STUDENT SAMPLE

NARRATIVE ESSAY OUTLINES

 

SAMPLE 1

From Lissette, March 2005

 

INTRO

          THESIS: A time I overcame a great obstacle in my life when I had to adapt to the school system in the U.S.

 

               POD: My adaptation was very difficult because of the new language, but I overcame it by

                        studying English hard.

 

BODY 1

                TOPIC SENTENCE #1: my English knowledge diminished my 10th grade success

 

              DETAIL#1: I had trouble in grammar

                             

                             EXAMPLE: I did not know how to write very well in English class.

                             

                              EXAMPLE: I did not pay attention in my English classes in Colombia.

 

              DETAIL#2: I did not speak good English

 

                             EXAMPLE: my classmates made fun of me.

 

                             EXAMPLE: I could not communicate efficiently. 

              DETAIL#3: I was failing two classes (health and driver’s ed)

 

                              EXAMPLE: the classes were not bilingual.

 

                              EXAMPLE: I had to give the same performance as in my other classes.

 

BODY 2

                TOPIC SENTENCE #2: I overcame this problem by learning English on my own.

 

 

                DETAIL#1: my classmates’ mean comments made me study hard.

 

                              EXAMPLE: I showed them I could do it by improving my grades. 

                             EXAMPLE: I tried to practice by speaking to my classmate although they ignored me. 

                

                DETAIL#2: I did extra activities to learn some more. 

                              EXAMPLE: my father bought me an English course.

 

                              EXAMPLE: I watched with English subtitles.

 

                DETAIL#3: I started to “live” in English.

 

                              EXAMPLE: I tried to think in English.

 

  

                              EXAMPLE: I spoke in English in all places.

 

CONCLUSION:

 

I learn that it took more effort on my part to learn English. As a result, I graduated with 24 credits in three years and I passed the FCAT.

 

 

SAMPLE 2

From Malory, March 2005

 

 

Thesis Statement: One day I had to make a difficult decision

 

P.O.D: My decision was difficult because I had to choose between which grandmother I should visit.

 

Topic Sentence #1: Which one should I visit

 

D- Visiting my grandmothers

ex- There both sweet and loving

ex- I love them the same

D-  Thinking hard

ex- Something special

ex- Their great

D- Couldn’t Change

ex- Stuck

ex- Couldn’t make a decision

 

Topic Sentence #2: I thought to myself and found out what to do

 

D- Thinking Out loud

ex- Visit one

ex- Visit the other

D- Getting easier

ex- Being Satisfied

ex- Enjoy my visit

D- Had lots of fun

ex- Easy to talk to

ex- They feed me

 

SAMPLE 3

From Leidinaicy, March 2005

 

 

 

ESSAY OUTLINE FORM
INTRO
THESIS: Have you ever had to take a decision that would change your life?. The most difficult decision that I had to make was if i was coming to this country or not.
POD:
 
BODY 1
TOPIC SENTENCE #1: Born in Cuba
DETAIL#1: Didn't want to leave Cuba
EXAMPLE: family
EXAMPLE: friends
DETAIL#2: People I trusted
EXAMPLE: grandmother
EXAMPLE: parents
DETAIL#3: Afraid
EXAMPLE: new place
EXAMPLE: new language
 
 
BODY 2
TOPIC SENTENCE #2: Being in United States.
DETAIL#1: More oppurtunities
EXAMPLE: better education
EXAMPLE: careers to choose
DETAIL#2: Thing to do
EXAMPLE: met new people
EXAMPLE: visit amusements parks
DETAIL#3: I changed attitude about the situation
EXAMPLE: more brave
EXAMPLE: enthusiastic
 
 
CONCLUSION: Almost everybody has to make difficult decisions durind their lives, but people should be sure of what they choose because of it depends their happiness and joy.
 

 

 

SAMPLE 4

From Eddie, October 2005

 

A TIME I HAD TO MAKE A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION

 

Intro:

Thesis- In my life, I had to encountered lots of decisions from when I was young until now, but this decision was the toughest to make as a child.

 

Body1:

Topic Sentence:  New York is where I first opened my eyes to the world

Detail 1- Raised in Queens

            Ex.- Grew up with my mom and her side of the family

            Ex.- The only place I ever knew

Detail 2- Where I was when I would be with my family

            Ex.- My cousins

Ex.- My close friends

Detail 3- Where I had my “first time” experiences

            Ex.- Walk to school by myself

            Ex.- Opening hydrogens and playing on the streets in summer 

 

Body2:

Topic Sentence- Being born and raised in New York and leaving it all.

Detail 1- It was hard to separate from the people I grew up with

            Ex.- I lived with my grandmother most of my life.

            Ex.- I always went out with my cousins and close friends.

Detail 2- Didn’t want to leave my surroundings

            Ex.- My neighborhood

            Ex.- My family

Detail 3- Didn’t want to erase the goals and dreams I had

            Ex.- A successful person in my hometown

            Ex.- growing up with my close friends and family for a long time

 

Body3:

Topic Sentence- The turning point of my life

Detail 1- I’m leaving everything I know out of surprise

            Ex.- I wasn’t there when my mother decided to move

            Ex.- Didn’t have time to see everyone when I left

Detail 2- Having to restart my life

            Ex.- New people

            Ex.- New place

Detail 3- Getting use to somewhere completely opposite

            Ex.- Tropical scenery

            Ex.- Year round heat

 

Conclusion:

After all of this that I’ve experienced since a child, I grew up to think more independent and make my own decision instead of someone else enforcing it to me, and always reminiscing where I’m from and who raised me to become who I am.

 

 

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