PERSONAL NARRATIVE WRITING CHECKLIST

I wrote a story that has tension, resolution, realistic characters, and also conveys an idea, lesson,
or theme.

STRUCTURE
Did I do it like a sixth grader?

I wrote a beginning that:

set the story in motion
hinted at a larger lesson/message
introduced the problem
showed how the character
relates to the setting in a way
that fits with the story
I used transitional phrases to
signal changes in time .
I used transitional phrases to
alert my reader to changes in
setting, tone, mood, or point of
view in the story.

I wrote an ending that connected to

what the story is really about.
I gave the reader a sense of ending by
showing a new realization and insight,
or a change in the narrator.
I showed this through dialogue, action,
inner thinking or small actions the
character takes.

DEVELOPMENT

Not yet

Starting
to

Yes!

Did I do it like a sixth grader?

ELABORATION:
I developed realistic characters, and
developed the details, action, dialogue,
and internal thinking that contribute
to the deeper meaning of the story.

Craft:
I developed some relationship between
characters to show why they act and
speak as they do.
I told the internal story as well as the
external story.
I wove together:
precise descriptions
figurative language
some symbolism
to help the reader picture the
setting/actions.

CONVENTIONS
I used resources to be sure the words in
my writing are spelled correctly.

I used dashes, parenthesis, colons, and

semicolons to help me include extra
detail and explanation in some of my
sentences.
I used commas and quotation marks or
italics to make clear when characters
are speaking.

Not yet

Starting
to

Yes!