Writing Personal Narratives

Our class has been working hard on writing personal narrative stories. We have learned about how to grab our readers' attention with an entertaining beginning, how to describe the setting using our five senses, and how to focus on one main event and stretch it out using a balance of thoughts and feelings, observations, actions, and dialogue. Last week we watched a video clip of a roller coaster ride and then read the book Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee. We worked in teams to brainstorm thoughts and feelings, observations, actions, and dialogue related to a roller coaster ride. Next we worked in groups of 2-4 students to write a detailed main event about a ride on a roller coaster. When our writing was done, we read each main event aloud to the class. After we were done reading, each student was given one colored dot sticker. They placed this sticker on their favorite roller coaster main event. It was a tough decision, but Emma D. and Katherine's roller coaster story was the clear favorite! Their story is below. Enjoy!

     I walked to the roller coaster ride. I saw the roller coaster ready to go. Far away, I heard a lot of screaming. Then I heard the ticket man say, "Take your seats." When I went on the roller coaster my heart was beating fast. This is going to be scary I thought. It was too late to get off. I saw the roller coaster was getting higher. The roller caster was also getting faster and faster. When the roller coaster was getting faster and faster, I felt afraid. I closed my eyes to see what will happen. I opened my eyes and I noticed the roller coaster was getting faster and faster and making lots of loops. The roller coaster was going up a hill and I felt sick. Before I knew it, the roller coaster was dashing down the hill. Ahhhhh! I yelled, going down the hill. I felt the breezy air blow in my face. Then I noticed that there was only one more loop and the roller coaster was done. 
     Before I knew it, the loop was done and we got off the roller coaster. I hope we come next year, I thought.

                           By: Katherine and Emma D.