Trim Irrelevant Details From a Personal Narrative

Start with the hike narrative so students see what an off-topic detail looks like. Then hand out the color code guide during a draft workshop and have students revise with colored pencils.

Cross out six sentences that wander from Lucía's story of leading a hike and explain two cuts. In a personal narrative, every detail should serve the moment being told. The directions on the page read: Read Lucía's narrative. Cross out the 6 sentences that wander away from leading the hike. In items 1 and 2, write the numbers of 2 of them and explain why. Then do item 3. An answer key is included.

Yes, both. We made it for 8th grade writing process, and it works the same at home or at school. At home, a student can work through it alone and then go over it with you, which shows quickly what is solid and what needs another look. In class it works as independent practice, homework or a warm-up, and you can print one copy or a full set.

It means checking that every detail serves the moment being told. In Lucía's narrative about leading a hike, a sentence about where her boots came from wanders away from the story. Students cross out six such sentences and explain two of them.

Students give each part of the draft its own color: thesis, evidence, transitions and domain words. Then they read the marks to see what is missing, such as a body paragraph with no evidence. Each Not yet answer gets a planned change.

Trim Irrelevant Details From a Personal Narrative has an answer key. The color code revision guide is used with each student's own draft, so it has no key.