What would your life be like as a story? Which events would you focus on, and why? A personal narrative is a true story that you write about yourself for a specific purpose or reason.
Writing a personal narrative is different from writing an expressive poem or an entertaining story. A story you tell your friends will probably have a casual, playful tone. A personal narrative is a more formal account that develops a theme or message. For example, you might tell how a camping trip sparked your interest in wildlife conservation.
Each slide below has a video about a young person’s positive solution to bullying. Click through the slides to watch each video.
I didn't always have a lot of friends like I do now. Having a disability in middle school wasn't easy. Other kids didn't know how to include me in activities. So I often sat on the sidelines watching. Sometimes, I played basketball during PE, but some kids said it wasn't real basketball and called me names like "Wheels." I felt pretty alone.
In high school, I started volunteering for an animal shelter. I met other kids who love animals as much as I do. One of them asked me what else I like to do. I said I was a gamer. He was a gamer, too. We played, and I won two out of three games. He knew others who liked to game, so we organized gaming marathons. And I made a bunch of friends, and we did all kinds of activities together.
And when other kids teased me or tried to block my way, my friend stepped in and told them to back off. I didn't feel so alone anymore. And I had a lot more fun.
For more information, visit StopBullying.gov.
Now that you have reviewed each of the videos, answer the questions below.
Read the first two sentences of “Getting into the Game”:
I didn’t always have a lot of friends, like I do now.
Having a disability in middle school wasn’t easy.
What does this introduction along with the video’s title
tell you?
- The narrator probably didn’t want to make friends with kids at school.
- The narrator used to have a disability but doesn’t have one anymore.
- In the future, the narrator will have friends as a result of her disability.
- In the past, other kids excluded the narrator because of her disability.
The narrator used to feel excluded because of her disability. Now, however, she has a lot of friends.
The narrator used to feel excluded because of her disability. Now, however, she has a lot of friends.
The narrator used to feel excluded because of her disability. Now, however, she has a lot of friends.
The narrator used to feel excluded because of her disability. Now, however, she has a lot of friends.
In “To Be or Not to Be Seen,” what changed the narrator’s life for the better?
- keeping herself invisible
- fighting back against bullies
- joining the theater club
- getting good reviews
Joining the theater club was the narrator’s first step toward changing her life. The next step was gathering the courage to act on stage.
Joining the theater club was the narrator’s first step toward changing her life. The next step was gathering the courage to act on stage.
Joining the theater club was the narrator’s first step toward changing her life. The next step was gathering the courage to act on stage.
Joining the theater club was the narrator’s first step toward changing her life. The next step was gathering the courage to act on stage.
What is similar about the narrators of “It's Not About Me” and “One Good Friend”?
- Other kids excluded them both for their differences.
- Other kids welcomed them despite their differences.
- Neither ever managed to make new friends at school.
- Neither really wanted to get to know other students.
Both of the narrators felt excluded and bullied for being different. Each eventually made friends who liked them for themselves.
Both of the narrators felt excluded and bullied for being different. Each eventually made friends who liked them for themselves.
Both of the narrators felt excluded and bullied for being different. Each eventually made friends who liked them for themselves.
Both of the narrators felt excluded and bullied for being different. Each eventually made friends who liked them for themselves.
Think about the title of “It's Not About Me.” What message does it express?
- You can learn to change other people’s behavior.
- Other people’s behavior is about them, not you.
- Even bullies may be having a difficult time at school.
- Be polite, and then other people will be nice to you.
The message of the video is that cruel behavior is about the bully, not the victim. The narrator stayed polite and also kept being himself. Eventually, he made friends who liked him for himself.
The message of the video is that cruel behavior is about the bully, not the victim. The narrator stayed polite and also kept being himself. Eventually, he made friends who liked him for himself.
The message of the video is that cruel behavior is about the bully, not the victim. The narrator stayed polite and also kept being himself. Eventually, he made friends who liked him for himself.
The message of the video is that cruel behavior is about the bully, not the victim. The narrator stayed polite and also kept being himself. Eventually, he made friends who liked him for himself.
Summary
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