The Once

• The point and time the narrative is situated • The moment when the story takes place – in your life- in your day- within an event- in a moment • Could be considered the setting but it’s so

much more than that

The Ordinary vs. The Extraordinary

• The story deserves to be told when something extraordinary is happening

• Catalyzing event – it triggers the action • Within an everyday event something happens

to make it uncommon and memorable

Tension and Conflict

• Conflict – the struggle between opposing forces

• Conflict can exist :- Between characters- Between groups of characters- Between an individual and society- Between an individual and nature- Between and individual and himself/herself

Tension and Conflict

• We look to see how an extraordinary event works toward resolving the tension and conflict

• This “frames” the story • The reader is waiting to see whether and how

the conflict will be resolved

The Point

• By the time you reach the end of the narrative you should have answered the “why”?

• Why am I reading this?• What am I going to get out of it?• What’s the point?• Tied to author’s purpose• It should be made evident – not necessarily

stated

Author’s Purpose

• To inform • To persuade• To entertain

Choosing a College Essay topic that has 2 main objectives:

1.Present the writer in good light (not perfect)

2.A topic that the writer can write about effectively

When an Essay Fails

• It is too predictable• It is overly sentimental • The narrative is poorly written • It is too self promoting

Assignment

• Re-read your entry• Identify the “moment” in your entry that will

become the narrative• Focus on this moment• Write your first draft using • The Once• The Extraordinary• Tension and Conflict • The Point