.

• Scholarships / Statements: Show passion and future goals through anecdotes.

Academic

Draw

Make a horizoltal line with five dots divided evenly along it. The last one should be labeled "senior year". Label the other four as moments in your life that have shaped who you are as a person.