Narrative Essays
Expert Guides, Model Essays and Titles from Past Papers

Setting: A picturesque coastal town with a small marina and a tight-knit community

Main character: Sarah, a 28-year-old marine biologist who is adventurous, passionate about the ocean, and determined to make a difference

Conflict: Sarah must overcome her fear of deep water and sailing alone in order to participate in a sailing expedition that could further her career and help save the local marine life

Dialogue: Use dialogue to showcase Sarah's interactions with the townspeople, her sailing instructor, and fellow marine biologists to reveal her character and motivations

Theme: Overcoming personal fears in pursuit of one's passion and the greater good

Tone: Create a hopeful and inspiring tone, capturing the beauty of the coastal town and Sarah's love for the ocean

Pacing: Vary the pace of the story, building tension as Sarah faces her fear of deep water, and releasing it when she conquers her fear and sets sail

Plotline:

Introduction: Sarah's life in the coastal town and her love for marine life
Rising action: Sarah learns about the sailing expedition and her fear of deep water
Climax: Sarah decides to face her fear and participate in the sailing expedition
Resolution: Sarah sails successfully, making a significant contribution to marine conservation

Setting: A futuristic city with advanced technology, flying cars, and AI-powered facilities

Main character: Alex, a 30-year-old AI engineer who is curious, ambitious, and driven by the desire to explore the possibilities and implications of advanced technology

Conflict: Alex struggles with the balance between enjoying the conveniences of a technologically advanced society and addressing the ethical concerns that come with it

Dialogue: Use dialogue to showcase Alex's interactions with various characters, including AI and humans, revealing the potential benefits and drawbacks of living in such a technologically advanced society

Theme: The importance of considering ethical implications while embracing technological advancements

Tone: Create a tone of wonder and curiosity, capturing the excitement and awe of living in a futuristic world

Pacing: Vary the pace of the story to build and release tension as Alex discovers different aspects of the futuristic world, weighing the pros and cons of technological advancements

Plotline:

Introduction: Alex's daily life in the futuristic city
Rising action: Alex encounters ethical dilemmas and questions the implications of advanced technology
Climax: A significant event forces Alex to confront the reality of living in a technologically driven world
Resolution: Alex finds a balance between enjoying the benefits of technology and addressing ethical concerns

1. Jack comes home late and his parents are angry.
2. His sister suggests hearing him out.
3. His parents accuse him of breaking their trust.
4. Charlotte argues that they should trust them more.
5. Their father says they need to act like responsible adults.
6. Jack is grounded for two weeks.
7. He feels resentful at first but then reflects on his actions.
8. He apologizes to his parents and promises to be more responsible.
9. His parents accept his apology but expect him to follow the rules.
10. Jack learns the consequences of breaking trust and vows to never make the same mistake again.

1. The author spent their summer in the countryside with their grandparents.
2. The grandfather was a former farmer and was now housebound due to loss of eyesight.
3. The grandmother was bedridden after a stroke and needed round-the-clock care.
4. The author's curiosity was piqued by a deserted, dilapidated house next door.
5. The locals referred to it as the Black House and believed it was haunted.
6. One evening, the author saw a small black car parked at the back of the Black House.
7. The author investigated further and saw a man holding a pistol.
8. The author reported the incident to the police, and it was discovered that the Black House was being used for making counterfeit money.
9. The author was praised for their bravery and resourcefulness.
10. The Black House was torn down, and a beautiful garden now stands in its place.

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Setting: A busy urban city during the late afternoon rush hour

Main character: Jack, a 32-year-old paramedic, who is dedicated to saving lives and driven by the desire to make a difference

Conflict: Jack faces an overwhelming accident scene and must make life-altering decisions in a high-pressure situation

Dialogue: Use dialogue to convey the urgency and emotions of the situation, reveal Jack's thought process, and provide insights into the accident's impact on the victims and first responders

Theme: The delicate balance between life and death, and the profound impact of split-second decisions

Tone: Tense, dramatic, and emotional

Pacing: Rapid pacing to reflect the urgency of the accident and the pressure on Jack as he navigates the chaotic scene

Plotline: Introduction - Jack's daily routine as a paramedic; Climax - Jack's response to a major accident; Story details - Jack's actions at the scene and the consequences of his decisions; Interesting plot twist - Jack discovers a personal connection to one of the victims; Ending - Jack reflects on the experience and its impact on his life and career

Setting: The story takes place in the year 2075, in a remote outpost on Mars. The protagonist, a biologist, lives and works in a small, utilitarian facility provided by the Mars Colonization Project, the first of its kind.

Main Character: Dr. Amelia Foster, a 35-year-old Mars Colonization Project biologist. Her passion for alien life forms is what drives her to endure the desolate Martian terrain and the monotony of isolation. She is self-driven, determined, and slightly introverted, and has a tendency to immerse herself in her work, often at the expense of her own mental health.

Conflict: Dr. Foster finds herself confronted with prolonged solitude after a sudden sandstorm prevents her team from reaching the outpost. Alone on Mars, she must battle against the creeping tendrils of isolation and maintain her sanity while continuing her important work.

Dialogue: Use dialogue sparingly, mainly in the form of Dr. Foster’s audio logs. Her monologues will reflect her mental state, providing insights into her scientific discoveries as well as her struggle with loneliness.

Theme: Explore the theme of isolation and the human will to overcome adversity. As the story unfolds, reveal how solitude can be both a blessing and a curse, providing space for introspection and self-discovery while also posing significant mental challenges.

Tone: Maintain a tone of melancholic resilience, capturing the lonely starkness of the Martian landscape as well as Dr. Foster's determination to push through her situation.

Pacing: Start slowly, establishing the setting and the situation. As the isolation sets in, increase the pace to reflect Dr. Foster's rising anxiety. Then, slow down as she learns to cope, with brief accelerations when surprising twists occur.

Plotline: Introduction of setting and character, emergence of conflict (sandstorm and isolation), the peak of mental stress, the introduction of coping mechanisms, a surprising discovery that renews her enthusiasm, and finally, the ending where she appreciates the value of her solitude.

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Setting: A cozy, rustic lakeside cabin surrounded by a lush forest

Main character: Jamie, 32 years old, a stressed-out software engineer who longs for a peaceful escape from the pressures of work and city life

Conflict: Jamie struggles to find a sanctuary that offers solace and rejuvenation

Dialogue: Use dialogue to express Jamie's interactions with others, their thoughts, and feelings about the cabin and its surroundings

Theme: The healing power of nature and finding comfort in a special place

Tone: Calm, reflective, and introspective

Pacing: Begin with a slow pace to establish the setting and emotions, gradually increase the pace as Jamie discovers the place, and finally slow down as Jamie reflects on the impact of the cabin on their life

Plotline: Introduction – Jamie's stressful life; Climax – Discovering the lakeside cabin; Story details – Exploring the cabin and its surroundings; Interesting plot twist – Realization of the cabin's impact on Jamie's thoughts and feelings; Ending – Current feelings about the cabin

Setting: A small-town elementary school in the early 2000s.

Main character: Sam, a 6-year-old child who is shy, nervous, and excited about their first day of school.

Conflict: Sam faces the challenges of making friends, adapting to a new environment, and overcoming their shyness.

Dialogue: Use dialogue to show Sam's interactions with classmates, teachers, and parents, highlighting their feelings and thoughts on this new experience.

Theme: The central theme of the story is personal growth, embracing change, and the importance of friendship.

Tone: The tone should be nostalgic, heartfelt, and uplifting, focusing on Sam's journey of self-discovery and growth.

Pacing: Start with a slow pace as Sam experiences their first day at school, then increase the pace as they face challenges and form new friendships.

Plotline:

Introduction: Introduce Sam's mixed feelings about starting school.
Arrival: Sam arrives at school and faces their nerves about entering a new environment.
Challenges: Sam deals with the challenges of making friends and participating in class.
Friendship: Sam meets a kind classmate who helps them overcome their shyness.
Climax: Sam faces a moment of courage and stands up for their new friend.
Ending: Sam reflects on their first day of school and the lessons they've learned.

Setting: A present-day, quiet small town and a contrasting fantastical, mysterious world.

Main character: Alex, a 25-year-old librarian who is introverted, imaginative, and has a strong desire for adventure.

Conflict: Alex is magically transported to a strange, fantastical world and must figure out how to return home while adapting to the new surroundings.

Dialogue: Use dialogue to showcase Alex's interactions with the inhabitants of the new world, and to reveal information about the mysterious world.

Theme: The power of imagination and the importance of embracing the unknown.

Tone: Maintain a balance between the dreamy, mysterious atmosphere of the fantastical world and the grounded reality of Alex's emotions and experiences.

Pacing: Start with a slower pace to establish the setting and characters, then increase the pace as the story unfolds and as Alex encounters challenges in the new world.

Plotline:

Introduction: Introduce Alex and the small-town setting.
Rising action: Alex is magically transported to the mysterious world.
Climax: Alex faces challenges and makes a decision about staying or returning home.
Resolution: Alex learns valuable lessons about embracing the unknown and the power of imagination.

Setting: The story is set in the late 18th century, on a small fishing boat lost in the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, a day's sail from the nearest landmass.

Main Character: John Callahan, a 40-year-old experienced sailor, stern but kind-hearted, with a relentless determination to guide his crew safely home.

Conflict: The main conflict of the story revolves around the fishing boat being stranded at sea due to a navigation error and John's struggle to find land again and save his crew from despair.

Dialogue: Dialogue will be used to reveal the rising tension among the crew, showcase John's leadership qualities, and provide information about their dire circumstances.

Theme: The central theme of the story is hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. This will be woven into the story through John's unyielding optimism and commitment to his crew's survival.

Tone: The tone of the story will be serious and suspenseful, highlighting the gravity of the situation, the danger surrounding the characters, and their emotional struggles.

Pacing: The pacing will begin slow, mirroring their monotonous days at sea, then gradually increase as their situation becomes more desperate and John races against time to find land.

Plotline: The introduction will set the scene and present the problem. The climax will revolve around a massive storm that nearly sinks the boat. The ending will conclude with John successfully navigating through the storm and finally sighting land.

1. The author participated in a grueling marathon at the age of 18.
2. Leo, who had run the marathon before, convinced the author and his friends to participate.
3. The author and his friends underestimated the difficulty of the marathon.
4. Leo helped train the author and his friends for the marathon.
5. The day of the marathon arrived and the author struggled to keep up with his friends.
6. Leo stayed with the author to ensure he didn't give up.
7. The author was tempted to give up but was determined to finish the race.
8. Many runners collapsed or gave up during the marathon.
9. The author finished the marathon and cried with his friends.
10. The author considers the marathon his greatest achievement and has participated in many more since then.