narrative in thesis

Thesis Statement for Narrative Essay

In a narrative essay, the journey of your story is pivotal, but it’s the thesis statement that gives your tale its essence and purpose. Serving as a guidepost, the thesis captures the core message or emotion, ensuring readers are primed for what’s to come. Whether you’re narrating a personal experience or weaving a fictional tale, your thesis should be clear, evocative, and compelling. Dive in to explore examples, discover writing techniques, and imbibe tips to craft the perfect narrative essay thesis.

What is a Narrative Essay Thesis Statement? – Definition

A narrative essay thesis statement is a concise summary or main point of your personal story or experience. Unlike argumentative or analytical thesis statements, it doesn’t necessarily present an argument or a point of debate. Instead, it sets the tone for the narrative and provides a glimpse into the lesson, theme, or insight the story intends to convey. Essentially, it captures the essence of your narrative and gives readers an idea of what to expect.

What is the Best Thesis Statement Example for Narrative Essay?

While “best” is subjective and can vary based on the specific narrative, a compelling example might be:

“Despite the biting cold and fatigue, reaching the mountain’s summit at sunrise illuminated not just the world below, but also a truth: challenges, no matter how insurmountable, can be conquered with perseverance and a dash of courage.”

This statement provides a hint about the narrative’s setting (mountain summit at sunrise) and its central theme (overcoming challenges through perseverance and courage).

100 Thesis Statement Examples for Narrative Essay

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• “The summer of ’09 wasn’t about the places I went, but the journey of self-discovery I embarked on.”
• “In the midst of city lights, I found solace not in people but in the night’s embrace.”
• “The relentless waves on that fateful day taught me about nature’s might and the fragility of life.”
• “Grandma’s tales, woven with age-old wisdom, became my compass in life’s unpredictable journey.”
• “Amidst the hustle of the market, I learned that life’s most profound lessons can come from unexpected places.”
• “The old treehouse was more than wood and nails; it was a testament to childhood dreams and boundless imagination.”
• “Lost in a foreign land, I discovered the universal language of kindness and smiles.”
• “The train journey painted a tapestry of landscapes, emotions, and fleeting encounters.”
• “Under the autumn sky, I found that letting go can be as beautiful as holding on.”
• “The melody of mom’s lullaby was my anchor in stormy nights and sunny days alike.”
• “A chance encounter in a coffee shop served as a reminder of the serendipities life often throws our way.”
• “As leaves crunched underfoot in the forest, I felt the weight of the world lift off my shoulders.”
• “Through the pages of my childhood diary, I journeyed back to dreams forgotten and hopes untarnished.”
• “In the quiet corridors of the museum, art whispered tales of ages gone and worlds unseen.”
• “The mountain’s shadow at dusk taught me that even in darkness, there’s an inherent light waiting to shine.”
• “At the crossroads of choices, I found that destiny is but a collaboration between chance and decision.”
• “Amongst the ruins of ancient cities, I felt the pulse of time and the stories etched in stone.”
• “The carnival’s lights and sounds were a dance of joy, chaos, and the spectrum of human emotions.”
• “In the heart of winter, I learned that endings often herald new beginnings.”
• “The winding path through the meadow was a reminder that life’s journeys are seldom straight.”
• “By the lakeside, with ripples as companions, I understood the profoundness of simple moments.”
• “In the silence of the library, words spoke louder, echoing tales and truths of generations.”
• “The chrysalis’s metamorphosis mirrored my own transformation – from doubt to self-belief.”
• “As sand slipped through my fingers, I grasped the fleeting nature of time.”
• “The orchestra’s crescendo was a celebration of unity, diversity, and the magic of coming together.”
• “Within the walls of my childhood home, memories played in vivid colors and comforting echoes.”
• “The pathway lit by fireflies was an enchanting journey through nature’s wonders.”
• “On the city’s outskirts, the countryside taught me about life’s simple pleasures and unadulterated joys.”
• “The ocean’s horizon was an emblem of endless possibilities and adventures yet to unfold.”
• “Amidst the symphony of raindrops, I found rhythm, solace, and life’s refreshing melodies.”
• “In the tapestry of the bustling bazaar, every thread wove a story of hopes, dreams, and daily triumphs.”
• “Racing against the wind on that hilltop, I felt an exhilarating freedom and the weightlessness of being.”
• “Beneath the canopy of stars, I was a mere speck, yet infinitely connected to the vast universe.”
• “The gentle hum of the countryside at dawn brought lessons of patience and the beauty of the mundane.”
• “As snowflakes adorned the earth, I was reminded of nature’s ability to transform the familiar into wonder.”
• “Locked in a dance with my shadow, I confronted my fears and emerged stronger.”
• “Every stroke of my paintbrush on canvas was a step towards understanding my inner chaos and colors.”
• “The aroma from grandma’s kitchen wasn’t just about food, but a mix of tradition, love, and cherished memories.”
• “Navigating the city’s labyrinthine alleys, I discovered hidden gems and facets of my own adaptability.”
• “With every sunset on the beach, I learned about endings, reflections, and the promise of tomorrow.”
• “Amidst the pages of an old book, I embarked on journeys to realms unknown and feelings unexplored.”
• “The echo in the valley wasn’t mere sound; it was nature’s way of teaching me about resonance and reactions.”
• “In the theater’s dim light, the play unraveled not just a story but facets of human emotions and complexities.”
• “On the rollercoaster, as I soared and plunged, I experienced the highs and lows of life in mere minutes.”
• “Gazing into the campfire’s flames, I saw tales of passion, change, and the cyclical nature of existence.”
• “The footsteps on a snow-clad path were more than impressions; they were my journey’s evolving narrative.”
• “In the ruins of an old castle, I felt the weight of history and the stories that walls can whisper.”
• “The kaleidoscope wasn’t just a toy, but a lesson on perspective and the ever-changing patterns of life.”
• “Aboard the night train, every passing landscape and shadow spoke of transitions and the journey of life.”
• “The empty theater, with its echoing silence, taught me about presence, absence, and the spaces in between.”
• “Gazing at my reflection in the serene lake, I pondered on identity, change, and the depths beneath the surface.”
• “The forgotten trail in the forest was a testament to nature’s resilience and life’s unexpected detours.”
• “On the pottery wheel, molding clay, I understood the balance of control, creativity, and surrender.”
• “Within the confines of a photograph, I found a world of memories, emotions, and frozen moments.”
• “Beneath the city’s neon lights, I discovered a mosaic of dreams, struggles, and undying hopes.
• “Sailing on the tranquil sea, each wave whispered tales of depth, vastness, and the mysteries of the deep.”
• “The aroma of the first rain on parched earth wasn’t just a scent, but a renewal of life’s promises.”
• “Through the corridors of my old school, I journeyed back in time, reliving lessons beyond textbooks.”
• “The meandering river, with its twists and turns, mirrored life’s unpredictability and the beauty of going with the flow.”
• “The intricate dance of fireflies on a summer night showcased nature’s synchronicity and the magic of small wonders.”
• “In the heart of the desert, amidst endless sands, I realized the value of persistence and the oasis of hope.”
• “Each note from the old piano was more than a sound; it was an echo of love, memories, and bygone days.”
• “Scaling the urban walls, the graffiti wasn’t mere paint; it was a voice, a rebellion, and a canvas of urban tales.”
• “The ancient bridge, standing tall against time, was a testament to endurance, connections, and bridging divides.”
• “Beneath the wizened banyan tree, I found tales of time, roots of wisdom, and the shade of legacy.”
• “The labyrinth of mirrors in the carnival wasn’t just a maze but a reflection on perspectives, realities, and self-discovery.”
• “On the cobbled streets of the old town, every stone had a story, an echo of footsteps from a time long gone.”
• “The spectrum of autumn leaves was not just a display of colors but a lesson in change, acceptance, and renewal.”
• “The cocoon, in its silent transformation, taught me about growth, patience, and the wings of change.”
• “In the stillness of the frozen lake, I saw beauty in pauses, depths in calm, and the strength beneath the surface.”
• “The mosaic on the cathedral floor wasn’t just art; it was a confluence of faith, history, and countless footprints.”
• “The whispering winds atop the cliff carried tales of freedom, infinity, and the wild dance of nature.”
• “The diary, with its faded pages, was a portal to youthful dreams, heartaches, and the purity of first experiences.”
• “Amidst the bustling market square, I discerned life’s barter of dreams, efforts, and the currency of human connections.”
• “The silhouette of birds at dusk was a painting of transitions, homeward journeys, and the cyclic rhythm of days.
• “Walking through the quiet library halls, I felt a silent dialogue with countless authors, ideas, and epochs gone by.”
• “The symphony of the city, from honks to hushed whispers, was an orchestra of life’s chaos and harmonies.”
• “Each footprint on the moonlit beach spoke of transient moments, eternal tides, and the dance of time.”
• “The annual rings on the old tree stump bore witness to seasons, storms, and the silent growth of years.”
• “With every strike of the blacksmith’s hammer, metal sang a song of transformation, will, and fiery passion.”
• “The abandoned mansion, with its cobwebbed chandeliers, whispered tales of opulence, time’s decay, and forgotten tales.”
• “The tapestry of constellations in the night sky wasn’t just stars; it was a map of dreams, myths, and cosmic wonder.”
• “Amidst the pages of a handwritten letter, I found not just words, but heartbeats, distance, and undying bonds.”
• “The vintage carousel, with its painted horses, spun tales of childhood, nostalgia, and the cycles of joy.”
• “On the fog-covered moors, every misty silhouette held a mystery, an allure of the unknown, and nature’s veiled beauty.”
• “The keys of the old typewriter were more than letters; they were conduits of emotions, stories, and a bygone era’s charm.”
• “In the quiet of the woods, every rustling leaf and chirping cricket sang a lullaby of nature’s embrace and serenades.”
• “The tapestries in the old hall weren’t just decor; they were woven tales of valor, love, and historical tapestry.”
• “The chessboard, in its monochrome squares, was a battlefield of strategies, patience, and life’s checkmates.”
• “Amid the hustle of the train station, every departure and arrival was a chapter of hellos, goodbyes, and life’s journeys.”
• “The blooming lotus in the muck was not just flora; it epitomized resilience, beauty in adversity, and nature’s wisdom.”
• “The street musician, with his soulful tunes, strummed stories of dreams, hustle, and the universal language of music.”
• “Gazing at the distant mountains, I saw challenges, majesty, and the alluring call of horizons yet explored.”
• “The hourglass, with its fleeting sands, was a silent reminder of time’s passage, moments grasped, and the inevitability of change.”
• “In the rhythm of the heartbeat, I heard life’s cadence, fragility, and the unyielding pulse of existence.
• “The echoing chime of the ancient bell tower wasn’t just a sound; it was a call to remembrance, history, and moments that once were.”
• “The cascade of water in the hidden waterfall narrated tales of nature’s might, hidden gems, and the music of wilderness.”
• “As petals unfurled in the first bloom of spring, I saw life’s rebirth, new beginnings, and the eternal cycle of existence.”
• “Amidst the ruins of a forgotten citadel, I felt the palpable presence of erstwhile grandeur, time’s passage, and stories etched in stone.”
• “The winding pathways of the old garden maze weren’t just hedges; they symbolized life’s puzzles, choices, and the thrill of discovery.

Crafting narrative essay thesis statements is an art of encapsulating vast experiences, emotions, and lessons into a singular, guiding sentence. Each statement becomes the beacon, illuminating the depths of the tale, ensuring that readers are anchored and deeply engaged, from the first word to the last.

Thesis Statement Examples for Personal Narrative Essay

Narrative essays centered around personal experiences often dive deep into emotions, lessons, and realizations. A Good thesis statement acts as a snapshot of the core emotion or takeaway, allowing readers a quick glimpse into the writer’s soulful journey.

• “In my quest for my family roots, I unearthed more than lineage; I discovered stories that defined generations.”
• “Living in four countries in five years taught me resilience, adaptability, and the universal language of kindness.”
• “Adopting Luna wasn’t just about getting a pet; it was a lesson in love, responsibility, and understanding life through feline eyes.”
• “The summer of ’89 wasn’t just a season; it was my initiation into the world of rock music, rebellion, and teenage epiphanies.”
• “Learning to dance was never just about the steps; it was my journey of embracing imperfections and finding rhythm in chaos.”
• “As a caregiver to my grandmother, I realized that roles reverse, and sometimes, love means becoming a parent to your parent.”
• “Backpacking solo taught me more about self-reliance, the beauty of fleeting encounters, and the silent revelations in solitude.”
• “Battling an illness wasn’t just a physical challenge; it was an emotional odyssey of fears, hope, and rediscovering inner strength.”
• “Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro wasn’t just about reaching the summit; it was a metaphorical ascent of confronting my fears and limitations.”
• “Building my first robot was not just an academic project; it was a dance of creativity, failures, and the magic of invention.”

Thesis Statement Examples for Narrative Essay Writing

Narrative essay writing captures moments, stories, or experiences with a wider scope, often resonating with universal truths. The Strong thesis statement must encapsulate the essence, laying down the central theme or emotion the narrative seeks to convey.

• “The city’s heartbeat at midnight is more than nightlife; it’s an orchestra of dreams, hustlers, and silent wishes under the stars.”
• “The forest, with its myriad sounds, isn’t just nature’s realm; it’s a symphony of life, balance, and unspoken tales.”
• “A potter’s wheel doesn’t just shape clay; it’s a dance of hands, earth, and the beautiful journey of creation.”
• “Festivals in a multicultural neighborhood aren’t just about celebrations; they’re a tapestry of traditions, unity in diversity, and the magic of shared joys.”
• “The old bookstore, with its musty pages, wasn’t just a shop; it was a treasure trove of histories, fantasies, and timeless conversations.”
• “Watching a total solar eclipse isn’t just an astronomical event; it’s a humbling spectacle of cosmic alignments, darkness, and ethereal light.”
• “A farmer’s day isn’t just about toil; it’s a testament to patience, harmony with earth, and the silent prayer for bounty.”
• “Ancient monuments aren’t just stone and art; they are timekeepers, storytellers, and guardians of civilizations long gone.”
• “Migratory birds, with their seasonal journeys, don’t just traverse distances; they weave a tale of instinct, survival, and the incredible navigational wonders of nature.”
• “The vibrant hues of a sunset aren’t merely a visual delight; they paint the sky with the day’s adieu, promises of tomorrow, and the cyclical dance of time.

How do you write a thesis for a narrative essay? – Step by Step Guide

• Identify the Central Theme or Message: Before you write your thesis, ask yourself: what is the main point or message I want to convey through my narrative essay?
• Be Precise: A thesis statement should be a concise sentence or two that clearly outlines the main point or message of your essay. Avoid unnecessary words or overly complex sentences.
• Position Appropriately: Although narrative essays are flexible, it’s common to place the thesis statement at the end of the introduction, setting the scene for the narrative to unfold.
• Connect Emotionally: Given that narrative essays often delve into personal experiences, it’s important for your thesis to evoke emotion or a sense of anticipation in the reader.
• Ensure It’s Debatable: Even though it’s a narrative essay, your thesis should still be debatable. This doesn’t mean it should be controversial, but rather it should encourage readers to think or feel a certain way.
• Revise as Needed: As you develop your narrative, you might find your focus shifting slightly. Make sure to adjust your thesis accordingly to ensure it aligns with the content of your essay.
• Seek Feedback: Share your thesis with peers or mentors to get their perspective. Sometimes, an outsider’s view can provide clarity.

Can a narrative essay have a thesis statement?

Absolutely! While narrative essays primarily tell a story or share an experience, a thesis statement offers readers a preview of the essay’s main theme or message. It provides direction and sets the tone for the entire narrative. Even though it’s not argumentative in nature, a thesis in a narrative essay effectively conveys the essay’s purpose or the writer’s reason for telling that particular story. It serves as an anchor, ensuring the narrative remains centered on its core message.

Tips for Writing a Personal Essay Thesis Statement

• Introspect: Before you begin, spend some time introspecting. Understand the main emotion, lesson, or realization you want to convey. This will become the foundation of your thesis.
• Be Authentic: Personal essays are about real experiences and feelings. Ensure your thesis genuinely represents your thoughts and isn’t something you believe readers will want to hear.
• Use Active Voice: Active voice makes your statement sound assertive and clear. This clarity is essential for readers to grasp the main idea immediately.
• Avoid Clichés: While it can be tempting to use commonly accepted phrases or ideas, originality will make your thesis and essay more memorable.
• Stay Relevant: Ensure your thesis is directly relevant to the personal narrative you’re sharing. Every part of your essay should reflect or relate back to the thesis.
• Seek Clarity: A good thesis is not about using highfalutin words. It’s about being clear and precise, ensuring readers instantly understand the essay’s central theme.
• Test Your Thesis: Before finalizing, ask yourself: “If someone reads only my thesis statement, will they understand the crux of my personal essay?” If the answer is yes, you’re on the right track.

Thesis Statement Generator for Narrative Essay

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How to Write a Thesis for a Narrative Essay

Last Updated: February 26, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Alicia Cook . Alicia Cook is a Professional Writer based in Newark, New Jersey. With over 12 years of experience, Alicia specializes in poetry and uses her platform to advocate for families affected by addiction and to fight for breaking the stigma against addiction and mental illness. She holds a BA in English and Journalism from Georgian Court University and an MBA from Saint Peter’s University. Alicia is a bestselling poet with Andrews McMeel Publishing and her work has been featured in numerous media outlets including the NY Post, CNN, USA Today, the HuffPost, the LA Times, American Songwriter Magazine, and Bustle. She was named by Teen Vogue as one of the 10 social media poets to know and her poetry mixtape, “Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately” was a finalist in the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 105,169 times.

In a narrative essay, your thesis will be a bit different than in an argumentative or explanatory paper. A narrative essay is basically you writing a story for the reader. The purpose of a narrative essay is to make a certain point, using personal experiences or life events to convey your main point or theme. [1] X Trustworthy Source Purdue Online Writing Lab Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines Go to source However, just as in a standard paper, your thesis will still appear in the introduction of your narrative essay.

Part 1: Preparing to Write the Thesis

• Come up with a topic that is important to you and that you feel you can talk about in a personal way.

• Another way to find a personal event is to look through your old social media posts, as they often chronicle important or meaningful events in your life.

• Remembering the details of the event through your five senses will also help to trigger other details or images you may have forgotten.
• For example, maybe you remember the taste of coconut after your grandmother's funeral, which will then help you remember that you all ate your grandmother's favorite coconut cake at the gathering after the funeral. You can then try to find that recipe and use it as a way to jog other memories of your grandmother.

Part 2: Creating Your Thesis

• For example: “In this essay, I will discuss the issue of grief by discuss my grandmother's sickness, discuss my grandmother's death, talk about what happened afterwards.”
• Adjust your first attempt so it is grammatically correct: “In this essay, I will discuss the issue of grief by discussing my grandmother's sickness, my grandmother's death, and what happened afterward.”

• You may want to create a thesis that is a bit more sophisticated and less stilted by removing the more formal phrase, “I will discuss”.
• For example: “Grief affects everyone's life at one point or another, and it certainly has affected mine; when my grandmother became sick and passed away, I had to learn how to deal with the aftermath of her death.”

• Avoid packing too many ideas into one sentence. Your thesis should help ease the reader into your essay, not confuse them.

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• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/narrative_essays.html
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/brainstorming/
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/narrative-writing/
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-narrative-essay
• ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/thesis_statement_tips.html
• ↑ https://writing.wisc.edu/handbook/process/thesis/

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How to Write a Thesis for a Narrative Essay

Amy sterling casil, 25 jun 2018.

Although narrative essays tell a story, the events of the story on their own aren't enough to compose a narrative essay. All narrative essays should have a point, a point that is often best communicated in a thesis sentence. The Santa Barbara City College Writing Center advises students to set the scene and provide a "hook" to get the reader's attention. Depending on the type of narrative you're sharing with the reader, the thesis sentence could offer a lesson learned, identify a theme or simply start the story with the first event.

Explore this article

• Scene Setting
• Lessons Learned

1 Scene Setting

Set the scene for readers by letting them know relevant details of the the who, what, where and and where of your essay. For example, if you are assigned to write a narrative about a physical challenge, an effective thesis sentence would look at your personal reason for sharing the essay's story. Looking at what is unique about the story you tell in your essay is crucial part of setting the scene. An opener might be, "My father teaching me how to swim the summer I turned 8 made me appreciate my dad's patience and willingness to spend time with me."

The best "hook" for readers is appropriate to the story you are sharing in your narrative essay. An honest "hook" is always effective as a thesis sentence. One way to start an essay is with a related quote that engages the reader or makes them laugh in some way. Relating to the father-son bicycle story, a potential quote hook could be the Desmond Tutu quote, “Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring."

Include the underlying essay theme in your thesis sentence. For example, if you are writing a narrative about a great one-day trip you took with friends, the thesis could be, "Spending time with close friends gives memories that can last forever, even if the trip is just one day." Condense the main idea(s) of your narrative into a few sentences that support your theme.

4 Lessons Learned

Many narrative essay assignments ask students to write the story of an experience where they learned a valuable lesson. The thesis sentence for these types of narratives should include the lesson or moral of the story. For example, a thesis for an essay about how you responded to peer pressure could be, "I learned that I shouldn't do whatever my friends wanted me to do the night I got caught driving without a license."

• 1 Purdue Online Writing Lab: Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements
• 2 New York Times: Climber Still Seeks Larger Meaning in His Epic Escape
• 3 WeLoveCycling Magazine: 10 Motivational Cycling Quotes From Famous People

About the Author

Amy Sterling Casil is an award-winning writer with a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Chapman University in Orange, Calif. She is a professional author and college writing teacher, and has published 20 nonfiction books for schools and libraries.

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What is a Personal Narrative?

Definition of Narrative Statement

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• How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on August 15, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . It usually comes near the end of your introduction .

Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you’re writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.

You can write your thesis statement by following four simple steps:

• Start with a question
• Write your initial answer
• Develop your answer
• Refine your thesis statement

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Table of contents

What is a thesis statement, placement of the thesis statement, step 1: start with a question, step 2: write your initial answer, step 3: develop your answer, step 4: refine your thesis statement, types of thesis statements, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis statements.

A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why.

The best thesis statements are:

• Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don’t use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
• Contentious: Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
• Coherent: Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.

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The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your essay introduction or research paper introduction .

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts and among young people more generally is hotly debated. For many who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.

You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis , early in the writing process . As soon as you’ve decided on your essay topic , you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.

You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?

For example, you might ask:

After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process .

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Now you need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you. As you read more about your topic and begin writing, your answer should get more detailed.

In your essay about the internet and education, the thesis states your position and sketches out the key arguments you’ll use to support it.

The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education because it facilitates easier access to information.

In your essay about braille, the thesis statement summarizes the key historical development that you’ll explain.

The invention of braille in the 19th century transformed the lives of blind people, allowing them to participate more actively in public life.

A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:

• Why you hold this position
• What they’ll learn from your essay
• The key points of your argument or narrative

The final thesis statement doesn’t just state your position, but summarizes your overall argument or the entire topic you’re going to explain. To strengthen a weak thesis statement, it can help to consider the broader context of your topic.

These examples are more specific and show that you’ll explore your topic in depth.

Your thesis statement should match the goals of your essay, which vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing:

• In an argumentative essay , your thesis statement should take a strong position. Your aim in the essay is to convince your reader of this thesis based on evidence and logical reasoning.
• In an expository essay , you’ll aim to explain the facts of a topic or process. Your thesis statement doesn’t have to include a strong opinion in this case, but it should clearly state the central point you want to make, and mention the key elements you’ll explain.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

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A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

• Ask a question about your topic .
• Write your initial answer.
• Develop your answer by including reasons.
• Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

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4.12: Narrative Writing

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Learning Objectives

• Describe techniques for writing effective narratives

Narrative Writing

What feelings and thoughts does this quote by Margaret Mead bring up in you when you read it? Why does she include this personal glimpse in her preface to the 1949 edition of Coming of Age in Samoa ?

I had decided to become an anthropologist—in May, 1923—because Franz Boas and Ruth Benedict had presented the tasks of anthropology as more urgent than any other task which lay ready to the choice of a student of human behavior.

By using even a brief personal story, Mead is helping her readers relate to her and open to her viewpoint. Her mentors and teachers instilled in her a sense of purpose — an urgent one, for Mead in May, 1923 — to study human behavior as it happens naturally in a variety of societies and cultures. We can all relate to the feeling of longing for a sense of purpose, even though we may not have an interest in anthropology specifically. Most of us will nod knowingly at her decision because we can relate to her story of feeling, at a specific moment in time and under the guidance of powerful teachers, a sense of purpose and direction.

Narrative Essay

Narration is a rhetorical style that basically just tells a story. Being able to convey events in a clear, descriptive, chronological order is important in many fields. Many times, in college, your professors will ask you to write paragraphs or entire essays using a narrative style.

Most of the time, in introductory writing classes, students write narration essays that discuss personal stories; however, in different disciplines, you may be asked to tell a story about another person’s experience or an event.

The reason we use narrative is because storytelling is the most natural way for us humans to communicate. Not unlike ethnography, it’s both a way we find of relating to one another and a way we learn to understand our differences.

Telling a Story

When telling a story, you want to hone in on what’s important. Consider, as an example, how you might respond if your friend asked what you did last weekend. If you began with, “I woke up on Saturday morning, rolled over, checked my phone, fell back asleep, woke up, pulled my feet out from under the covers, put my feet on the floor, stood up, stretched…” then your friend might have stopped listening by the time you get to the really good stuff. Your scope is too broad, so you’re including details that distract or bore your reader. Instead of listing every detail in order like this:

… you should consider narrowing your scope, focusing instead on the important, interesting, and unique plot points (events) like this:

You might think of this as the difference between a series of snapshots and a roll of film: instead of twenty-four frames per second video, your entire story might only be a few photographs aligned together.

It may seem counterintuitive, but we can often make more impact by digging into a few moments or events rather than trying to relate every idea or event.

Story Sequencing

The order of the events and the amount of time you give to each event, respectively—will determine your reader’s experience. There are an infinite number of ways you might structure your story, and the shape of your story is worth deep consideration. Although the traditional forms for narrative sequence are not your only options, let’s take a look at a few tried-and-true shapes your plot might take.

You might recognize Freytag’s Pyramid from other classes you’ve taken:

The typical components include:

• Exposition: Here, you’re setting the scene, introducing characters, and preparing the reader for the journey.
• Rising action: In this part, things start to happen. You (or your characters) encounter conflict, set out on a journey, meet people, etc.
• Climax: This is the peak of the action, the main showdown, the central event toward which your story has been building.
• Falling action: Now things start to wind down. You (or your characters) come away from the climactic experience changed—at the very least, you are wiser for having had that experience.
• Resolution: Also known as dénouement, this is where all the loose ends get tied up. The central conflict has been resolved, and everything is back to normal, but perhaps a bit different.

This narrative shape is certainly a familiar one. Many films, TV shows, plays, novels, and short stories follow this track. But it’s not without its flaws. What assumptions does it rely on? How might it limit a storyteller? Sometimes, writers want to start the story where the story starts—often, steps A and B in the diagram above just delay the most descriptive, active, or meaningful parts of the story. If nothing else, we should note that Freytag’s pyramid is not necessarily the best way to tell your story, and definitely not the only way.

Another classic technique for narrative sequence is known as in medias res –literally, “in the middle of things.” As you map out your plot in pre-writing or experiment with it during the drafting and revision process, you might find this technique a more active and exciting way to begin a story.

In the earlier example, the plot is chronological, linear, and continuous: The story would move smoothly from beginning to end with no interruptions. In medias res instead suggests that you start your story with action rather than exposition, focusing on an exciting, imagistic, or important scene. Then, you can circle back to an earlier part of the story to fill in the blanks for your reader. Using the previously discussed plot shape, you might visualize it like this:

You can experiment with your sequence in a variety of other ways, which might include also making changes to your scope: instead of a continuous story, you might have a series of fragments with specific scope (like photographs instead of video). Instead of chronological order, you might bounce around in time or space, or in reverse. Some narratives reject traditional narrative sequences altogether.

For example, consider how this story starts:

• Lost in my thoughts, I shuddered as the train ground to a full stop in the middle of an intersection. I was surprised, jarred by the unannounced and abrupt jerking of the car. I sought clues for our stop outside the window. All I saw were pigeons as startled and clueless as I.

Using Narrative

You’ll find narrative useful in an essay when you want your reader to identify with your perspective or with the view taken by one of your characters or subjects. Documentary filmmaking is full of narrative examples: People tell us the story of what happened as if they were witnesses, even if the event happened many years before they were born. It’s an effective technique because the filmmaker weaves a tale for us through each narrator.

You can take a similar approach in writing, laying out the facts of a story interspersed with first-person perspectives. Or you might, as Mead did, offer your reader insight into your own thought process as you came to understand the concept or event.

Satire can be a particularly effective form of narrative, exemplified by Animal Farm and Gulliver’s Travels. Satire works to expose the defects in an idea or society by telling a fictional tale of a different social group. Fictional characters stand in for real people or play out social ideas, usually political in nature.

Narratives can be factual or fictional, depending on the writer’s purpose. The writers of factual stories try to recount events as they actually happened, but writers of fictional stories can depart from real people and events because the writers’ intents are not to retell a real-life event. Biographies and memoirs are examples of factual stories, whereas novels and short stories are examples of fictional stories. And the line between fact and fiction is often purposefully blurry, again depending on the writer’s purpose.

Narrative Essays

You could think of a narrative essay as a short story. It’s called an essay, but many narrative essays are really just short stories. If you are using narration as the primary strategy in writing a paper, you will use some semblance of the following format:

Your opening in a narrative essay does not need to be a description of the event you will be discussing or an explicit outline of the reason(s) you’re examining it. Instead, try to hook your readers and think about why should they should be interested.

Narrative Paragraphs

You will divide the event into smaller events and give each of these smaller incidents a paragraph. These will be simple explanations of what happened when, though in a more complex essay you might include reasons for each event and comparisons to another, more current circumstance. Accounts by historians, witnesses, or thought leaders can be woven into the narrative to strengthen the perspective you’re offering or to offer the possibility of another perspective, in an effort to provide an objective report.

You’ll want to make each portion of the narrative interesting to the reader, so use literary devices like suspense, imagery, verisimilitude, and surprise, perhaps along with a little humor, if appropriate, to keep your audience engaged.

You don’t need to hit your reader over the head a summary of the event and the reason(s) for examining it. You may or may not decide to end with some explicit ideas about how this event is relevant to the reader and to the world at this time.

The checklist for a narrative essay:

• Have a clear purpose.
• Tell the story clearly.
• Make the narrative interesting.
• Relate it to something larger than itself, either overtly, or covertly.

KeY Takeaways

• Narration is another way of saying storytelling.
• Narratives have a plot, characters, conflict, and a theme.
• Narratives can be either factual or fictional.
• Most narratives are written about major events that follow a timeline, but narratives do not need to be written in chronological order.
• Narratives should have strong openings to engage the reader.
• Narratives often have strong conclusions that help to resolve the conflict and reiterate the theme.
• The thesis in a narrative can be implied.

sTART WITH THE STORY

Sometimes, it’s easier for students to write the story and then go back and make sure that the essay follows the proper essay format.

After you have completed your story, read it to yourself. Is there any particular moral or idea that the story is demonstrating? If so, you may decide to use that idea in your thesis statement.

For example, consider the topic of going back to school. You may approach it in this way:

• Write the story (this will become your body paragraphs)
• Read aloud and see if there is a moral or underlying idea
• Write your thesis statement based on that idea or moral
• Continue to write your introduction

Once you have the story down, you read your paragraphs about going back to school, and then you realize how much having a college education will improve your financial situation. This allows you to create your thesis, and go back to form the introduction. In this case, you decide that your thesis is “After careful consideration, I have decided that returning to school is an important step toward improving my financial outlook.”

Whether or not you include that explicit thesis in your narrative will depend on the requirements of the assignment and your skill as a writer. Often, in narrative writing, our goal is to show, not tell, the reader the point of the story!

Link to Learning

Here you can see a traditional or typical sample narration essay from a beginning writing class. In this assignment, the student was asked to write a brief literacy narrative , a narrative essay that focuses on the author’s experiences with reading and/or writing. In this narration essay, the author focuses on reading books and follows MLA guidelines.

https://assessments.lumenlearning.co...essments/20434

Contributors and Attributions

• Modification, adaptation, and original content. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Writing Narratives. Provided by : Boundless. Located at : courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-writing/chapter/types-of-rhetorical-modes/. License : CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
• Narrative Essay. Provided by : Excelsior College Online Writing Lab. Located at : https://owl.excelsior.edu/rhetorical-styles/narrative-essay/narrative-essay-see-it-in-practice/ . License : CC BY: Attribution
• Telling a Story. Authored by : Chris Manning, Sally Pierce, and Melissa Lucken. Located at : https://pb.openlcc.net/expressionandinquiry/chapter/19-2-telling-a-story/ . Project : Expression and Inquiry. License : CC BY: Attribution
• Narration key takeaways. Located at : https://open.lib.umn.edu/writingforsuccess/chapter/10-1-narration/ . Project : Writing For Success. License : CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Jemma Kuster

Narrative Essay Thesis Statements: Tips and Examples

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Introduction

A narrative essay, put simply, is an essay that tells a story. Narrative essays are usually both creative and personal, which makes it difficult to know where to start and how to incorporate the traditional elements of essays that we might be more familiar with. 

When we think of essays in general, one important component is the thesis statement, which tells us the main idea or argument of an overall work. In a narrative essay, however, a thesis does not follow the same rules it does in other types of writing. A narrative essay thesis statement can do one or both of the following: (1) convey a theme, lesson, or main idea, or (2) introduce the action of the story you want to tell. 

How you write your thesis will depend on the purpose of your essay, any instructions or prompt you may have received, and what flows with your writing style. In most cases, when writing a narrative essay, you will be focusing on a single event or experience that was important to you. If your goal is to convey a lesson, theme, or moral from that experience, you might think about the following questions: 

• Why am I telling this story?
• What happened or changed in my life as a result of this event?
• What did I learn from this experience?
• What is the most important idea/lesson that I want my reader to take away after reading my essay?
• What point am I making with this, in general?

Once you have an idea of what you want to say, all that is left is to turn that thought into a thesis. Let’s take a closer look at some examples of narrative essay thesis statements to see how that works:

• Over the few months I spent with those mice, I learned that unexpected instructors can often have the most to teach us. 
• That single failing grade was enough to shift my perspective on personal responsibility. 
• Overcoming grief is a slow process that never truly ends, but confiding in the people in our lives can make it less painful. 

These statements tell us a main idea, lesson, or theme from their respective narrative. Still, it can be hard to understand how these sentences would fit into an essay when looking at them in isolation. Here are two examples from well-known narrative essays so you can see what thesis statements look like in actual paragraphs:

“I was less playing a particular kind of animal than enacting a form of wildness that I recognized in myself.” – From “The Wild, Sublime Body” by Melissa Febos, published in The Yale Review. The full essay can be accessed here.

“Beyond those things our culture might specialize in money, and celebrity, and natural beauty. These are not universal. You enjoy work and will love your grandchildren, and somewhere in there you die.” – From “This is the Life” by Annie Dillard, originally published in  Image: A Journal of the Arts and Religio n. The full essay can be accessed here.

Both of these excerpts convey the main idea of their respective essay. They are not extremely direct, but they give us a hint at what we should be taking away from these essays nonetheless.

But what about thesis statements that simply introduce the action of a story, or do that while telling us a theme or main idea? These can also be a great, flexible option for your writing. Here is another contextual example:

“I foresaw no particular problems or difficulties. I was as strong as a bull, in the prime, the pride, the high noon of life. I looked forward to the walk with assurance and pleasure.” – From “The Bull on the Mountain” by Oliver Sacks, published in The New York Review. The full essay can be accessed here.

Not only do these sentences introduce the story’s action (the narrator will soon begin to walk), but they also hint at an underlying message. We know immediately that the narrator’s assuredness and pride will likely come before a fall, even though it is not stated. 

Drafting a thesis statement is difficult, especially for a creative medium like a narrative essay. Remember that writing is a process of revision; you can always return to your “thesis” after you’ve written some or all of your essay. This may help you eliminate any awkwardness in how your thesis flows with the rest of your writing. You can also test for awkward or too-direct phrasing by reading the surrounding sentences out loud and making sure they sound natural in your voice.

Keep in mind that the examples here are not exhaustive; there are infinite ways to tell a compelling story, and it is up to you to find what works for your goals. Continuing to seek out and read other narrative essays can help you understand what makes them tick and how you can achieve similar things in your writing.

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The Ultimate Narrative Essay Guide for Beginners

A narrative essay tells a story in chronological order, with an introduction that introduces the characters and sets the scene. Then a series of events leads to a climax or turning point, and finally a resolution or reflection on the experience.

Speaking of which, are you in sixes and sevens about narrative essays? Don’t worry this ultimate expert guide will wipe out all your doubts. So let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Everything You Need to Know About Narrative Essay

What is a narrative essay.

When you go through a narrative essay definition, you would know that a narrative essay purpose is to tell a story. It’s all about sharing an experience or event and is different from other types of essays because it’s more focused on how the event made you feel or what you learned from it, rather than just presenting facts or an argument. Let’s explore more details on this interesting write-up and get to know how to write a narrative essay.

Elements of a Narrative Essay

Here’s a breakdown of the key elements of a narrative essay:

A narrative essay has a beginning, middle, and end. It builds up tension and excitement and then wraps things up in a neat package.

Real people, including the writer, often feature in personal narratives. Details of the characters and their thoughts, feelings, and actions can help readers to relate to the tale.

It’s really important to know when and where something happened so we can get a good idea of the context. Going into detail about what it looks like helps the reader to really feel like they’re part of the story.

Conflict or Challenge 

A story in a narrative essay usually involves some kind of conflict or challenge that moves the plot along. It could be something inside the character, like a personal battle, or something from outside, like an issue they have to face in the world.

Theme or Message

A narrative essay isn’t just about recounting an event – it’s about showing the impact it had on you and what you took away from it. It’s an opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings about the experience, and how it changed your outlook.

Emotional Impact

The author is trying to make the story they’re telling relatable, engaging, and memorable by using language and storytelling to evoke feelings in whoever’s reading it.

Narrative essays let writers have a blast telling stories about their own lives. It’s an opportunity to share insights and impart wisdom, or just have some fun with the reader. Descriptive language, sensory details, dialogue, and a great narrative voice are all essentials for making the story come alive.

The Purpose of a Narrative Essay

A narrative essay is more than just a story – it’s a way to share a meaningful, engaging, and relatable experience with the reader. Includes:

Sharing Personal Experience

Narrative essays are a great way for writers to share their personal experiences, feelings, thoughts, and reflections. It’s an opportunity to connect with readers and make them feel something.

Entertainment and Engagement

The essay attempts to keep the reader interested by using descriptive language, storytelling elements, and a powerful voice. It attempts to pull them in and make them feel involved by creating suspense, mystery, or an emotional connection.

Conveying a Message or Insight

Narrative essays are more than just a story – they aim to teach you something. They usually have a moral lesson, a new understanding, or a realization about life that the author gained from the experience.

Building Empathy and Understanding

By telling their stories, people can give others insight into different perspectives, feelings, and situations. Sharing these tales can create compassion in the reader and help broaden their knowledge of different life experiences.

Inspiration and Motivation

Stories about personal struggles, successes, and transformations can be really encouraging to people who are going through similar situations. It can provide them with hope and guidance, and let them know that they’re not alone.

Reflecting on Life’s Significance

These essays usually make you think about the importance of certain moments in life or the impact of certain experiences. They make you look deep within yourself and ponder on the things you learned or how you changed because of those events.

Demonstrating Writing Skills

Coming up with a gripping narrative essay takes serious writing chops, like vivid descriptions, powerful language, timing, and organization. It’s an opportunity for writers to show off their story-telling abilities.

Preserving Personal History

Sometimes narrative essays are used to record experiences and special moments that have an emotional resonance. They can be used to preserve individual memories or for future generations to look back on.

Cultural and Societal Exploration

Personal stories can look at cultural or social aspects, giving us an insight into customs, opinions, or social interactions seen through someone’s own experience.

Format of a Narrative Essay

Narrative essays are quite flexible in terms of format, which allows the writer to tell a story in a creative and compelling way. Here’s a quick breakdown of the narrative essay format, along with some examples:

Introduction

Set the scene and introduce the story.

Engage the reader and establish the tone of the narrative.

Hook: Start with a captivating opening line to grab the reader’s attention. For instance:

Example:  “The scorching sun beat down on us as we trekked through the desert, our water supply dwindling.”

Background Information: Provide necessary context or background without giving away the entire story.

Example:  “It was the summer of 2015 when I embarked on a life-changing journey to…”

Thesis Statement or Narrative Purpose

Present the main idea or the central message of the essay.

Offer a glimpse of what the reader can expect from the narrative.

Thesis Statement: This isn’t as rigid as in other essays but can be a sentence summarizing the essence of the story.

Example:  “Little did I know, that seemingly ordinary hike would teach me invaluable lessons about resilience and friendship.”

Body Paragraphs

Present the sequence of events in chronological order.

Develop characters, setting, conflict, and resolution.

Story Progression: Describe events in the order they occurred, focusing on details that evoke emotions and create vivid imagery.

Example: Detail the trek through the desert, the challenges faced, interactions with fellow hikers, and the pivotal moments.

Character Development: Introduce characters and their roles in the story. Show their emotions, thoughts, and actions.

Example: Describe how each character reacted to the dwindling water supply and supported each other through adversity.

Dialogue and Interactions: Use dialogue to bring the story to life and reveal character personalities.

Example: “Sarah handed me her last bottle of water, saying, ‘We’re in this together.'”

Reach the peak of the story, the moment of highest tension or significance.

Turning Point: Highlight the most crucial moment or realization in the narrative.

Example:  “As the sun dipped below the horizon and hope seemed lost, a distant sound caught our attention—the rescue team’s helicopters.”

Provide closure to the story.

Reflect on the significance of the experience and its impact.

Reflection: Summarize the key lessons learned or insights gained from the experience.

Example: “That hike taught me the true meaning of resilience and the invaluable support of friendship in challenging times.”

Closing Thought: End with a memorable line that reinforces the narrative’s message or leaves a lasting impression.

Example: “As we boarded the helicopters, I knew this adventure would forever be etched in my heart.”

Example Summary:

Imagine a narrative about surviving a challenging hike through the desert, emphasizing the bonds formed and lessons learned. The narrative essay structure might look like starting with an engaging scene, narrating the hardships faced, showcasing the characters’ resilience, and culminating in a powerful realization about friendship and endurance.

Different Types of Narrative Essays

There are a bunch of different types of narrative essays – each one focuses on different elements of storytelling and has its own purpose. Here’s a breakdown of the narrative essay types and what they mean.

Personal Narrative

Description: Tells a personal story or experience from the writer’s life.

Purpose: Reflects on personal growth, lessons learned, or significant moments.

Example of Narrative Essay Types:

Topic: “The Day I Conquered My Fear of Public Speaking”

Focus: Details the experience, emotions, and eventual triumph over a fear of public speaking during a pivotal event.

Descriptive Narrative

Description: Emphasizes vivid details and sensory imagery.

Purpose: Creates a sensory experience, painting a vivid picture for the reader.

Topic: “A Walk Through the Enchanted Forest”

Focus: Paints a detailed picture of the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings experienced during a walk through a mystical forest.

Autobiographical Narrative

Description: Chronicles significant events or moments from the writer’s life.

Purpose: Provides insights into the writer’s life, experiences, and growth.

Topic: “Lessons from My Childhood: How My Grandmother Shaped Who I Am”

Focus: Explores pivotal moments and lessons learned from interactions with a significant family member.

Experiential Narrative

Description: Relays experiences beyond the writer’s personal life.

Purpose: Shares experiences, travels, or events from a broader perspective.

Topic: “Volunteering in a Remote Village: A Journey of Empathy”

Focus: Chronicles the writer’s volunteering experience, highlighting interactions with a community and personal growth.

Literary Narrative

Description: Incorporates literary elements like symbolism, allegory, or thematic explorations.

Purpose: Uses storytelling for deeper explorations of themes or concepts.

Topic: “The Symbolism of the Red Door: A Journey Through Change”

Focus: Uses a red door as a symbol, exploring its significance in the narrator’s life and the theme of transition.

Historical Narrative

Description: Recounts historical events or periods through a personal lens.

Purpose: Presents history through personal experiences or perspectives.

Topic: “A Grandfather’s Tales: Living Through the Great Depression”

Focus: Shares personal stories from a family member who lived through a historical era, offering insights into that period.

Digital or Multimedia Narrative

Description: Incorporates multimedia elements like images, videos, or audio to tell a story.

Purpose: Explores storytelling through various digital platforms or formats.

Topic: “A Travel Diary: Exploring Europe Through Vlogs”

Focus: Combines video clips, photos, and personal narration to document a travel experience.

How to Choose a Topic for Your Narrative Essay?

Selecting a compelling topic for your narrative essay is crucial as it sets the stage for your storytelling. Choosing a boring topic is one of the narrative essay mistakes to avoid . Here’s a detailed guide on how to choose the right topic:

Reflect on Personal Experiences

• Significant Moments:

Moments that had a profound impact on your life or shaped your perspective.

Example: A moment of triumph, overcoming a fear, a life-changing decision, or an unforgettable experience.

• Emotional Resonance:

Events that evoke strong emotions or feelings.

Example: Joy, fear, sadness, excitement, or moments of realization.

• Lessons Learned:

Experiences that taught you valuable lessons or brought about personal growth.

Example: Challenges that led to personal development, shifts in mindset, or newfound insights.

Explore Unique Perspectives

• Uncommon Experiences:

Unique or unconventional experiences that might captivate the reader’s interest.

Example: Unusual travels, interactions with different cultures, or uncommon hobbies.

• Different Points of View:

Stories from others’ perspectives that impacted you deeply.

Example: A family member’s story, a friend’s experience, or a historical event from a personal lens.

Focus on Specific Themes or Concepts

• Themes or Concepts of Interest:

Themes or ideas you want to explore through storytelling.

Example: Friendship, resilience, identity, cultural diversity, or personal transformation.

• Symbolism or Metaphor:

Using symbols or metaphors as the core of your narrative.

Example: Exploring the symbolism of an object or a place in relation to a broader theme.

Consider Your Audience and Purpose

• Relevance to Your Audience:

Topics that resonate with your audience’s interests or experiences.

Example: Choose a relatable theme or experience that your readers might connect with emotionally.

• Impact or Message:

What message or insight do you want to convey through your story?

Example: Choose a topic that aligns with the message or lesson you aim to impart to your readers.

Brainstorm and Evaluate Ideas

• Free Writing or Mind Mapping:

Process: Write down all potential ideas without filtering. Mind maps or free-writing exercises can help generate diverse ideas.

• Evaluate Feasibility:

The depth of the story, the availability of vivid details, and your personal connection to the topic.

Imagine you’re considering topics for a narrative essay. You reflect on your experiences and decide to explore the topic of “Overcoming Stage Fright: How a School Play Changed My Perspective.” This topic resonates because it involves a significant challenge you faced and the personal growth it brought about.

Narrative Essay Topics

50 easy narrative essay topics.

• Learning to Ride a Bike
• My First Day of School
• A Surprise Birthday Party
• The Day I Got Lost
• Visiting a Haunted House
• An Encounter with a Wild Animal
• My Favorite Childhood Toy
• The Best Vacation I Ever Had
• An Unforgettable Family Gathering
• Conquering a Fear of Heights
• A Special Gift I Received
• Moving to a New City
• The Most Memorable Meal
• Getting Caught in a Rainstorm
• An Act of Kindness I Witnessed
• The First Time I Cooked a Meal
• My Experience with a New Hobby
• The Day I Met My Best Friend
• A Hike in the Mountains
• Learning a New Language
• An Embarrassing Moment
• Dealing with a Bully
• My First Job Interview
• A Sporting Event I Attended
• The Scariest Dream I Had
• Helping a Stranger
• The Joy of Achieving a Goal
• A Road Trip Adventure
• Overcoming a Personal Challenge
• The Significance of a Family Tradition
• An Unusual Pet I Owned
• A Misunderstanding with a Friend
• Exploring an Abandoned Building
• My Favorite Book and Why
• The Impact of a Role Model
• A Cultural Celebration I Participated In
• A Valuable Lesson from a Teacher
• A Trip to the Zoo
• An Unplanned Adventure
• Volunteering Experience
• A Moment of Forgiveness
• A Decision I Regretted
• A Special Talent I Have
• The Importance of Family Traditions
• The Thrill of Performing on Stage
• A Moment of Sudden Inspiration
• The Meaning of Home
• Learning to Play a Musical Instrument
• A Childhood Memory at the Park
• Witnessing a Beautiful Sunset

Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

• Discovering a New Passion
• Overcoming Academic Challenges
• Navigating Cultural Differences
• Embracing Independence: Moving Away from Home
• Exploring Career Aspirations
• Coping with Stress in College
• The Impact of a Mentor in My Life
• Balancing Work and Studies
• Facing a Fear of Public Speaking
• Exploring a Semester Abroad
• The Evolution of My Study Habits
• Volunteering Experience That Changed My Perspective
• The Role of Technology in Education
• Finding Balance: Social Life vs. Academics
• Learning a New Skill Outside the Classroom
• Reflecting on Freshman Year Challenges
• The Joys and Struggles of Group Projects
• My Experience with Internship or Work Placement
• Challenges of Time Management in College
• Redefining Success Beyond Grades
• The Influence of Literature on My Thinking
• The Impact of Social Media on College Life
• Overcoming Procrastination
• Lessons from a Leadership Role
• Exploring Diversity on Campus
• Exploring Passion for Environmental Conservation
• An Eye-Opening Course That Changed My Perspective
• Living with Roommates: Challenges and Lessons
• The Significance of Extracurricular Activities
• The Influence of a Professor on My Academic Journey
• Discussing Mental Health in College
• The Evolution of My Career Goals
• Confronting Personal Biases Through Education
• The Experience of Attending a Conference or Symposium
• Challenges Faced by Non-Native English Speakers in College
• The Impact of Traveling During Breaks
• Exploring Identity: Cultural or Personal
• The Impact of Music or Art on My Life
• Addressing Diversity in the Classroom
• Exploring Entrepreneurial Ambitions
• My Experience with Research Projects
• Overcoming Impostor Syndrome in College
• The Importance of Networking in College
• Finding Resilience During Tough Times
• The Impact of Global Issues on Local Perspectives
• The Influence of Family Expectations on Education
• Lessons from a Part-Time Job
• Exploring the College Sports Culture
• The Role of Technology in Modern Education
• The Journey of Self-Discovery Through Education

Narrative Essay Comparison

Narrative essay vs. descriptive essay.

Here’s our first narrative essay comparison! While both narrative and descriptive essays focus on vividly portraying a subject or an event, they differ in their primary objectives and approaches. Now, let’s delve into the nuances of comparison on narrative essays.

Narrative Essay:

Storytelling: Focuses on narrating a personal experience or event.

Chronological Order: Follows a structured timeline of events to tell a story.

Message or Lesson: Often includes a central message, moral, or lesson learned from the experience.

Engagement: Aims to captivate the reader through a compelling storyline and character development.

First-Person Perspective: Typically narrated from the writer’s point of view, using “I” and expressing personal emotions and thoughts.

Plot Development: Emphasizes a plot with a beginning, middle, climax, and resolution.

Character Development: Focuses on describing characters, their interactions, emotions, and growth.

Conflict or Challenge: Usually involves a central conflict or challenge that drives the narrative forward.

Dialogue: Incorporates conversations to bring characters and their interactions to life.

Reflection: Concludes with reflection or insight gained from the experience.

Descriptive Essay:

Vivid Description: Aims to vividly depict a person, place, object, or event.

Imagery and Details: Focuses on sensory details to create a vivid image in the reader’s mind.

Emotion through Description: Uses descriptive language to evoke emotions and engage the reader’s senses.

Painting a Picture: Creates a sensory-rich description allowing the reader to visualize the subject.

Imagery and Sensory Details: Focuses on providing rich sensory descriptions, using vivid language and adjectives.

Point of Focus: Concentrates on describing a specific subject or scene in detail.

Spatial Organization: Often employs spatial organization to describe from one area or aspect to another.

Objective Observations: Typically avoids the use of personal opinions or emotions; instead, the focus remains on providing a detailed and objective description.

Comparison:

Focus: Narrative essays emphasize storytelling, while descriptive essays focus on vividly describing a subject or scene.

Perspective: Narrative essays are often written from a first-person perspective, while descriptive essays may use a more objective viewpoint.

Purpose: Narrative essays aim to convey a message or lesson through a story, while descriptive essays aim to paint a detailed picture for the reader without necessarily conveying a specific message.

Narrative Essay vs. Argumentative Essay

The narrative essay and the argumentative essay serve distinct purposes and employ different approaches:

Engagement and Emotion: Aims to captivate the reader through a compelling story.

Reflective: Often includes reflection on the significance of the experience or lessons learned.

First-Person Perspective: Typically narrated from the writer’s point of view, sharing personal emotions and thoughts.

Plot Development: Emphasizes a storyline with a beginning, middle, climax, and resolution.

Message or Lesson: Conveys a central message, moral, or insight derived from the experience.

Argumentative Essay:

Persuasion and Argumentation: Aims to persuade the reader to adopt the writer’s viewpoint on a specific topic.

Logical Reasoning: Presents evidence, facts, and reasoning to support a particular argument or stance.

Debate and Counterarguments: Acknowledge opposing views and counter them with evidence and reasoning.

Thesis Statement: Includes a clear thesis statement that outlines the writer’s position on the topic.

Thesis and Evidence: Starts with a strong thesis statement and supports it with factual evidence, statistics, expert opinions, or logical reasoning.

Counterarguments: Addresses opposing viewpoints and provides rebuttals with evidence.

Logical Structure: Follows a logical structure with an introduction, body paragraphs presenting arguments and evidence, and a conclusion reaffirming the thesis.

Formal Language: Uses formal language and avoids personal anecdotes or emotional appeals.

Objective: Argumentative essays focus on presenting a logical argument supported by evidence, while narrative essays prioritize storytelling and personal reflection.

Purpose: Argumentative essays aim to persuade and convince the reader of a particular viewpoint, while narrative essays aim to engage, entertain, and share personal experiences.

Structure: Narrative essays follow a storytelling structure with character development and plot, while argumentative essays follow a more formal, structured approach with logical arguments and evidence.

In essence, while both essays involve writing and presenting information, the narrative essay focuses on sharing a personal experience, whereas the argumentative essay aims to persuade the audience by presenting a well-supported argument.

Narrative Essay vs. Personal Essay

While there can be an overlap between narrative and personal essays, they have distinctive characteristics:

Storytelling: Emphasizes recounting a specific experience or event in a structured narrative form.

Engagement through Story: Aims to engage the reader through a compelling story with characters, plot, and a central theme or message.

Reflective: Often includes reflection on the significance of the experience and the lessons learned.

First-Person Perspective: Typically narrated from the writer’s viewpoint, expressing personal emotions and thoughts.

Plot Development: Focuses on developing a storyline with a clear beginning, middle, climax, and resolution.

Character Development: Includes descriptions of characters, their interactions, emotions, and growth.

Central Message: Conveys a central message, moral, or insight derived from the experience.

Personal Essay:

Exploration of Ideas or Themes: Explores personal ideas, opinions, or reflections on a particular topic or subject.

Expression of Thoughts and Opinions: Expresses the writer’s thoughts, feelings, and perspectives on a specific subject matter.

Reflection and Introspection: Often involves self-reflection and introspection on personal experiences, beliefs, or values.

Varied Structure and Content: Can encompass various forms, including memoirs, personal anecdotes, or reflections on life experiences.

Flexibility in Structure: Allows for diverse structures and forms based on the writer’s intent, which could be narrative-like or more reflective.

Theme-Centric Writing: Focuses on exploring a central theme or idea, with personal anecdotes or experiences supporting and illustrating the theme.

Expressive Language: Utilizes descriptive and expressive language to convey personal perspectives, emotions, and opinions.

Focus: Narrative essays primarily focus on storytelling through a structured narrative, while personal essays encompass a broader range of personal expression, which can include storytelling but isn’t limited to it.

Structure: Narrative essays have a more structured plot development with characters and a clear sequence of events, while personal essays might adopt various structures, focusing more on personal reflection, ideas, or themes.

Intent: While both involve personal experiences, narrative essays emphasize telling a story with a message or lesson learned, while personal essays aim to explore personal thoughts, feelings, or opinions on a broader range of topics or themes.

A narrative essay is more than just telling a story. It’s also meant to engage the reader, get them thinking, and leave a lasting impact. Whether it’s to amuse, motivate, teach, or reflect, these essays are a great way to communicate with your audience. This interesting narrative essay guide was all about letting you understand the narrative essay, its importance, and how can you write one.

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The Structure of a Thesis

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Gruba, P., Zobel, J. (2017). The Structure of a Thesis. In: How To Write Your First Thesis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61854-8_3

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the personal narrative in the thesis introduction

So you are going to write a personal narrative as the introduction to your thesis. Not everyone has – or wants – to do this. But some do, or they want to. But in some disciplines – and places – it seems to be almost mandatory to begin the thesis with a few pages which are about yourself. In other places and disciplines to do so would be unthinkable.

Why do people want – or are required – to write a personal narrative? Well there are at least three reasons – any or all of:

• The personal narrative is intended to locate the researche r so that examiners can see how the researcher’s actual life and/or work experience might influence the research, for better or worse. The narrative enacts the (epistemological) position that no research is neutral and all research is written from somewhere, and where matters. Of course, understanding something about the researchers’ experiences can raise questions for examiners about potential blank and blind spots and the need for researcher reflexivity.
• The personal narrative is intended to show how the research question arises from the personal life or professional work experience of the researcher . In applied fields for instance it is not uncommon for doctoral researchers to find the mandate for their research in their professional context. They know from their direct experience that a particular kind of research would be valuable and useful and so their thesis reports a piece of work which does just this. And researchers do often end up researching something that is directly related to their life experience. They have a child or friend with… or they have experienced… Alternatively, the research may be a continuation of a scholarly interest formed earlier.
• The personal narrative is intended to lay the ground work for a claim for professional knowledge. In applied fields, and often in professional doctorates, people draw on their own experience as part of the data. For instance a headteacher might use their experience of school budgeting to advantage, a midwife use the need to work both emotionally as well as on the body, and so on. (This is sometimes called working with Mode 2 knowledge as the knowing arises from experience in work settings or working on applied problems).

It is helpful to understand the reasons for writing a personal narrative as these will explicitly guide the choice of what information to include and exclude. No introductory narrative will be comprehensive – it’s not a biography, but a carefully chosen set of information put together in narrative form.

Once upon a time I dreamed of being a researcher…

So we might say to friends for example – I am the first person in my family to get to university . But we might write in our introductory thesis narrative – I grew up at a time when it was possible for young people to enter higher education in larger numbers than ever before. I, and some of my peers, were the first in our families to go to university .  We might say – My parents wanted me to do well and so I did .  We might  write this or perhaps – Because my parents belonged to that section of the working class that believed strongly in the power of education, and regretted not being able to go further in their own schooling, I was positioned at the outset to take advantage of the opportunities that schooling offered.  And so on.

It’s important in the introductory thesis personal narrative to hold what we usually say to ourselves up to some critical scrutiny and to make the connections to the following research very clear. Don’t leave it up to the examiners to guess these connections.

Just to show you what I mean here are a couple of paragraphs from my own PhD which looked at the changes in South Australian schools after a major national poverty funding programme was stopped. The introduction to the thesis begins with a brief historical snapshot of schools in Australia and then says something about the particular poverty reform programme that was abandoned. I then go on to write about myself. I trace my own work history and the way it was tangled up with the particular programme in question and then say:

I have lived in the educational, political, social and cultural changes of the postwar period, lived in the struggles for equity and the permanent improvement of schooling for working class children and young people. I have not been the central figure in these events, but I have been there. My identity, my sense of self, is therefore strongly connected with the location of this research text, not only geographically, but also in its politics. This is no disinterested piece of scholarship but rather is another phase in an ongoing career. This research grows from my commitment to social justice and an abiding anger at the ways in which particular classed, raced and gendered students do not benefit from their schooling, whereas other students who are already privileged seem to gain even greater benefits.

While I am unequivocal about the axiological positioning of this research, I am also alert to the dangers that such a ‘will to truth’ and insider solipsism might bring. Even in this brief introduction I have used terms that are hardly innocent bystanders – words such as class, gender, race, advantage, justice and education. Both my story, and the troubled lexicon of sociology, are subtexts in this research.

Now I’m certainly not suggesting that you follow this as a model. There are things about these two paragraphs that I wish I could rewrite. Darn it, I can’t.  So don’t copy it please. But I hope this exposure of my former self does serve to illustrate one of very many ways in which a researcher can connect their personal narrative with their research, signaling as they do that they also know the potential problems that might arise for their research from this tangle. You need to find your own way to do this –  but you do need to do it if you are personal narrative bound.

The personal narrative as thesis introduction needs to work for you and not to present you as someone who might as well be telling a tale in the pub to their mates. The narrative needs to serve a purpose and show you as a reflective situated scholar.

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9 responses to the personal narrative in the thesis introduction.

Styles and academic (fashions) conventions change, Pat, and as you so correctly note, any introductory foray into the realm of locating the researcher has to work. It has to work, not just for the writer, but also as a contribution that persuades the examiners. Reflexivity has become an ‘OK’ thing to weave into a thesis but I’m bound to say that from the innards of a Psychology Department in the early 1990s, I was seen as something of a deviant (in psychological terms you understand) because not only did I use a mixed methods approach for gathering data, but I also used the first person singular whenever I needed to emphasise or underscore a point I was writing about.

My approach, at that time, was not the done thing but over the years, it has became quite acceptable. The use of I was a way of placing the writer/researcher at the core of an academic argument – the proprietor so to speak.

Now, though, people use advanced organisers far more extensively than even you did in your thesis: they say what they will be doing and then they do it. Such a strategy was not encouraged in the early 1990s and I guess in time, current conventions of allowing “…I will…” may inevitably shift yet again. But the important point, and one you that you make, is that the personal narrative has to be scholarly because it is, after all, but a part of an assessment tool that will be appraised by three appointed examiners. And only one of those chosen three should be a first time examiner.

I think in some Psych Departments this would still not be acceptable so you were clearly a trail blazer in this area in your discipline. And… sorry if I wasn’t clear – the question, anticipation of argument and the outline of the thesis all come after the personal narrative if there is one. This is either as a separate chapter if the narrative is particularly lengthy, or as separate sections if it’s quite short. The narrative of course doesn’t substitute for any of these. The introductory chapter often concludes with what I call the Outline of the thesis to come.

Yes, I agree with you, Pat, on all sorts of planes. I was not so much a trail-blazer but an obstinate researcher who had something to say in what I know would be the most appropriate way. They changed the rules for appointing examiners at the UNE after one of them, a psych person from UQ, could not grasp the possibility of mixed methods but that’s another story. Many of my own students have included in their first chapter, the kind of personal scene and person introducing narrative you spoke of and frankly, I encourage that. And yes, it must be pertinent. As well, the traditional outline is always included.

As a throwaway comment, I’m back in Australia doing a one year stint at the UNSW trying to morph academics into becoming teachers who can engage their students. One of my kids had twins so we decided to leave our research retreat at Woodhill Part for the year and help them out with their premature babies so a job at UNSW became a very convenient way of doing that. Any rate, my point is that at a colloquium for Education PhD and Masters students yesterday, I mentioned both your blog and that by Inger to the students. Few had heard of it and I suspect that even fewer staff were aware of it. There’s a pressing need, still, to guide supervisors in the art and science of supervision (paraphrased from the late Malcolm Knowles).

Thanks so much for this, Pat. I’ve just been re-reading the second chapter of Shawn Wilson’s Research is Ceremony, where something like this happens. The personal narrative is in the form of a letter to his sons, and it’s in a different font to the other parts of the chapter that contain a different kind of commentary on the practice of research, that we could loosely think of as “professional narrative”. What works for me is that neither is subordinated to the other: both have powerful reasons for being told in the way that they are told, and in the final paragraph both narratives come together to address the reader on the purpose of the book, and its unflinching ethical goal. Your post is so timely for me as I’m getting ready to introduce these ideas of personal narrative to undergraduate researchers next week. (Next week? Yikes.)

Thanks for the heads up in the Wilson text. I hadn’t sent I, I’m a bit out of touch with Australian publications 😦

Pingback: the business of self presentation | patter

Reblogged this on CTS at LCC and commented: So you are going to write a personal narrative as the introduction to your thesis. Not everyone has – or wants – to do this. But some do, or they want to. But in some disciplines – and places – it seems to be almost mandatory to begin the thesis with a few pages which are about yourself. In other places and disciplines to do so would be unthinkable.

The personal narrative is intended to locate the researcher so that examiners can see how the researcher’s actual life and/or work experience might influence the research, for better or worse. The narrative enacts the (epistemological) position that no research is neutral and all research is written from somewhere, and where matters. Of course, understanding something about the researchers’ experiences can raise questions for examiners about potential blank and blind spots and the need for researcher reflexivity. The personal narrative is intended to show how the research question arises from the personal life or professional work experience of the researcher. In applied fields for instance it is not uncommon for doctoral researchers to find the mandate for their research in their professional context. They know from their direct experience that a particular kind of research would be valuable and useful and so their thesis reports a piece of work which does just this. And researchers do often end up researching something that is directly related to their life experience. They have a child or friend with… or they have experienced… Alternatively, the research may be a continuation of a scholarly interest formed earlier. The personal narrative is intended to lay the ground work for a claim for professional knowledge. In applied fields, and often in professional doctorates, people draw on their own experience as part of the data. For instance a headteacher might use their experience of school budgeting to advantage, a midwife use the need to work both emotionally as well as on the body, and so on. (This is sometimes called working with Mode 2 knowledge as the knowing arises from experience in work settings or working on applied problems).

Pat – though this has been posted for some time, I’m thankful it’s still up! In my proposal defense, my committee suggested adding in ‘my story’ as I am coming to the research with a practitioner first mindset, which was coming across in my writing but not implicitly said. They suggested adding it, to which I thought they were thinking full on Autoethnography kind of stuff but insisted that’s not the case. Your post and looking at your full dissertation has been a huge help in understanding how I can include my ‘practitioner heart’ in my quantitative dissertation. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge.

I’m glad it was helpful.

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How to Write a Narrative Essay

Sam Benezra

Narrative essay writing is a style of nonfiction writing that uses storytelling to advance a thesis. One of the easier styles to begin writing, the narrative essay is nevertheless a difficult style to master. The best narrative essay writers are able to utilize compelling nonfiction storytelling to discuss a moral or thematic concept. In other words, a strong narrative essay is not only an interesting or entertaining true story, but a story that communicates a deeper meaning.

Narrative essays are a common form of storytelling and a type of essay that students are often asked to write in school. For example, high school students are often asked to write a personal narrative essay for their Common App essay when they apply to college. At some point, all writers will be compelled or tasked to write a narrative essay, so it is important to develop a familiarity with the parameters of the genre.

In this article, we’ll discuss the style, substance, and structure of narrative essays.

Narrative Essay or Short Story

Narrative essays and short stories are both types of storytelling that illustrate a point through a dramatic narrative. However, they are differentiated in that narrative essays are always based on nonfiction, while short stories are always fictional. Narrative essays are typically based on the writer’s personal experiences, so they may tell a true story that the writer lived through or a true story that someone else lived through. The most common types of narrative essays are personal essays and are generally written in the first person. 

While narrative essays are by definition nonfiction, clever writers may incorporate fictional elements or stories within them. For example, a fictional story can be used within a nonfiction narrative to communicate the protagonist’s dreams or aspirations. They may also be used to introduce fantastical elements into the story. If done well, blending nonfiction and fiction can elevate a narrative beyond the limits of realism and introduce new meanings into the story. However, this is a difficult technique to utilize effectively, so beginner writers may not want to dive into these kinds of experimental approaches.

The Thesis of Narrative Essays

All forms of essay writing are built around a central premise or argument — typically referred to as the thesis . Narrative essays, while structured around storytelling, are no exception. While narrative essays employ a more creative approach to the essay, they still must advance a thesis and make a stance on a thematic concept or issue. In a narrative essay, the thesis often is translated through a revelation that one of the central characters comes to through the experiences communicated in the story. The thesis may or may not be explicitly stated, but rather revealed through actions, symbolism, and plot development. 

Narrative essays will often consist of a mixture of narrative and expository writing, and the author may use their own experiences, as recounted through their narrative, to discuss philosophical concepts or societal issues. In “Notes on a Native Son,” author James Baldwin reflects on American race relations through his relationship with his father and the experience of attending his funeral. In “Once More to the Lake,” E.B. White reflects on aging, the passage of time, fatherhood, and mortality through the experience of a trip to a lake with his son. Both of these narratives use personal experiences to discuss broader, even universal themes. Even if their theses are not explicitly stated, their messages are made clear over the course of the essay.

Style and Tone of Narrative Essays

Narrative essays frequently bear an intimate and even conversational tone. However, the stylistic parameters are loose, so writers can choose to use whatever writing style or narrative voice that they feel most comfortable with and that they think best serves the narrative. Some writers heavily utilize humor (e.g., David Foster Wallace’s “Ticket to the Fair”), others utilize a detached, reflective, and almost academic tone (e.g., Joan Didion’s “On Self Respect”). It is up to the writer to decide what kind of voice they think will best communicate the thesis of their essay.

Narrative Essay Elements

All stories have a set of central characters, or at least one central character. Several common character types are protagonists, deuteragonists, antagonists, foils, secondary characters, and tertiary characters.

• Protagonist: The protagonist of a story is the main character of the story — the character that the story revolves around. The protagonist is often the narrator of the story. However, this is not always the case. In “The Great Gatsby,” for example, Nick Carraway is the narrator, but Jay Gatsby is the protagonist.
• Deuteragonist: The deuteragonist is the second most important character in a story. The deuteragonist may be a supporting or antagonistic character to the protagonist, i.e., a friend or an enemy. While the story doesn’t revolve around the deuteragonist, they nevertheless guide the story nearly as much or close to as much as the protagonist.
• Antagonist: The antagonist of a story is the main opposition to the protagonist and often the main villain of the story. Not all stories feature a main antagonist, and the roles of antagonistic characters can vary. An antagonist may be a small supporting character or even the deuteragonist.
• Foil: A foil is a character whose purpose is to contrast with another character, typically the protagonist, in order to accentuate their qualities. Not to be confused with the antagonist, foils may be supporters of the protagonist, and may even be the deuteragonist or close friend of the protagonist (e.g., Samwise Gamgee is the foil to Frodo Baggins in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy). 
• Secondary Characters: Secondary characters are recurring characters who do not have a major influence on plot development. 

The setting of a narrative is the time and place in which it occurs. The setting can have a powerful influence on a narrative and can be used symbolically. As the stage for the narrative, it provides a framework and a context for the reader to visualize and understand what is happening. The setting can be invoked and clarified without overuse of descriptive passages. For example, details like the way characters speak and the weather can indicate time and place in a less heavy-handed manner.

In a narrative, the plot is a term used to describe the events that compose a story. Some narrative essays are heavily plot-driven and utilize a narrative arc to illustrate thematic points. Others are more meditative, and a clear plot may not play as important a role as elements like setting, characters, and symbolism.

Symbolism (Metaphors, Symbols, and Motifs)

Writers will often use metaphors, symbols, and motifs to represent or bring attention to certain concepts. Through the use of symbolism, objects and setting can take on meaning, elevating the narrative and highlighting the themes that the author intends to address.

• Metaphor: Metaphor is a literary device in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. When a metaphor is used, the writer will state that one thing is something that it is not (e.g., “I am the black sheep of my family” or “America is a melting pot”). Metaphors do not make sense out of context, but in context they ascribe poetic meaning to an object.
• Symbol: In literature, a symbol is an object that is given a greater meaning within the context of the piece of writing. Symbols are typically material objects that can represent a more abstract concept (e.g., a diamond may represent wealth or a placid lake may represent peace and calm). The meaning ascribed to a symbol may be obvious, or it may be subtle. Symbols also may occur as few or as many times in a piece of literature as the author chooses.
• Motif: A motif is a type of symbol that is used repeatedly throughout a work of literature. Motifs are used to reinforce and draw attention to thematic ideas throughout the work. The phrase motif can be used to describe recurring symbolic objects, repeated concepts or phrases, or even recurring plot events. In all cases, they relate to and convey the central themes of the work.

Structure of Narrative Essays

Narrative essays are typically structured around a “narrative arc,” in which a central conflict guides the action of the story, reaches a climax in which the conflict comes to its highest point of tension, and ultimately resolves to reveal a lesson or thematic concept. This is often referred to as the “classical narrative structure,” and it is used in countless famous novels, plays, films, and personal essays, from Romeo and Juliet to The Odyssey. Not all narrative essays utilize the structure, but it is the most common approach to narrative writing and the easiest to understand and to use at first. 

Introduction

In the introduction of a narrative essay (also frequently referred to as the exposition), the writer sets the stage for the story, establishing the setting and introducing the main characters of the story. The primary purpose of this section is to draw the reader into the story and establish background information necessary to follow the narrative.

Writers will also often utilize a hook in their introduction to immediately immerse the reader in the story and compel them to read on. A hook can be a compelling quote that is related to the story, a brief and dramatic story, a flashback, an immersive description of the setting, or a variety of other compelling introductions. As long as it reels the reader into the essay, setting up the narrative in an engrossing manner, it can be called a hook. In a short essay, the hook should be brief. In most cases, you should try to limit the hook to three to four sentences at maximum.

Rising Action

Once the setting and characters are established, the writer can start to develop the narrative through the rising action . The rising action of a story is a series of events that take place that further the narrative, building suspense, interest, and tension. During the rising action, all events and character decisions together work to develop tension. Oftentimes during the rising action, we learn about the strengths and weaknesses of the characters that contribute to the conflicts in the story. In other words, in the rising action, the writer should introduce and develop the problems at the heart of the story, setting the stage for the conflict to reach its peak at the climax. 

A high school student deals with issues at home, causing his grades to slip before his college applications come due.

A writer struggles to find inspiration for her next story and falls into bad habits to cope with her frustration.

A college student, feeling isolated and depressed, sets off on a road trip to try to escape his problems and find new meaning in life, facing a series of challenging experiences along the way that challenge his notions of what he wants in life.

The climax of a narrative essay is the point in the story when the tensions and conflicts that have been steadily building throughout the rising action reach a tipping point. The climax is typically marked with a dramatic event, realization, or turning point in which the tensions built during the rising action reach a point where they come to a peak and dissipate afterwards, leading to a resolution thereafter. Generally, the climax is the height of the story’s action. It may also answer some of the central questions that have built over the course of the rising action (e.g., “will a central character die?” or “will the protagonist return home?”). While the climax often resolves much of the tensions, there will often be many loose ends to tie up even after the climax or still unresolved questions.

A high school student fails several classes and is rejected from colleges, leading him to make many major life changes.

Allowing her bad habits to overtake her creative process, a writer suffers a mental breakdown, leading her to realize the pressures she has put on herself and allowing her to find new meaning in her creative process.

Out of money, lonely, and stranded in an unfamiliar place, a college student realizes he can’t simply run away from life’s problems.

Falling Action

Immediately after the climax comes the narrative’s falling action . During the falling action, the consequences of the climax play out, allowing the story’s main tensions to dissipate and resolve. During the falling action, central characters may come to profound realizations as a result of the action in the climax. While the central plot tensions have come to a head in the climax, there still may be some unresolved questions or conflicts that need to be tied up. As a result, there may still be dramatic events during this section as the characters deal with the consequences of the climax. During this section, the lessons learned as a result of the climactic action are slowly revealed, ultimately leading to the resolution.

• Examples: 

A high school student, having lost his opportunity to go to college, works a minimum wage job after graduation. While he may not have accomplished his goals, he develops a plan to move forward in life and discovers new passions.

Having suffered a mental breakdown, a writer is now going through a rehabilitation program and learning to better cope with her stresses and anxieties.

Having realized that running away from his stresses through traveling did not bring him a deeper sense of fulfillment, a college student begins his journey home and plans for the next phase of his life.

Denouement (Resolution)

The denouement , or resolution, is the conclusion of a narrative. In the denouement, the story’s themes and moral lessons are fully revealed. The consequences of the climax have been fully played out through the falling action and the characters of the story are left with a greater understanding of the events that played out throughout the story. Narratives may have happy endings or tragic endings, but in either case, the story ends with closure and the remaining characters move forward, changed by their experiences.

A high school graduate, stuck in a dead end job after failing to make it to college, refocuses his life and enrolls in a community college.

A writer who has suffered a mental breakdown leaves her rehabilitation program, rekindling her love in writing by writing for herself, and not for her career.

A traveling college student returns home to reconnect with family and friends after a long journey by themself, realizing that fulfillment comes with confronting challenges rather than escaping them.

Alternative Structures of Narrative Essays

While most stories follow the classical narrative arc, many writers have experimented with alternative narrative structures. Alternative narrative structures may not have simple conclusions or resolutions, and may use abstraction to illustrate thematic concepts. Sometimes, they also may not have clear moral or thematic conclusions. As a result, while these narrative approaches are equally valuable in their own right, they may not be well-suited for the narrative essay, which places significant value on clear moral or thematic stances.

Realistic Narrative

Some writers believe that the classical narrative arc does not accurately represent life experiences, which may not bear simple resolutions. Realistic narrative writers often believe that the narrative arc is too idealistic, and life’s problems do not always bear solutions. Realistic narratives are often more focused on specific actions and immediate consequences. Furthermore, whereas the narrative arc has a symmetrical structure and a clear resolution, realistic narratives often do not follow a symmetrical pattern. Resolved conflicts may lead to new conflicts, or they may not have resolutions at all. Tensions may continue through the end of the story. Likewise, realistic narratives are often less plot-driven and derive their substance from characterization and depiction of events and characters than plot. While realistic narratives may not have as explicit a moral or thematic stance as narrative arcs, they nevertheless

Formalist Narrative

Formalism is a modernist approach to narrative that draws focus away from plot and narrative structure and toward style and intrinsic qualities of the text. Formalist narratives may be more abstract and may not have a clear plot. Rather, they typically place a high value on deriving meaning through the exploration of style and craft. Therefore, they may place more emphasis on qualities, such as imagery, language, structure, and other aesthetic qualities, than other narrative approaches. The meaning or moral statement of the narrative may be less clear, or they may not even have an explicit moral statement. They often utilize techniques, such as paradox and irony, that obfuscate the meaning of the narrative, so some readers may find formalist approaches confusing or frustrating.

The narrative essay is an innately creative form of essay writing based around the use of nonfiction storytelling to reveal greater themes. While the parameters of narrative essay writing are loose and give the writer creative license, it is still important for beginner writers to familiarize themselves with the standards of the genre.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 3 great narrative essay examples + tips for writing.

General Education

A narrative essay is one of the most intimidating assignments you can be handed at any level of your education. Where you've previously written argumentative essays that make a point or analytic essays that dissect meaning, a narrative essay asks you to write what is effectively a story .

But unlike a simple work of creative fiction, your narrative essay must have a clear and concrete motif —a recurring theme or idea that you’ll explore throughout. Narrative essays are less rigid, more creative in expression, and therefore pretty different from most other essays you’ll be writing.

But not to fear—in this article, we’ll be covering what a narrative essay is, how to write a good one, and also analyzing some personal narrative essay examples to show you what a great one looks like.

What Is a Narrative Essay?

At first glance, a narrative essay might sound like you’re just writing a story. Like the stories you're used to reading, a narrative essay is generally (but not always) chronological, following a clear throughline from beginning to end. Even if the story jumps around in time, all the details will come back to one specific theme, demonstrated through your choice in motifs.

Unlike many creative stories, however, your narrative essay should be based in fact. That doesn’t mean that every detail needs to be pure and untainted by imagination, but rather that you shouldn’t wholly invent the events of your narrative essay. There’s nothing wrong with inventing a person’s words if you can’t remember them exactly, but you shouldn’t say they said something they weren’t even close to saying.

Another big difference between narrative essays and creative fiction—as well as other kinds of essays—is that narrative essays are based on motifs. A motif is a dominant idea or theme, one that you establish before writing the essay. As you’re crafting the narrative, it’ll feed back into your motif to create a comprehensive picture of whatever that motif is.

For example, say you want to write a narrative essay about how your first day in high school helped you establish your identity. You might discuss events like trying to figure out where to sit in the cafeteria, having to describe yourself in five words as an icebreaker in your math class, or being unsure what to do during your lunch break because it’s no longer acceptable to go outside and play during lunch. All of those ideas feed back into the central motif of establishing your identity.

The important thing to remember is that while a narrative essay is typically told chronologically and intended to read like a story, it is not purely for entertainment value. A narrative essay delivers its theme by deliberately weaving the motifs through the events, scenes, and details. While a narrative essay may be entertaining, its primary purpose is to tell a complete story based on a central meaning.

Unlike other essay forms, it is totally okay—even expected—to use first-person narration in narrative essays. If you’re writing a story about yourself, it’s natural to refer to yourself within the essay. It’s also okay to use other perspectives, such as third- or even second-person, but that should only be done if it better serves your motif. Generally speaking, your narrative essay should be in first-person perspective.

Though your motif choices may feel at times like you’re making a point the way you would in an argumentative essay, a narrative essay’s goal is to tell a story, not convince the reader of anything. Your reader should be able to tell what your motif is from reading, but you don’t have to change their mind about anything. If they don’t understand the point you are making, you should consider strengthening the delivery of the events and descriptions that support your motif.

Narrative essays also share some features with analytical essays, in which you derive meaning from a book, film, or other media. But narrative essays work differently—you’re not trying to draw meaning from an existing text, but rather using an event you’ve experienced to convey meaning. In an analytical essay, you examine narrative, whereas in a narrative essay you create narrative.

The structure of a narrative essay is also a bit different than other essays. You’ll generally be getting your point across chronologically as opposed to grouping together specific arguments in paragraphs or sections. To return to the example of an essay discussing your first day of high school and how it impacted the shaping of your identity, it would be weird to put the events out of order, even if not knowing what to do after lunch feels like a stronger idea than choosing where to sit. Instead of organizing to deliver your information based on maximum impact, you’ll be telling your story as it happened, using concrete details to reinforce your theme.

3 Great Narrative Essay Examples

One of the best ways to learn how to write a narrative essay is to look at a great narrative essay sample. Let’s take a look at some truly stellar narrative essay examples and dive into what exactly makes them work so well.

A Ticket to the Fair by David Foster Wallace

Today is Press Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, and I’m supposed to be at the fairgrounds by 9:00 A.M. to get my credentials. I imagine credentials to be a small white card in the band of a fedora. I’ve never been considered press before. My real interest in credentials is getting into rides and shows for free. I’m fresh in from the East Coast, for an East Coast magazine. Why exactly they’re interested in the Illinois State Fair remains unclear to me. I suspect that every so often editors at East Coast magazines slap their foreheads and remember that about 90 percent of the United States lies between the coasts, and figure they’ll engage somebody to do pith-helmeted anthropological reporting on something rural and heartlandish. I think they asked me to do this because I grew up here, just a couple hours’ drive from downstate Springfield. I never did go to the state fair, though—I pretty much topped out at the county fair level. Actually, I haven’t been back to Illinois for a long time, and I can’t say I’ve missed it.

Throughout this essay, David Foster Wallace recounts his experience as press at the Illinois State Fair. But it’s clear from this opening that he’s not just reporting on the events exactly as they happened—though that’s also true— but rather making a point about how the East Coast, where he lives and works, thinks about the Midwest.

In his opening paragraph, Wallace states that outright: “Why exactly they’re interested in the Illinois State Fair remains unclear to me. I suspect that every so often editors at East Coast magazines slap their foreheads and remember that about 90 percent of the United States lies between the coasts, and figure they’ll engage somebody to do pith-helmeted anthropological reporting on something rural and heartlandish.”

Not every motif needs to be stated this clearly , but in an essay as long as Wallace’s, particularly since the audience for such a piece may feel similarly and forget that such a large portion of the country exists, it’s important to make that point clear.

But Wallace doesn’t just rest on introducing his motif and telling the events exactly as they occurred from there. It’s clear that he selects events that remind us of that idea of East Coast cynicism , such as when he realizes that the Help Me Grow tent is standing on top of fake grass that is killing the real grass beneath, when he realizes the hypocrisy of craving a corn dog when faced with a real, suffering pig, when he’s upset for his friend even though he’s not the one being sexually harassed, and when he witnesses another East Coast person doing something he wouldn’t dare to do.

Wallace is literally telling the audience exactly what happened, complete with dates and timestamps for when each event occurred. But he’s also choosing those events with a purpose—he doesn’t focus on details that don’t serve his motif. That’s why he discusses the experiences of people, how the smells are unappealing to him, and how all the people he meets, in cowboy hats, overalls, or “black spandex that looks like cheesecake leotards,” feel almost alien to him.

All of these details feed back into the throughline of East Coast thinking that Wallace introduces in the first paragraph. He also refers back to it in the essay’s final paragraph, stating:

At last, an overarching theory blooms inside my head: megalopolitan East Coasters’ summer treats and breaks and literally ‘getaways,’ flights-from—from crowds, noise, heat, dirt, the stress of too many sensory choices….The East Coast existential treat is escape from confines and stimuli—quiet, rustic vistas that hold still, turn inward, turn away. Not so in the rural Midwest. Here you’re pretty much away all the time….Something in a Midwesterner sort of actuates , deep down, at a public event….The real spectacle that draws us here is us.

Throughout this journey, Wallace has tried to demonstrate how the East Coast thinks about the Midwest, ultimately concluding that they are captivated by the Midwest’s less stimuli-filled life, but that the real reason they are interested in events like the Illinois State Fair is that they are, in some ways, a means of looking at the East Coast in a new, estranging way.

The reason this works so well is that Wallace has carefully chosen his examples, outlined his motif and themes in the first paragraph, and eventually circled back to the original motif with a clearer understanding of his original point.

When outlining your own narrative essay, try to do the same. Start with a theme, build upon it with examples, and return to it in the end with an even deeper understanding of the original issue. You don’t need this much space to explore a theme, either—as we’ll see in the next example, a strong narrative essay can also be very short.

Death of a Moth by Virginia Woolf

After a time, tired by his dancing apparently, he settled on the window ledge in the sun, and, the queer spectacle being at an end, I forgot about him. Then, looking up, my eye was caught by him. He was trying to resume his dancing, but seemed either so stiff or so awkward that he could only flutter to the bottom of the window-pane; and when he tried to fly across it he failed. Being intent on other matters I watched these futile attempts for a time without thinking, unconsciously waiting for him to resume his flight, as one waits for a machine, that has stopped momentarily, to start again without considering the reason of its failure. After perhaps a seventh attempt he slipped from the wooden ledge and fell, fluttering his wings, on to his back on the window sill. The helplessness of his attitude roused me. It flashed upon me that he was in difficulties; he could no longer raise himself; his legs struggled vainly. But, as I stretched out a pencil, meaning to help him to right himself, it came over me that the failure and awkwardness were the approach of death. I laid the pencil down again.

In this essay, Virginia Woolf explains her encounter with a dying moth. On surface level, this essay is just a recounting of an afternoon in which she watched a moth die—it’s even established in the title. But there’s more to it than that. Though Woolf does not begin her essay with as clear a motif as Wallace, it’s not hard to pick out the evidence she uses to support her point, which is that the experience of this moth is also the human experience.

In the title, Woolf tells us this essay is about death. But in the first paragraph, she seems to mostly be discussing life—the moth is “content with life,” people are working in the fields, and birds are flying. However, she mentions that it is mid-September and that the fields were being plowed. It’s autumn and it’s time for the harvest; the time of year in which many things die.

In this short essay, she chronicles the experience of watching a moth seemingly embody life, then die. Though this essay is literally about a moth, it’s also about a whole lot more than that. After all, moths aren’t the only things that die—Woolf is also reflecting on her own mortality, as well as the mortality of everything around her.

At its core, the essay discusses the push and pull of life and death, not in a way that’s necessarily sad, but in a way that is accepting of both. Woolf begins by setting up the transitional fall season, often associated with things coming to an end, and raises the ideas of pleasure, vitality, and pity.

At one point, Woolf tries to help the dying moth, but reconsiders, as it would interfere with the natural order of the world. The moth’s death is part of the natural order of the world, just like fall, just like her own eventual death.

All these themes are set up in the beginning and explored throughout the essay’s narrative. Though Woolf doesn’t directly state her theme, she reinforces it by choosing a small, isolated event—watching a moth die—and illustrating her point through details.

With this essay, we can see that you don’t need a big, weird, exciting event to discuss an important meaning. Woolf is able to explore complicated ideas in a short essay by being deliberate about what details she includes, just as you can be in your own essays.

Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin

On the twenty-ninth of July, in 1943, my father died. On the same day, a few hours later, his last child was born. Over a month before this, while all our energies were concentrated in waiting for these events, there had been, in Detroit, one of the bloodiest race riots of the century. A few hours after my father’s funeral, while he lay in state in the undertaker’s chapel, a race riot broke out in Harlem. On the morning of the third of August, we drove my father to the graveyard through a wilderness of smashed plate glass.

Like Woolf, Baldwin does not lay out his themes in concrete terms—unlike Wallace, there’s no clear sentence that explains what he’ll be talking about. However, you can see the motifs quite clearly: death, fatherhood, struggle, and race.

Throughout the narrative essay, Baldwin discusses the circumstances of his father’s death, including his complicated relationship with his father. By introducing those motifs in the first paragraph, the reader understands that everything discussed in the essay will come back to those core ideas. When Baldwin talks about his experience with a white teacher taking an interest in him and his father’s resistance to that, he is also talking about race and his father’s death. When he talks about his father’s death, he is also talking about his views on race. When he talks about his encounters with segregation and racism, he is talking, in part, about his father.

Because his father was a hard, uncompromising man, Baldwin struggles to reconcile the knowledge that his father was right about many things with his desire to not let that hardness consume him, as well.

Baldwin doesn’t explicitly state any of this, but his writing so often touches on the same motifs that it becomes clear he wants us to think about all these ideas in conversation with one another.

At the end of the essay, Baldwin makes it more clear:

This fight begins, however, in the heart and it had now been laid to my charge to keep my own heart free of hatred and despair. This intimation made my heart heavy and, now that my father was irrecoverable, I wished that he had been beside me so that I could have searched his face for the answers which only the future would give me now.

Here, Baldwin ties together the themes and motifs into one clear statement: that he must continue to fight and recognize injustice, especially racial injustice, just as his father did. But unlike his father, he must do it beginning with himself—he must not let himself be closed off to the world as his father was. And yet, he still wishes he had his father for guidance, even as he establishes that he hopes to be a different man than his father.

In this essay, Baldwin loads the front of the essay with his motifs, and, through his narrative, weaves them together into a theme. In the end, he comes to a conclusion that connects all of those things together and leaves the reader with a lasting impression of completion—though the elements may have been initially disparate, in the end everything makes sense.

You can replicate this tactic of introducing seemingly unattached ideas and weaving them together in your own essays. By introducing those motifs, developing them throughout, and bringing them together in the end, you can demonstrate to your reader how all of them are related. However, it’s especially important to be sure that your motifs and clear and consistent throughout your essay so that the conclusion feels earned and consistent—if not, readers may feel mislead.

5 Key Tips for Writing Narrative Essays

Narrative essays can be a lot of fun to write since they’re so heavily based on creativity. But that can also feel intimidating—sometimes it’s easier to have strict guidelines than to have to make it all up yourself. Here are a few tips to keep your narrative essay feeling strong and fresh.

Develop Strong Motifs

Motifs are the foundation of a narrative essay . What are you trying to say? How can you say that using specific symbols or events? Those are your motifs.

In the same way that an argumentative essay’s body should support its thesis, the body of your narrative essay should include motifs that support your theme.

Try to avoid cliches, as these will feel tired to your readers. Instead of roses to symbolize love, try succulents. Instead of the ocean representing some vast, unknowable truth, try the depths of your brother’s bedroom. Keep your language and motifs fresh and your essay will be even stronger!

Use First-Person Perspective

In many essays, you’re expected to remove yourself so that your points stand on their own. Not so in a narrative essay—in this case, you want to make use of your own perspective.

Sometimes a different perspective can make your point even stronger. If you want someone to identify with your point of view, it may be tempting to choose a second-person perspective. However, be sure you really understand the function of second-person; it’s very easy to put a reader off if the narration isn’t expertly deployed.

If you want a little bit of distance, third-person perspective may be okay. But be careful—too much distance and your reader may feel like the narrative lacks truth.

That’s why first-person perspective is the standard. It keeps you, the writer, close to the narrative, reminding the reader that it really happened. And because you really know what happened and how, you’re free to inject your own opinion into the story without it detracting from your point, as it would in a different type of essay.

Stick to the Truth

Your essay should be true. However, this is a creative essay, and it’s okay to embellish a little. Rarely in life do we experience anything with a clear, concrete meaning the way somebody in a book might. If you flub the details a little, it’s okay—just don’t make them up entirely.

Also, nobody expects you to perfectly recall details that may have happened years ago. You may have to reconstruct dialog from your memory and your imagination. That’s okay, again, as long as you aren’t making it up entirely and assigning made-up statements to somebody.

Dialog is a powerful tool. A good conversation can add flavor and interest to a story, as we saw demonstrated in David Foster Wallace’s essay. As previously mentioned, it’s okay to flub it a little, especially because you’re likely writing about an experience you had without knowing that you’d be writing about it later.

However, don’t rely too much on it. Your narrative essay shouldn’t be told through people explaining things to one another; the motif comes through in the details. Dialog can be one of those details, but it shouldn’t be the only one.

Use Sensory Descriptions

Because a narrative essay is a story, you can use sensory details to make your writing more interesting. If you’re describing a particular experience, you can go into detail about things like taste, smell, and hearing in a way that you probably wouldn’t do in any other essay style.

These details can tie into your overall motifs and further your point. Woolf describes in great detail what she sees while watching the moth, giving us the sense that we, too, are watching the moth. In Wallace’s essay, he discusses the sights, sounds, and smells of the Illinois State Fair to help emphasize his point about its strangeness. And in Baldwin’s essay, he describes shattered glass as a “wilderness,” and uses the feelings of his body to describe his mental state.

All these descriptions anchor us not only in the story, but in the motifs and themes as well. One of the tools of a writer is making the reader feel as you felt, and sensory details help you achieve that.

What’s Next?

Looking to brush up on your essay-writing capabilities before the ACT? This guide to ACT English will walk you through some of the best strategies and practice questions to get you prepared!

Part of practicing for the ACT is ensuring your word choice and diction are on point. Check out this guide to some of the most common errors on the ACT English section to be sure that you're not making these common mistakes!

A solid understanding of English principles will help you make an effective point in a narrative essay, and you can get that understanding through taking a rigorous assortment of high school English classes !

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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• Citation Styles

How to write a narrative essay [Updated 2023]

A narrative essay is an opportunity to flex your creative muscles and craft a compelling story. In this blog post, we define what a narrative essay is and provide strategies and examples for writing one.

What is a narrative essay?

Similarly to a descriptive essay or a reflective essay, a narrative essay asks you to tell a story, rather than make an argument and present evidence. Most narrative essays describe a real, personal experience from your own life (for example, the story of your first big success).

Alternately, your narrative essay might focus on an imagined experience (for example, how your life would be if you had been born into different circumstances). While you don’t need to present a thesis statement or scholarly evidence, a narrative essay still needs to be well-structured and clearly organized so that the reader can follow your story.

When you might be asked to write a narrative essay

Although less popular than argumentative essays or expository essays, narrative essays are relatively common in high school and college writing classes.

The same techniques that you would use to write a college essay as part of a college or scholarship application are applicable to narrative essays, as well. In fact, the Common App that many students use to apply to multiple colleges asks you to submit a narrative essay.

How to choose a topic for a narrative essay

When you are asked to write a narrative essay, a topic may be assigned to you or you may be able to choose your own. With an assigned topic, the prompt will likely fall into one of two categories: specific or open-ended.

Examples of specific prompts:

• Write about the last vacation you took.
• Write about your final year of middle school.

Examples of open-ended prompts:

• Write about a time when you felt all hope was lost.
• Write about a brief, seemingly insignificant event that ended up having a big impact on your life.

A narrative essay tells a story and all good stories are centered on a conflict of some sort. Experiences with unexpected obstacles, twists, or turns make for much more compelling essays and reveal more about your character and views on life.

If you’re writing a narrative essay as part of an admissions application, remember that the people reviewing your essay will be looking at it to gain a sense of not just your writing ability, but who you are as a person.

In these cases, it’s wise to choose a topic and experience from your life that demonstrates the qualities that the prompt is looking for, such as resilience, perseverance, the ability to stay calm under pressure, etc.

It’s also important to remember that your choice of topic is just a starting point. Many students find that they arrive at new ideas and insights as they write their first draft, so the final form of your essay may have a different focus than the one you started with.

How to outline and format a narrative essay

Even though you’re not advancing an argument or proving a point of view, a narrative essay still needs to have a coherent structure. Your reader has to be able to follow you as you tell the story and to figure out the larger point that you’re making.

You’ll be evaluated on is your handling of the topic and how you structure your essay. Even though a narrative essay doesn’t use the same structure as other essay types, you should still sketch out a loose outline so you can tell your story in a clear and compelling way.

To outline a narrative essay, you’ll want to determine:

• how your story will start
• what points or specifics that you want to cover
• how your story will end
• what pace and tone you will use

In the vast majority of cases, a narrative essay should be written in the first-person, using “I.” Also, most narrative essays will follow typical formatting guidelines, so you should choose a readable font like Times New Roman in size 11 or 12. Double-space your paragraphs and use 1” margins.

To get your creative wheels turning, consider how your story compares to archetypes and famous historical and literary figures both past and present. Weave these comparisons into your essay to improve the quality of your writing and connect your personal experience to a larger context.

How to write a narrative essay

Writing a narrative essay can sometimes be a challenge for students who typically write argumentative essays or research papers in a formal, objective style. To give you a better sense of how you can write a narrative essay, here is a short example of an essay in response to the prompt, “Write about an experience that challenged your view of yourself.”

Narrative essay example

Even as a child, I always had what people might call a reserved personality. It was sometimes framed as a positive (“Sarah is a good listener”) and at other times it was put in less-than-admiring terms (“Sarah is withdrawn and not very talkative”). It was the latter kind of comments that caused me to see my introverted nature as a drawback and as something I should work to eliminate. That is, until I joined my high school’s student council.

The first paragraph, or introduction, sets up the context, establishing the situation and introducing the meaningful event upon which the essay will focus.

The other four students making up the council were very outspoken and enthusiastic. I enjoyed being around them, and I often agreed with their ideas. However, when it came to overhauling our school’s recycling plan, we butted heads. When I spoke up and offered a different point of view, one of my fellow student council members launched into a speech, advocating for her point of view. As her voice filled the room, I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. I wondered if I should try to match her tone, volume, and assertiveness as a way to be heard. But I just couldn’t do it—it’s not my way, and it never has been. For a fleeting moment, I felt defeated. But then, something in me shifted.

In this paragraph, the writer goes into greater depth about how her existing thinking brought her to this point.

I reminded myself that my view was valid and deserved to be heard. So I waited. I let my fellow council member speak her piece and when she was finished, I deliberately waited a few moments before calmly stating my case. I chose my words well, and I spoke them succinctly. Just because I’m not a big talker doesn’t mean I’m not a big thinker. I thought of the quotation “still waters run deep” and I tried to embody that. The effect on the room was palpable. People listened. And I hadn’t had to shout my point to be heard.

This paragraph demonstrates the turn in the story, the moment when everything changed. The use of the quotation “still waters run deep” imbues the story with a dash of poetry and emotion.

We eventually reached a compromise on the matter and concluded the student council meeting. Our council supervisor came to me afterward and said: “You handled that so well, with such grace and poise. I was very impressed.” Her words in that moment changed me. I realized that a bombastic nature isn't necessarily a powerful one. There is power in quiet, too. This experience taught me to view my reserved personality not as a character flaw, but as a strength.

The final paragraph, or conclusion, closes with a statement about the significance of this event and how it ended up changing the writer in a meaningful way.

Narrative essay writing tips

1. pick a meaningful story that has a conflict and a clear “moral.”.

If you’re able to choose your own topic, pick a story that has meaning and that reveals how you became the person your are today. In other words, write a narrative with a clear “moral” that you can connect with your main points.

2. Use an outline to arrange the structure of your story and organize your main points.

Although a narrative essay is different from argumentative essays, it’s still beneficial to construct an outline so that your story is well-structured and organized. Note how you want to start and end your story, and what points you want to make to tie everything together.

3. Be clear, concise, concrete, and correct in your writing.

You should use descriptive writing in your narrative essay, but don’t overdo it. Use clear, concise, and correct language and grammar throughout. Additionally, make concrete points that reinforce the main idea of your narrative.

4. Ask a friend or family member to proofread your essay.

No matter what kind of writing you’re doing, you should always plan to proofread and revise. To ensure that your narrative essay is coherent and interesting, ask a friend or family member to read over your paper. This is especially important if your essay is responding to a prompt. It helps to have another person check to make sure that you’ve fully responded to the prompt or question.

Frequently Asked Questions about narrative essays

A narrative essay, like any essay, has three main parts: an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Structuring and outlining your essay before you start writing will help you write a clear story that your readers can follow.

The first paragraph of your essay, or introduction, sets up the context, establishing the situation and introducing the meaningful event upon which the essay will focus.

In the vast majority of cases, a narrative essay should be written in the first-person, using “I.”

The 4 main types of essays are the argumentative essay, narrative essay, exploratory essay, and expository essay. You may be asked to write different types of essays at different points in your education.

Most narrative essays will be around five paragraphs, or more, depending on the topic and requirements. Make sure to check in with your instructor about the guidelines for your essay. If you’re writing a narrative essay for a college application, pay close attention to word or page count requirements.

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English Studies

This website is dedicated to English Literature, Literary Criticism, Literary Theory, English Language and its teaching and learning.

Narrative Thesis Statement

A narrative thesis statement is a statement having the central idea of your narrative essay. It sets the direction and focus of the story.

Introduction

Table of Contents

A narrative thesis statement is a statement having the central idea of your narrative essay . It sets the direction and focus of the story, making the readers go through the author’s experiences and intentions even before reading the essay.

Whether a narrative thesis statement is reflective, descriptive, or persuasive, it captures the essence of the narrative. It may reflect the personal growth or resilience of the writer as seen in the examples of overcoming childhood challenges in some stories.

In fact, a narrative essay thesis statement comprises the core message and the narrative trajectory of the story or the essay, inviting the readers to a captivating journey the author shows through this statement.

Type of Narrative Thesis Statement

However, the type of the narrative thesis statement depends on the type of essay, topic, context, and above all the assignment type. Here are some types of narrative thesis statement examples generally written in composition courses.

These types of narrative thesis statements provide different approaches to storytelling, focusing on personal growth and reflection though the objective could be to inform, teach or even persuade the readers.

Elements of a Narrative Thesis Statement

• Clear and Concise: A narrative thesis statement should be succinctly articulated, presenting the central theme or focus of the narrative in a straightforward manner.
• Reflective or Descriptive : It should offer a glimpse into the content, reflecting its key aspects or describing the journey readers are about to take.
• Personal Perspective: Often, a narrative thesis reflects the author’s perspective, conveying his/her emotions, experiences, or insights into events.
• Provide Roadmap to the Essay: The thesis serves as a roadmap, outlining the main events or ideas that the narrative will explore, and guiding readers through the structure of the essay.
• Coherence and Unity: A good thesis statement ensures that various elements of the narrative are connected and contribute to a unified whole, creating coherence.
• Engaging the Readers: An effective thesis captivates readers’ interest by offering a glimpse of the intrigue of the narrative, encouraging them to delve further into the story.
• May Contain a Persuasive Element: In some cases, a narrative thesis might incorporate a persuasive element, aiming to influence readers’ perspectives or evoke particular emotions.

Process/Steps of Writing a Narrative Thesis Statement

1. understand the purpose and scope:.

• Clarify the purpose of your narrative essay or story.
• Determine what you want to convey or explore through your narrative.
• Consider the scope of your narrative.
• Decide whether you will focus on a specific event, time, or some broader theme.

2. Reflect on Personal Experiences or Choose a Descriptive Setting:

• If your narrative will be reflective, reflect on some personal experiences that taught you a valuable lesson.
• If you go for a descriptive narrative, choose a compelling setting that can serve as a background to your story.

3. Identify the Main Theme or Message:

• Determine the main theme or message
• What do you want your readers to take away from your story?

4. Brainstorm Key Points and Ideas:

• Engage in brainstorming to generate key points, events, or experiences
• Consider the chronological order or logical progression

5. Write a Clear and Concise Statement:

• Summarize your chosen theme, personal experiences, or descriptive setting
• Ensure that your thesis statement effectively communicates the central idea

6. Revise and Refine:

• Review your narrative thesis statement and evaluate its effectiveness
• Revise and refine the statement as needed to enhance its clarity, coherence, and impact.

Remember, the process of writing a narrative thesis statement is iterative and repetitive. It may require multiple revisions to write a final statement that is comprehensive, coherent and cohesive.

Examples of Narrative Thesis Statements and Details

Suggested readings.

• Hadiani, Dini. “The Students’Difficulties In Writing Thesis Statement.” Semantik 2.1 (2017): 80-86.
• Miller, Ryan T., and Silvia Pessoa. “Where Is Your Thesis Statement and What Happened to Your Topic Sentences? Identifying Organizational Challenges in Undergraduate Student Argumentative Writing.” TESOL Journal 7.4 (2016): 847-873.
• Moore, Kathleen, and Susie Lan Cassel. Techniques for College Writing: The Thesis Statement and Beyond . Cengage Learning, 2010.

More from Essay Writing:

• Expository Thesis Statement
• Background Information

Related posts:

• Essay Writing, Objectives, and Key Terms in Essay Writing
• Essay Type-3
• Informative Thesis Statement

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What Is a Narrative? Definition, Usage, and Literary Examples

Narrative definition.

Narrative  (NAIR-uh-tihv) is a spoken or written account of related events conveyed using certain literary techniques and devices. Narratives are seen throughout written works and other media, including  prose , verse, movies and television shows,  theater , music, video games, and podcasts.

The word  narrative  derives from the Middle French  narrative  and originates with the Late Latin  narrare , which means “to tell, relate, recount, explain.” It was first used in English in the 1560s to indicate “a tale, a story, a connected account of the particulars of an event or series of incidents.”

The History of Narrative Storytelling

For as long as human civilization has existed, people have been recounting narratives. The ways that narratives are expressed and transmitted to an audience has evolved through the centuries, but the essential impulse—to tell a story—has remained unchanged.

Storytelling began with the oral tradition.  Myths , legends, fables, ballads, and folktales were performed aloud to entertain and inform an audience. These narratives were memorized using mnemonic devices such as oral-formulaic composition, which utilizes repetition of the same phrases that fit into specific  metrical  conditions. The canonical spiritual works of world religions—such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, and Catholicism—have roots in the oral tradition, as do  epic poems  like Homer’s  Iliad  and  Odyssey ,  the Norse  Eddas  and  Sagas,  the Mesopotamian  Epic of Gilgamesh ,  and the Anglo-Saxon  Beowulf .

As written languages developed, they were used to transcribe narratives from the oral tradition. Some of the earliest written narratives are the Sumerian stories in the  Epic of Gilgamesh , which dates back to 2250–2000 BCE. With the advent of handwritten manuscripts and wood block-printed texts, written narratives continued in almost every culture in the Eastern and Western worlds. In the 15th century, Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press allowed the precise and rapid creation of metal moveable type in large quantities, thus making printed texts more readily available and affordable.

Although both oral and written narratives have always focused on themes like love, adventure, heroes, life lessons, and supernatural and divine forces, modern narratives have evolved to include genres such as Westerns,  science fiction , espionage, and  mysteries /police procedurals. The popularity of different narratives depends on cultural context and often waxes and wanes based on interests and concerns of the era.

The Elements of Narrative

To build a narrative, writers rely on several other literary elements, including but not limited to characterization, conflict, frame stories, linear vs. nonlinear narration, pacing, point of view, and tone.

Characterization

This literary technique introduces and develops a story’s character(s). There are two types of characterization: direct/explicit and indirect/implicit. Direct characterization is when the narrator tells the audience specific details about a character; this information can also be provided by another character in the story. Indirect characterization is when the audience must deduce aspects of a character for themselves by observing the character’s thought process, physical description, behavior, or dialogue.

The opposition of forces or people, which creates dramatic action, is a narrative’s conflict. There are two categories of conflict: internal and external. Internal conflict exists only as man vs. self—when a character experiences opposing emotions or desires simultaneously. External conflict, on the other hand, can exist in five different forms: man vs. man, man vs. mature, man vs. society, man vs. technology, and man vs. the supernatural. When employing any of these, the narrative’s conflict constitutes a protagonist’s struggle against forces outside themselves.

Frame Story

This is a literary form where one all-encompassing story contains one or more related stories. This technique unifies the stories’ narratives by providing smooth transitions and an overall theme. Frame stories can be found in Homer’s epic poem  The Odyssey ,  Geoffrey Chaucer’s  The Canterbury Tales ,  Ovid’s  Metamorphoses ,  and Giovanni Boccaccio’s  Decameron .

Linear vs. Nonlinear Narration

The order in which events are told is another way to build narrative. If an author chooses to recount events in a chronological order, then their narrative is linear. If the narrative is told out of sequence, it’s nonlinear. The advantage of linear narration is that it’s easier for the reader to understand, and it builds tension as the narrative progresses through the natural rise and fall of the central conflict. Nonlinear narration, on the other hand, adds aesthetic interest to a written work and builds emotional resonance for readers.

The rate at which a story develops, or its pace, is controlled through elements like the length of scenes, depth of description, and intensity and frequency of action. Genre often affects pacing as certain types of writing require a faster pace (like action-adventures, horror, espionage, and crime thrillers) while others need a slow, extended pace (such as historical dramas or sweeping family sagas).

Point of View

The narrator or speaker provides a story’s point of view; as such, the reader only experiences events as the narrator sees and describes them. There are three main types of point of view: first person, where everything is narrated from one single character using the pronouns  I, me , and  mine;  second person, which is written as if the reader is a character and uses the pronouns  you  and  your;  and third person, which is told from an authorial point of view outside the story and uses the pronouns  she / her, he / his,  and  they / them/   theirs.

This indicates the general character or attitude of a piece. There are as many types of tone as there are attitudes and emotions. A piece of writing can be cheerful or depressing; romantic or sincere; elegiac or optimistic. Even an objectively written news article maintains a tone—in that case, the tone is neutral.

Narrative Poetry

Narrative is not restricted to fiction, nonfiction, and theater. Although some  poems  focus on an image, an emotion, an idea, or a mood, other poems tell a story. When a poem focuses on recounting a series of events, it is called a  narrative poem .

The epic poems  The Iliad , The Odyssey, The Epic of Gilgamesh,  The Aeneid , The Kalevala,  and  Beowulf  are all narrative poems, as are other longer poetic works, such as  The Canterbury Tales, Metamorphosis,  and  The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.  There are shorter narrative poems as well, such as Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “ The Lady of Shalott ,” Edgar Allan Poe’s “ The Raven ,” and Alfred Noyes “ The Highwayman .”

Why Writers Employ Narrative

Writers use narrative because it keeps audience members engaged. A strong narrative can heighten characterization and augment the emotional or aesthetic elements of a work. It is human nature to want to know “what happens next,” so readers are inclined to follow the full narrative arc once it begins. A compelling narrative will keep the audience consistently engaged and interested.

Narrative’s Relationship to Story and Plot

Although people often use the words  narrative ,  story , and  plot  interchangeably, they are not the same thing.

Story refers to a series of events related in their chronological order.  Plot  indicates a series of events that are arranged deliberately to reveal emotional, thematic, or dramatic significance. This means the plot also conveys the causes, effects, and meanings of events. According to E. M. Forster’s  Aspects of the Novel , the sentence “The king died and then the queen died” is a story, whereas the sentence “The king died and then the queen died of grief” is a plot.

Narrative, on the other hand, includes the sequence of events (the story), the causes, effects, and meaning of these events (plot), and the techniques and decisions employed by the author that determine how these events are recounted to the audience.

One way to remember these distinctions is to think of what each provides. The story is  what  happens, the plot includes the  whys  and significance of what happens, and the narrative is  how  what happens is recounted.

Examples of Narrative in Literature

1. Samuel Taylor Coleridge,  The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Coleridge’s long narrative poem opens with the Ancient Mariner stopping the Wedding-Guest, who is with two companions, in the street:

It is an ancient Mariner,

And he stoppeth one of three….

He holds him with his glittering eye—

The Wedding-Guest stood still,

And listens like a three years’ child:

The Mariner hath his will.

Although the Wedding-Guest wishes to continue on his way, he is unable to resist the compelling story of the Mariner’s ill-fated journey and inexplicable sin of killing an albatross. Coleridge utilizes the narrative technique of a frame story to contain the Mariner’s tale within the larger experience of the Wedding Guest who listens—and learns—from the Mariner.

2. Anthony Burgess,  A Clockwork Orange

Burgess’s novel is told by a first-person narrator. Alex, a hardened young criminal, relates the nefarious doings of himself and his “droogs” with great delight, peppering his memories with a distinctive slang:

There was me, that is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie,

and Dim, Dim being relly dim, and we sat in the Korova Milkbar making up

our rassoodocks what to do with the evening, a flip dark chill winter bastard

though dry. The Korova Milkbar was a milk-plus mesto, and you may, O my

brothers, have forgotten what these mestos were like, things changing so

skorry these days and everybody very quick to forget, newspapers not being

read much neither.

Alex’s use of invented slang and run-on  sentences  lends greater depth to Burgess’s characterization and forces the readers to experience the narrative’s sequence of events alongside Alex, rather than having any objective distance from them.

3. Louise Erdrich,  Love Medicine

Erdrich’s award-winning novel, which chronicles the lives of several indigenous families across six decades, opens with third person point of view:

The morning before Easter Sunday, June Kashpaw was walking down the clogged main street of oil boomtown Williston, North Dakota, killing time before the noon bus arrived that would take her home.

While this chapter is written in the third person, most chapters are told from other characters’ first person point of view. Erdrich’s episodic, nonlinear approach heightens characterization and allows her to create a vast panoply of voices, bringing fully to life a number of Chippewa living on an Ojibwa reservation.

4. Toni Morrison,  The Bluest Eye

Morrison’s debut novel also shifts points of view with its narrative structure. It begins with lines drawn from the  Dick and Jane  early reading primers, moves to first-person narration, then continues with a third person narrator as the narrative jumps back in time to the Great Migration.

In the novel’s final section, the point of view reverts to Claudia MacTeer’s first-person narration as she explains how complicit the community was in the unfortunate events that befell Pecola Breedlove:

All of us—all who knew her—felt so wholesome after we cleaned ourselves on her. We were so beautiful when we stood astride her ugliness. Her simplicity decorated us, her guilt sanctified us, her pain made us glow with health, her awkwardness made us think we had a sense of humor. Her inarticulateness made us believe we were eloquent. Her poverty kept us generous. Even her waking dreams we used—to silence our own nightmares. And she let us, and thereby deserved our contempt.

Morrison’s nonlinear narrative,with its shifting points of view, creates a fragmented effect, which reflects both the dissolution of Pecola’s sanity as the book progresses and the way her community failed to sustain her.

5. Katherine Boo,  Behind the Beautiful Forevers

Boo’s award-winning nonfiction examination of poverty in Mumbai begins with a Prologue. She sets the scene by introducing some of the people whose lives she will follow:

Midnight was closing in, the one-legged woman was grievously burned, and the Mumbai police were coming for Abdul and his father. In a slum hut by the international airport, Abdul’s parents came to a decision with an uncharacteristic economy of words. The father, a sick man, would wait inside the trash-strewn, tin-roofed shack where the family of eleven resided. He’d go quietly when arrested. Abdul, the household earner, was the one who had to flee.

Boo uses third person narration and a neutral  tone . These choices allow her to maintain a sense of journalistic objectivity, which is necessary for this type of nonfiction work. Her nuanced characterization and detailed description throughout the book add to readers’ ability to trust her knowledge and breadth of research.

Further Resources on Narrative

Project Gutenberg  has an extensive list of narrative techniques.

Ohio State University’s “ Project Narrative ” is a wonderful source for information about narrative theory.

Amit Majmudar published a great round up of “ old-school narrative poems ” on the  Kenyon Review  website.

Related Terms

• Narrative Poem

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements

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This resource provides tips for creating a thesis statement and examples of different types of thesis statements.

Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement

1. Determine what kind of paper you are writing:

• An analytical paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluates the issue or idea, and presents this breakdown and evaluation to the audience.
• An expository (explanatory) paper explains something to the audience.
• An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.

If you are writing a text that does not fall under these three categories (e.g., a narrative), a thesis statement somewhere in the first paragraph could still be helpful to your reader.

2. Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper and should be supported with specific evidence.

3. The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.

4. Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect exactly what you have discussed in the paper.

Thesis Statement Examples

Example of an analytical thesis statement:

The paper that follows should:

• Explain the analysis of the college admission process
• Explain the challenge facing admissions counselors

Example of an expository (explanatory) thesis statement:

• Explain how students spend their time studying, attending class, and socializing with peers

Example of an argumentative thesis statement:

• Present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college

Narrative Analysis 101

Everything you need to know to get started

By: Ethar Al-Saraf (PhD)| Expert Reviewed By: Eunice Rautenbach (DTech) | March 2023

If you’re new to research, the host of qualitative analysis methods available to you can be a little overwhelming. In this post, we’ll  unpack the sometimes slippery topic of narrative analysis . We’ll explain what it is, consider its strengths and weaknesses , and look at when and when not to use this analysis method. 

Overview: Narrative Analysis

• What is narrative analysis (simple definition)
• The two overarching approaches  
• The strengths & weaknesses of narrative analysis
• When (and when not) to use it
• Key takeaways

What Is Narrative Analysis?

Simply put, narrative analysis is a qualitative analysis method focused on interpreting human experiences and motivations by looking closely at the stories (the narratives) people tell in a particular context.

In other words, a narrative analysis interprets long-form participant responses or written stories as data, to uncover themes and meanings . That data could be taken from interviews, monologues, written stories, or even recordings. In other words, narrative analysis can be used on both primary and secondary data to provide evidence from the experiences described.

That’s all quite conceptual, so let’s look at an example of how narrative analysis could be used.

Let’s say you’re interested in researching the beliefs of a particular author on popular culture. In that case, you might identify the characters , plotlines , symbols and motifs used in their stories. You could then use narrative analysis to analyse these in combination and against the backdrop of the relevant context.

This would allow you to interpret the underlying meanings and implications in their writing, and what they reveal about the beliefs of the author. In other words, you’d look to understand the views of the author by analysing the narratives that run through their work.

The Two Overarching Approaches

Generally speaking, there are two approaches that one can take to narrative analysis. Specifically, an inductive approach or a deductive approach. Each one will have a meaningful impact on how you interpret your data and the conclusions you can draw, so it’s important that you understand the difference.

First up is the inductive approach to narrative analysis.

The inductive approach takes a bottom-up view , allowing the data to speak for itself, without the influence of any preconceived notions . With this approach, you begin by looking at the data and deriving patterns and themes that can be used to explain the story, as opposed to viewing the data through the lens of pre-existing hypotheses, theories or frameworks. In other words, the analysis is led by the data.

For example, with an inductive approach, you might notice patterns or themes in the way an author presents their characters or develops their plot. You’d then observe these patterns, develop an interpretation of what they might reveal in the context of the story, and draw conclusions relative to the aims of your research.

Contrasted to this is the deductive approach.

With the deductive approach to narrative analysis, you begin by using existing theories that a narrative can be tested against . Here, the analysis adopts particular theoretical assumptions and/or provides hypotheses, and then looks for evidence in a story that will either verify or disprove them.

For example, your analysis might begin with a theory that wealthy authors only tell stories to get the sympathy of their readers. A deductive analysis might then look at the narratives of wealthy authors for evidence that will substantiate (or refute) the theory and then draw conclusions about its accuracy, and suggest explanations for why that might or might not be the case.

Which approach you should take depends on your research aims, objectives and research questions . If these are more exploratory in nature, you’ll likely take an inductive approach. Conversely, if they are more confirmatory in nature, you’ll likely opt for the deductive approach.

Need a helping hand?

Strengths & Weaknesses

Now that we have a clearer view of what narrative analysis is and the two approaches to it, it’s important to understand its strengths and weaknesses , so that you can make the right choices in your research project.

A primary strength of narrative analysis is the rich insight it can generate by uncovering the underlying meanings and interpretations of human experience. The focus on an individual narrative highlights the nuances and complexities of their experience, revealing details that might be missed or considered insignificant by other methods.

Another strength of narrative analysis is the range of topics it can be used for. The focus on human experience means that a narrative analysis can democratise your data analysis, by revealing the value of individuals’ own interpretation of their experience in contrast to broader social, cultural, and political factors.

All that said, just like all analysis methods, narrative analysis has its weaknesses. It’s important to understand these so that you can choose the most appropriate method for your particular research project.

The first drawback of narrative analysis is the problem of subjectivity and interpretation . In other words, a drawback of the focus on stories and their details is that they’re open to being understood differently depending on who’s reading them. This means that a strong understanding of the author’s cultural context is crucial to developing your interpretation of the data. At the same time, it’s important that you remain open-minded in how you interpret your chosen narrative and avoid making any assumptions .

A second weakness of narrative analysis is the issue of reliability and generalisation . Since narrative analysis depends almost entirely on a subjective narrative and your interpretation, the findings and conclusions can’t usually be generalised or empirically verified. Although some conclusions can be drawn about the cultural context, they’re still based on what will almost always be anecdotal data and not suitable for the basis of a theory, for example.

Last but not least, the focus on long-form data expressed as stories means that narrative analysis can be very time-consuming . In addition to the source data itself, you will have to be well informed on the author’s cultural context as well as other interpretations of the narrative, where possible, to ensure you have a holistic view. So, if you’re going to undertake narrative analysis, make sure that you allocate a generous amount of time to work through the data.

When To Use Narrative Analysis

As a qualitative method focused on analysing and interpreting narratives describing human experiences, narrative analysis is usually most appropriate for research topics focused on social, personal, cultural , or even ideological events or phenomena and how they’re understood at an individual level.

For example, if you were interested in understanding the experiences and beliefs of individuals suffering social marginalisation, you could use narrative analysis to look at the narratives and stories told by people in marginalised groups to identify patterns , symbols , or motifs that shed light on how they rationalise their experiences.

In this example, narrative analysis presents a good natural fit as it’s focused on analysing people’s stories to understand their views and beliefs at an individual level. Conversely, if your research was geared towards understanding broader themes and patterns regarding an event or phenomena, analysis methods such as content analysis or thematic analysis may be better suited, depending on your research aim .

Let’s recap

In this post, we’ve explored the basics of narrative analysis in qualitative research. The key takeaways are:

• Narrative analysis is a qualitative analysis method focused on interpreting human experience in the form of stories or narratives .
• There are two overarching approaches to narrative analysis: the inductive (exploratory) approach and the deductive (confirmatory) approach.
• Like all analysis methods, narrative analysis has a particular set of strengths and weaknesses .
• Narrative analysis is generally most appropriate for research focused on interpreting individual, human experiences as expressed in detailed , long-form accounts.

If you’d like to learn more about narrative analysis and qualitative analysis methods in general, be sure to check out the rest of the Grad Coach blog here . Alternatively, if you’re looking for hands-on help with your project, take a look at our 1-on-1 private coaching service .

Psst… there’s more (for free)

This post is part of our dissertation mini-course, which covers everything you need to get started with your dissertation, thesis or research project. 

You Might Also Like:

Thanks. I need examples of narrative analysis

Here are some examples of research topics that could utilise narrative analysis:

Personal Narratives of Trauma: Analysing personal stories of individuals who have experienced trauma to understand the impact, coping mechanisms, and healing processes.

Identity Formation in Immigrant Communities: Examining the narratives of immigrants to explore how they construct and negotiate their identities in a new cultural context.

Media Representations of Gender: Analysing narratives in media texts (such as films, television shows, or advertisements) to investigate the portrayal of gender roles, stereotypes, and power dynamics.

Where can I find an example of a narrative analysis table ?

Please i need help with my project,

how can I cite this article in APA 7th style?

please mention the sources as well.

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Six students share their inspirations and outcomes

From African baobabs to virtual reality, here is a closer look at six thesis projects Harvard students undertook this year.

In the suburbs

Madeline Ranalli is pictured alongside a mural promoting Nonantum, one of 13 villages within her hometown of Newton, Massachusetts.

Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

In leafy suburbs across the U.S., residents have rallied to block affordable housing from their neighborhoods.

“A lot of the resistance comes in the form of people saying, ‘Look what this development is going to do to the trees,’” noted Madeline Ranalli ’23.

The government concentrator (with a secondary in energy and environment ) used her senior thesis to examine how these communities wield environmentalism in opposition to multifamily residential developments.

“There’s this misconception that the more green you see, the more environmentally friendly a place is,” Ranalli explained. “But the way a community is designed can actually undermine the environmental benefits of those natural resources.”

The thesis analyzes four car-centric suburbs in California’s Bay Area, where the shortage of affordable housing is especially stark. The region is the birthplace of mainstream American environmentalism and has a history of resistance to multifamily housing. But it’s also a place where lawmakers are passing leading-edge legislation to bolster affordability and density.

Ranalli conducted dozens of in-person interviews, and worked with the Harvard Digital Lab for the Social Sciences to survey the nationwide frequency of using environmentalism to oppose land use that would actually reduce carbon footprints.

“This is by no means unique to California,” said Ranalli, who grew up observing similar rhetoric in her hometown of Newton, Massachusetts. “It’s very much a phenomenon in affluent, Democratic suburbs.”

While conducting research, Ranalli, now a legislative intern with the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, discovered “The Environmental Protection Hustle” (1979) by the late MIT urban planning professor Bernard J. Frieden , which helped inform her argument that environmentalism is more than an ideology about the importance of protecting natural resources.

“It’s also a very legitimate political strategy that can be employed very successfully to achieve certain ends,” Ranalli said.

Across the savannas

Audrey “Rey” Chin in Mozambique studying baobab trees.

Courtesy photo

Last summer, Audrey “Rey” Chin ’24 hiked 125 miles across dense savanna in Mozambique, painstakingly collecting data from more than 100 trees that make up a delicate, changing ecosystem.

An Environmental Science and Public Policy program concentrator, Chin wrote her senior thesis on the distribution and vulnerability of African baobabs, the largest fruit-bearing trees on the planet, which carry both ecological and cultural significance for the region. Elephants use these iconic trees as nutrient sources, stripping their bark, extracting water, and eating them. In doing so, they spread the seeds to help the trees reproduce.

Chin wrote her senior thesis on the distribution and vulnerability of African baobabs.

Chin’s thesis integrates her field study with remote sensing data to evaluate the extent to which landscape variables, including elephants, affect the health of baobabs. Chin is conducting the research in the lab of Andrew Davies , assistant professor of organismic and evolutionary biology.

“I think [the project] is ultimately about trying to find a way to balance the conservation priorities of the two species, and understand the interaction that’s happening,” she said.

The remote Karingani Game Reserve in southern Mozambique, where Chin and classmate/labmate Hannah Adler ’25 conducted the field work, is a test bed for understanding the current level of elephant utilization of the trees, and how that relationship could inform stewardship and conservation practices for years to come. The area came under official protection in 2017. Since then, migration from nearby Kruger National Park as well as anti-poaching and landscape restoration measures have led to a surge in the elephant population.

“The opportunity to witness the biodiversity and interconnectivity of different species was probably the most awe-inspiring part of the project,” Chin said.

In the workshop

Francisco Marquez with his prototype bicycle.

Photos by Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Francisco Marquez ’24 had always ridden bicycles, but it was pandemic-fueled restlessness during his freshman year that led the mechanical engineering concentrator to learn how to build them.

Now the de facto bike mechanic of his friend group, Marquez pursued a senior capstone project that tackled a perennial problem for two-wheeled enthusiasts like him: size.

“Because I’m a fairly large person, most bikes don’t fit me,” said Marquez, who is 6 foot 4. “I also have a bunch of friends who are very small, and they also can’t find a bike that really fits them. I decided to try to make a bike that could fit everybody.”

Marquez designed and built a modular bicycle frame with a shape and size that can be adjusted to fit very short people, very tall people, and everyone in between. It also allows children to grow into their wheels.

“It could even be something that you buy for a teenager, that they can then use as they grow into adulthood,” he said.

Simplifying the frame into standard components such as top tube, down tube, and fork, Marquez redesigned each piece with unlocking mechanisms using joints and pins, allowing for rotating, loosening, and retightening. Manufacturing was no simple task; it took a year’s worth of testing to find the right materials and configuration for a bike that could be adjusted easily yet remain reliably rigid during use. He settled upon a retrofit of a vintage steel-framed bicycle and created his own custom parts. Throughout the process, Marquez picked up skills like welding and spent many hours in the Science and Engineering Complex machine shop , working with tools like a lathe and a mill.

Testing it for the first time in its tallest configuration, Marquez smiled when it fit like a glove. He said it was gratifying to be able to see his own design come to life.

“I’ve never ridden a bike that feels like this,” he said.

In the gardens

Rivers Sheehan in her studio space on Linden Street.

In the southern colonies of 18th-century America, the science of botany was used for economic purposes but also for aesthetics, using beautiful gardens and cultivated landscapes to mask a brutal plantation economy.

Rivers Sheehan ’23, a joint concentrator in art, film, and visual studies and history of science , completed a thesis project that combined historical research with an art exhibit, examining how botany, considered a gentlemanly European science in the 18th century, found new roots in the U.S.

“I looked at how that epistemology got applied in the South, in the frontier lands where people were both setting up really profitable and violent plantations using botanical knowledge and also setting up estate gardens that were inspired by French and English landscape design, often on the same properties,” said Sheehan, who wrote a 90-page paper detailing her findings.

For the art element, the December 2023 graduate created a multimedia exhibit of paintings, photographs, prints, and drawings inspired by her research at the plantations and also her own relationship to the natural world. Some of the pieces use paper dyed with natural indigo, birch bark, rabbit skin glue, leaves, and wild mushrooms. Sheehan worked in a variety of media, each representative of a different modality she learned during her time at Harvard.

“The studio project is a way of bringing this niche research into the contemporary moment and offering another way for an audience to come into it who isn’t necessarily an academic historian of science, which is the audience for the written part of it,” Sheehan explained.

Stepping back in time

Cindy Tian created a virtual reality program.

Virtual reality can facilitate all manner of educational experiences — like bringing visitors inside the Pyramids of Giza . Cindy Tian ’23, a joint concentrator in computer science and archaeology , wondered how the technology would fare with more complicated lessons.

“I wanted to see if VR can show archaeological processes that are harder for the general public to understand,” she said. “Would the technology improve the transfer of information from archaeologists and museum staff?”

Her thesis took the form of an exhibit for the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography , still on view near the third-floor stairwell. Tian first created a display featuring artifacts that illuminate flintknapping — or fashioning blades, points, and other tools from a stone core. On view are everything from hammerstones to chipping tools.

Tian, a December grad, also created a virtual reality program that allowed visitors to simulate making their own tools with objects like the ones on display.

“Flintknapping is a reductive process where you basically remove pieces of rock,” said Tian, who will soon start a full-time role with a music analytics startup. “It’s just one of the things where it’s better to learn by doing rather than reading or hearing someone talk about it.”

Finally, Tian tested who learned best about flintknapping — those who took in the exhibit, those who used the VR program, or those who encountered both.

“Are we integrating VR because it’s cool? Or is it actually helpful ?” she wondered.

Those who experienced both the exhibit and the VR scored highest on Tian’s post-visit content quiz. The same group emerged with more positive opinions of the flintknapping lesson.

“They essentially got to do it without doing it,” Tian said. “I found that the virtual reality is definitely beneficial for helping people learn about archaeological processes.”

Working in the studio

Five large abstract paintings are included in Isabel Haro’s thesis, which is titled “Taking Refuge.”

Abstract art has long served as a vessel for artists — think Hilma af Klint or Wassily Kandinsky — to explore religion and spirituality.

Isabel Haro ’24, a concentrator in art, film, and visual studies with a secondary in music , was inspired to pursue a thesis that explored this topic after taking the course “Spiritual Paths to Abstract Art” with Professor Ann Braude at Harvard Divinity School . Haro, who practices Buddhism, wanted to create a collection of work inspired by her own experiences.

“It’s very hard to talk about spirituality in the contemporary art world. It’s something that a lot of people are not interested in, or actively shy away from,” said Haro. “My intention was to be really diligent and responsible with how I was bringing Buddhism into the art conversation.”

To prepare, she studied other artists and paintings, read Buddhist scripture and poetry, meditated, and sketched. Inspired by color field style and the techniques of abstract painter Morris Louis, Haro played with gravity, standing on a stool to pour ink down the canvas, and laid canvas on the floor to let the paint move in rivulets.

The thesis, titled “Taking Refuge,” includes five large abstract paintings done in paint on muslin and canvas. One is painted with black Sumi ink — the kind used for Zen calligraphy — and uses salt and soap to create textures.

“I spent so much time preparing for this final set of paintings and all of that work prepared me to let these paintings emerge in a natural way,” Haro said. “I learned how valuable it is to work on a project over an extended period of time.”

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3 ways the late daniel kahneman has improved your life (whether you know it or not).

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There are people who change your life because of their proximity to you and yours—and then there are those who change your life without you even knowing they exist. Regardless of which of those categories Daniel Kahneman fits into for you, he’s changed your life, just as surely as he has demonstrably changed mine.

Kahneman, the Israeli-American Nobel-prize-winning psychologist-turned-economist, passed away this week at the age of 90. And, while his legacy looms far greater than a bulleted blog post, I hope to personalize his worldwide impact for you with three ways Daniel Kahneman has changed your life, whether you know it or not, accompanied by three book recommendations. We’ll start with the least personal and conclude with the most:

How has Daniel Kahneman made your life better?

1. He upended the field of economics.

Kahneman, along with his best friend and lifelong research partner in psychology, Amos Tversky, studied human decision-making and were the first to question the presumption upon which hundreds of years of economics was based—the falsehood that humans defaulted to rational behavior. They illustrated how it’s really quite the opposite.

If you ever took a single economics course in high school or college, you’re likely familiar with the phrase “all things considered equal.” Kahneman and Tversky showed the world that they never are. How does this impact you? The better question is, how doesn’t it?!

Even if you have never studied economics or seen its value, economists are actively involved in almost everything that touches your life—politics, policy, finance, education, housing, advertising, marketing, and even social media. By changing the way that economists think and helping them better understand how we all think, Kahneman’s insight and influence have permeated, well, everything.

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Ufc fight night results fighter suffers rare self inflicted ko loss, daniel kahneman author of thinking fast and slow dies at 90.

The book I recommend starting with here is The Undoing Project , by Michael Lewis. It is an approachable narrative that introduces us to the life, friendship, and work of both Kahneman and Tversky. Unlike most books about behavioral economics, it really is a page-turner.

2. He changed the way we invest.

The impact of Kahneman’s thinking on investing can barely be contained in a book, much less a bullet point, but there are two ways I’ll suggest that are the most important and practical, respectively. The most important, I’d argue, is that while our foremost objective in investing is to gain returns, our investment behavior is more driven by our fear of losses. Indeed, Kahneman showed that the pain of loss is twice as powerful a motivator as the joy of gain. He helps us understand WHY our human tendency is to buy high and sell low rather than the preferable inverse.

Practically speaking, though, how do most people in the U.S. invest? Through their 401(k) or other company-sponsored retirement plan. The way we invest in our retirement plans has been changed dramatically, thanks to Kahneman’s influence applied through the work of another Nobel-prize-winning economist, Richard Thaler, explicated in his book, Nudge , co-authored with Cass Sunstein. There are at least three specific and fundamental changes to the way 401(k) plans are administered that this work has directly influenced:

• We have fewer investment choices. Although we’ve all thought “the more options the better,” we learned that having too many choices is possible, leading to analysis paralysis. Therefore, we’ve seen eventual retirees make better choices when they have fewer options.
• Our default to inaction now works in our favor. All retirement plans used to be opt-in, but now many are opt-out. What’s that mean? A new employee has a myriad of choices to make when being onboarded to a new company. Historically, the last choice we were asked to make was whether we wanted to cede a portion of our hard-earned pay for a seemingly distant future that may never come—we had to choose to opt-in to our 401(k) contribution, even before we faced the analysis paralysis of the investment choices within. Most people didn’t. Many plans now have an opt- out default, requiring a new employee to actively choose not to save for the future. Lo and behold, most people still choose the path of least resistance by making no decision, but now that indecision works in their favor.
• Plans can automatically increase your contributions over time. Through the field of behavioral economics, we’ve learned that it is easier to commit money that we won’t receive until the future than money we already have. Therefore, through auto-escalation options in retirement plans, we can choose to increase our future contributions in the present. For example, let’s say you are currently contributing 5% of your compensation to your 401(k), but you’ve determined that you need to be saving 10% to meet your goals. Instead of increasing your contribution to 10% today (and feeling the pain in your paycheck), you can choose to automatically increase your contribution by 1% at the beginning of every year—when you’ll likely also receive a cost-of-living increase in pay. You’re improving your future without feeling the pain today.

3. He changed the way we see and understand ourselves.

While Kahneman’s work has directly and indirectly influenced the way the world operates from an economic perspective, his seminal thesis has a far more deeply personal impact on how we think about ourselves. In the tome that originally shared Kahneman and Tversky’s work with the world, Thinking, Fast and Slow , Kahneman explains that our brains have two distinct processors. These are not the proverbial right and left hemispheres, but System 1 and System 2.

System 1 is that fast, subconscious, and immediate emotional processor in our brain, while System 2 is the more thoughtful and rational processor. While we’d surely prefer to enlist our System 2 for all financial decisions, research suggests that our System 1 is most often in the driver’s seat. Indeed, 80% of our financial (and other) decision making is driven by System 1. Furthermore, when the two systems are in conflict, System 1 always wins.

Therefore, the whole notion that the financial industry has long promoted—that emotion serves no role in financial choices and should be ignored—is a scientific impossibility.

And the power of System 1 and its distinction from System 2 is insight that has implications far beyond our finances. Indeed, it helps us better understand ourselves and those we interact with—our spouses, partners, children, friends, and co-workers. We are inherently emotional beings; the better we understand that, the better we understand everything.

One of the few things (maybe the only?) that I’ve said that has never (to my knowledge) inspired disagreement is that personal finance is more personal than it is finance . This began as an anecdotal observation in my work as a financial planner, but it is Kahneman who has helped the world understand how and why that is true—and what we can do about it.

May he rest in peace.

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38 best stocks to buy for the strongest gains over the next year, according to Deutsche Bank

• Deutsche Bank's Fresh Money List has beaten the S&P 500 since its inception.
• It includes favored names from the bank's leading analysts across various sectors.
• Despite its success, the list has had temporary drawdowns, most recently during Q1 2024.

If you're wary of following the crowd and think the S&P 500 is too expensive but aren't sure where to look next for gains, consider Deutsche Bank's Fresh Money List. It's a basket of the top stocks that the bank's leading analysts predict will outperform the market over the coming 12 months.

The latest round of 38 names was released on March 28, and the picks span across consumer, financials and fintech, healthcare, industrials, and technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT).

While past performance doesn't guarantee future results, having some idea of the list's past success can help in deciding whether following Deutsche's lead is worth the risk: Since analysts started publishing the report in the third quarter of 2017, the rotation of high-conviction names has returned 164%. The S&P 500 returned 146% over the same period. However, its outperformance of the broad index has been accompanied by temporary drawdowns, more recently during the first quarter of 2024, when it returned only 4.26% versus the S&P 500 at 9.92%.

Below is the list of this round's 38 names, with a shortened summary from the analysts that represent the reason for their conviction.

1. Chipotle

Ticker :  CMG

Sector : Consumer

Thesis : " We have high conviction in CMG's near-term & long- term growth outlook and believe a premium multiple is warranted, noting there is scarcity value for a high-quality US company with a clean balance sheet, strong fundamentals and potential upside to numbers " —  Lauren Silberman

Ticker : COTY

Thesis : "COTY's improving marketplace execution has led to successive over-delivery in recent quarters, and the company still seems well- positioned to deliver +9%-11% LFL sales in FY24 underpinned by: (i) ongoing momentum in Prestige fragrances including white space opportunities in ultra- premium and lifestyle segments, (ii) building market share momentum across the Consumer Beauty brands, and (iii) a steadily strengthening presence in Prestige Make-up and Prestige Skin Care, with significant whitespace opportunities in key channels and markets. Moreover, COTY remains steadfast in its focus on cost- saving measures, strengthening its balance sheet, and reducing leverage while expanding its share buyback program" — Steve Powers

3. Kraft Heinz

Ticker : KHC

Thesis : "we believe current full-year guidance already embed sufficient allowances for continued value-seeking behavior, a healthy level of reinvestment spending, and greater below-the-line headwinds. Furthermore, we see further support from: (i) low valuation vs. peers/history, (ii) continued momentum in Emerging Markets, (iii) improved supply chain, (iv) innovation in Foodservice, and (v) value-added capital allocation." — Steve Powers

4. Las Vegas Sands

Ticker : LVS

Thesis : " We see meaningful value in LVS's shares at current levels and we believe some of the concern around the trajectory of the recovery in Macau is misguided, with too much being read into short-term datapoints. We see this rationalizing over time and believe LVS, from both a fundamental and valuation perspective, represents a compelling long idea moving forward. " — Carlo Santarelli

5. Monster Beverage Corp.

Ticker : MNST

Thesis : "From here, we see further top-line optionality from a robust innovation pipeline and MNST's expansion into new and adjacent categories. With encouraging consumption and market share trends for MNST's energy drinks globally, alongside deflationary aluminum/ transportation costs, we continue to see MNST's gross margin recovery building upon the progress delivered in CY23." — Steve Powers

6. United Parks and Resorts

Ticker : PRKS

Thesis : "We see PRKS potentially benefiting from what we view to be relatively low expectations approaching peak visitation months, and we also think the company's EBITDA margins are more durable than skeptics believe. PRKS has recently provided more clarity on its capital plan and could soon begin repurchasing shares in a meaningful way again. Current valuation reflects an unreasonable disconnect versus several other travel/leisure sub-sector verticals, including cruise and select areas of gaming and lodging." — Chris Woronka

Ticker : TGT

Thesis : " With a conservative 2024 outlook that leaves room for positive earnings revisions, traffic improvements underway, and an expanding value assortment, we see TGT's top line on track to inflect positively starting in 2Q. In addition, we see a number of drivers ahead for sustained SSS growth and EBIT margin expansion, resulting in EPS of $10+ in 2024. Lastly, TGT still trades at a discount to other staple retail peers and we think the stock should move at least in line with to above the market multiple on consistent execution. " — Krisztina Katai

8. US Foods

Ticker : USFD

Thesis : "We believe USFD is a compelling self-help story in a favorable foodservice category. USFD has been increasing its focus on supply chain, and we believe new CEO Dave Flitman can help accelerate those efforts and has suggested there are opportunities to unlock value across all areas of the business. USFD expects to deliver HSD-LDD EBITDA growth in 2024 & long term, and together with share repurchases, likely supports HDD-low 20% EPS growth. We have high conviction in USFD's growth outlook, see potential for upside to numbers and multiple expansion, and at current valuation, believe USFD offers an attractive risk/reward profile." — Lauren Silberman

9. AJ Gallagher

Ticker : AJG

Sector : Financials & Fintech

Thesis : "AJ Gallagher should benefit from a US economy that continues to surprise to the upside, and interest rates that are no longer expected to drop by a lot more than what the Fed is guiding for. We believe that the positive pricing momentum in US commercial lines should continue in the foreseeable future. AJG is well positioned to capitalize on these pricing trends given that 85% of group revenues come from the Brokerage segment, of which 75% is commission-based. We forecast 8% and 7% brokerage organic growth for FY 2024 and 2025, respectively. In addition to its strong organic growth, AJG should be able to further boost revenues inorganically from banks that sell their non-core insurance brokerage operations, and from smaller brokers who seek AJG's partnership in order to leverage the company's technology and data." — Cave Montazeri

10. Ally Financial

Ticker : ALLY

Thesis : " We believe Ally's NIM expansion is being underestimated and incorrectly modeled by many other analysts on the Street. From their current 3.14% NIM, we believe Ally is on track to reach their 4.0% target by 3Q25 vs. consensus expectations of at least 2026. With the prospect of significant NIM expansion and credit improvement in 2025, ALLY sets up as one of the more compelling narratives in our coverage, and with ~43% upside to our price target still has considerable potential. " — Mark DeVries

Ticker : BILL

Thesis : "BILL operates in a large addressable market with secular tailwinds and helps accelerate SMB digital process adoption. We believe BILL is uniquely positioned due to its offerings including AP automation and spend mgmt. as well as electronic payment offerings like virtual cards, instant transfer and cross-border FX. BILL has recently combined its offerings into a single platform, providing a significant opportunity to cross-sell. We are confident in the company's overall value proposition and expect it to benefit from improving fundamentals coupled with a stronger economy. With the shares trading at ~6x our CY25 EV/ gross profit, we believe the multiple can expand as the growth reaccelerates." — Bryan Keane

12. KKR & Co. Inc.

Ticker : KKR

Thesis : "We think the stock will remain supported by the firm's substantial inflection up in FRE, expected to grow 26% in 2024, helped by the start of a substantial flagship fundraising cycle in 2024, in which we expect fundraising to rise to ~$109 billion from $69 billion in 2023. Moreover, we expect fundraising to remain elevated in a ~$110bn to $130bn range in each of 2025 & 2026. Combined with a strong double-digit growth outlook for capital market fees, we think KKR can grow FRE at a 22% annualized pace over the next 3 years, which remains the strongest pace in our coverage. We are also encouraged by management's announcement of multiple strategic initiatives in late November last year and compensation restructuring that enhances FRE margins." — Brian Bedell

Ticker : PNC

Thesis : "PNC's shares are flat ytd vs. larger peers up ~15%, and other large regionals up ~5%. The lag vs. mega bank peers is due to continued turmoil among regional banks earlier this year, driven by office/multi-family issues at NYCB and perceived scale benefits at the largest banks. The modest underperformance vs. other regionals is mostly due to a recent 1Q NII guidance downgrade. PNC lowered the 1Q guide to down 3-5% vs. down 2-3% before. However, PNC remains our top pick given our core investment thesis remains intact, namely risk mgmt, capital allocation, and leverage to a pickup in cap markets all should be positive stories near/medium term. We'd also note the 1Q guidance downgrade was mostly due to some debt issuance early in the qtr as well as weaker C&I line utilization rates." — Matt O'Connor

14. Sabra Health Care REIT

Ticker : SBRA

Thesis : " We like SBRA as we expect multiple expansion as investors get more comfortable with the regulatory and government reimbursement outlook for skilled nursing. We also expect earnings acceleration given recovery in the senior housing operating portfolio (SHOP) and improving acquisition outlook. " — Tayo Okusanya

15. Charles Schwab

Ticker : SCHW

Thesis : "We are expecting EPS to improve throughout 2024, and earnings to achieve record levels in 2025 after the paydown of a large portion of high-cost borrowing during 2024 & 2025. Thus, interest revenue should improve and drive positive EPS growth in 2024, which should accelerate more dramatically in 2025, and remain strong in 2026. Furthermore, we see SCHW's Investor Day on May 22 as a positive catalyst for the shares given our expectation for management to outline a robust growth strategy after having completed the final Ameritrade client conversion and achieving a more stable and growing client deposit profile." — Brian Bedell

16. S&P Global

Ticker : SPGI

Thesis : "With merger integration work largely complete, the company is entering the next phase, where it can focus on growth, innovation, and execution. The company has accumulated some of the most mission-critical and proprietary datasets that provide a moat and ability to execute on innovation, such as GenAI. For longer-term investors, we see the recent stock's underperformance versus the market as an attractive opportunity to buy a resilient business with diversified revenue streams and growth attributes. Further, the company is actively reevaluating its portfolio and could see potential acquisitions and divestitures that may simplify its model and set the company up for further growth. Key areas of focus where the company could expand include private markets, sustainability, supply-chain analytics, and risk." — Brian Bedell

17. Cigna Group

Ticker : CI

Sector : Healthcare

Thesis : " Cigna raised long-term earnings growth guidance by 100bps on earlier in March, while launching a new program around GLP1 drug access and its next competitive offering in the biosimilar Humira market. Specialty market growth remains the theme for 2024 as the company committed to deliver financial goals as mapped out on Investor Day with a diversified portfolio and capital-light framework. We believe the CI investment thesis is warranted by the growth of the more profitable commercial market. We believe the company has navigated the challenges in the core commercial business with good client retention level and new business wins. " — George Hill

18. Charles River

Ticker : CRL

Thesis : " We are incrementally positive on CRL stock and see earnings risk shifting to the upside and away from the downside given: 1) a number of margin levers; 2) an improving biotech funding environment; 3) higher quality bookings; 4) benefits from Biosecure Act headline risk; and 5) falling interest rates. " — Justin Bowers

Ticker : ICLR

Thesis : " ICLR remains one of our top picks given: 1) upside to EPS and organic revenue growth; 2) lower interest expense and potential share repurchase; 3) margin expansion 40+ bps, and 4) potential multiple expansion given the stock is trading in line with the S&P 500 vs. its 15% historical premium. " — Justin Bowers

20. Merck & Co.

Ticker : MRK

Thesis : " In our view, MRK's Keytruda has established itself as backbone for oncology treatment regimens, that we believe provides the best visibility for growth until FY2028, barring GLP-1 peers. Keytruda's success also positions it for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) selection in FY2028, but it also ensures Medicare volume. Keytruda's already dominating makes us believe IRA & biosimilar pressure may not be as bad as the Street expects. Keytruda's clinical data provides a moat that may widen with early-stage data and combinations. Furthermore, Vaccines and Animal Health provide durable free cash flows and some modest growth. We think fundamentally it sets MRK's floor at ~$100/sh and gives a favorable asymmetric risk-reward for the emerging pipeline with validated targets/data. " — James Shin

21. Option Care

Ticker : OPCH

Thesis : " We continue to regard OPCH as an attractive play within healthcare services in the current environment, especially at ~13x 2025E EBITDA, which is near its 3y trough multiple. While bears are still concerned the LDD EBITDA growth algo is broken after OPCH's volatile 3Q results, we continue to believe a strong top line coupled with SG&A leverage is enough to achieve LDD EBITDA growth for the foreseeable future. This is further supported by OPCH's perfect track record over the past 4 years of providing upside to the initial FY guide. With current valuations discounting heightened uncertainty in OPCH's growth algo, we believe this is an attractive entry point. " — Pito Chickering

22. Penumbra

Ticker : PEN

Thesis : " We believe the ~15% sell-off post 4Q results provides a unique buying opportunity as reset expectations coupled with intact fundamentals provides a nice set-up for a return to a consistent beat and raise story. We note that the initial FY guide being below consensus was primarily driven by PEN choosing to exit lower growth and margin OUS markets, which is not a key pillar of the bull thesis. " — Pito Chickering

23. Sarepta Therapeutics

Ticker : SRPT

Thesis : " Given the recent share price pullback post the 4Q23 earnings release, on which mgmt. guided conservatively regarding the opportunity in just 4- to 5-year-olds with DMD due to logistical challenges in identifying and dosing patients before they "age out", and recent positive data for the company's most advanced next-generation exon-skipping program, which solidifies the value of the base business, in our view, we see risk/reward as highly favorable into the PDUFA, with downside on no label expansion to ~$100/share and upside on just an ambulatory expansion to $150- $160 or more, and up to $180-$200 on a broad label. " — Neena Bitritto-Garg

Ticker : DAL

Thesis : " We believe that over the next 12 months, Delta is the highest quality way to invest in a strong domestic and international demand backdrop given its diversified revenue streams. We continue to believe that Delta will lead the industry with what is expected to be a strong free cash flow and deleveraging cycle. Delta's main priority remains reducing debt and getting back to an investment grade balance sheet. Delta also pays a $0.10 per share quarterly dividend. Lastly, we think the valuation of DAL's shares creates an attractive entry-point with the stock trading at 5.9x our 2024 EPS estimate of $7.00 and 5.7x our 2024 EPS estimate of $7.65. " — Mike Linenberg

25. First Solar

Ticker : FSLR

Thesis : " First Solar stands out, in our view, given its utility-only exposure, long-term backlog, and US manufacturing presence, benefitting from the 45x tax credit, boosting EPS in the near and medium term. The growth story remains intact in the coming years, with strong operational performance expected to continue, supported by ASP and volumes growth/ramp-up from new facilities. We see realistic 12-month stock price upside potential towards $200+, further driven by a positive sentiment shift expected in 2H for the solar industry in general. " — Corinne Blanchard

26. Mobileye

Ticker : MBLY

Thesis : " In light of the recent chip-destocking warning that drove management to cut its 2024 guidance, the company signaled and reiterated most recently that the situation should be mostly cleared by year-end, with high visibility into both Q1 and Q2 orders and shipments, and 2H shipment normalizing. Management had also taken the opportunity earlier on in the year to reduce SV shipments for 2024, and with recent data on strong Zeekr 001 orders, we believe SV revenue for the year should largely be de-risked. " — Emmanuel Rosner

27. Parker-Hannifin

Ticker : PH

Thesis : " Despite strong outperformance, we believe there is still potential for significant upside given Parker-Hannifin's success in creating a more balanced revenue profile. In addition, Parker-Hannifin has successfully expanded segment EBITA margins over the past decade and has even hit its FY27 target early. We believe Parker-Hannifin will continue to raise the bar on profitability and potentially create new targets at their upcoming Investor Day. Given the improving revenue profile coupled with future margin expansion, the stock still looks attractive at its current valuation, in our view, and we rate it a Buy. " — Nicole DeBlase

28. Rocket Lab

Ticker : RKLB

Thesis : " With Rocket Lab back on the launch pad, we think investors can focus on the robust launch manifest and ramp of Apple constellation, combining to drive higher growth/margins in 2024 and beyond. Rocket Lab has focused on smaller rockets since inception, cultivating a leadership position, and plans to build a larger rocket called Neutron, designed to be a constellation launcher in a market where there is an acute supply shortage, targeting customers like Amazon Kuiper. " — Edison Yu

Ticker : SAIA

Thesis : " We remain steadfast in our positive stance on SAIA's shares. Despite the recent run-up, we see significantly more upside this year and beyond as management executes on its exciting and ambitious growth plans. We are encouraged by the company's obsession over maintaining and improving service levels, which it measures daily, given this is the key risk for the company going forward on its path in growing volume. These reinforce our long-standing bullish thesis on SAIA's shares, and we see potential for equity value to eclipse $1,000 per share by year-end 2026. " — Amit Mehrotra

Ticker : TROX

Thesis : " It was a challenging 15 months for Tronox (ending 12/31/23) during which time EBITDA fell nearly 50% due to severe customer destocking in TiO2, weak building and construction demand and negative fixed cost absorption. However, in early '24, things have begun to improve as destocking is largely over, customers are beginning to restock and more normal buying patterns have returned. This has led to Tronox increasing its operating rates in Q1. Looking ahead, we believe TiO2 prices could reverse their downward trend of the last 18 months as early as Q2 supported by a pickup in demand, the EU's anti-dumping investigation into Chinese TiO2 imports, Red Sea shipping issues and Venator's closure of its Duisburg, Germany TiO2 plant. We thus reiterate our Buy rating. " — David Begleiter

31. Woodward

Ticker : WWD

Thesis : " As a base case, we think WWD can grow net income at or above industry-average rates over the next 3 years. We also think there's more upside to this base-case outlook than peers, while the company also has lower financial leverage and more balance sheet optionality than peers. Further, the company should have best-in- class commercial aftermarket volume growth post 2026 given significant shipset content gains on the latest generation of narrowbody programs—programs which will enter the heart of their aftermarket cycle in the latter half of the decade. Despite all of this, WWD trades at a discount to peers. " — Scott Deuschle

Ticker : AMZN

Sector : TMT

Thesis : " For FY24, Amazon remains one of the best earnings growth stories due to steady double-digit top-line growth along with an improving margin profile. The DD revenue growth should be supported by re-acceleration in AWS and continued strong momentum in its retail and Advertising business. On OI, strict cost control across the business lines, and continued optimization of infrastructure footprints across North America and internationally, and resilient advertising growth should all support a positive underlying margin trajectory from here. " — Lee Horowitz

33. AT&T

Thesis : " AT&T is currently our top pick in Telecom and Cable due to healthy industry dynamics in wireless and fiber broadband, consistent execution by management, a healthy FCF growth outlook, disciplined capital allocation, attractive valuation and dividend yield, best positioning for fixed-mobile convergence, and room for wireless market share growth. " — Bryan Kraft

34. EverCommerce

Ticker : EVCM

Thesis : " We see opportunities for both estimate and multiple expansion in the near term driven by: (1) improving cross-sell/up-sell initiatives into FY24 including an emphasis around embedded payments; (2) revenue acceleration as a result of easing Marketing Technology compares along with improving execution; and (3) an improvement in the macro leading to better unit economics and margin expansion. " — Bhavin Shah

Ticker : FIVN

Thesis : " We believe momentum from recent bookings strength is likely to re-accelerate revenue growth past a 1Q trough. The company targets imply a very solid 2024 exit rate for growth, which we estimate at >+20% YoY in 4Q24, vs. +10% in 1Q24. While we are cognizant of risks/bear arguments including macro softness, AI/automation, and the back-half acceleration needed to achieve revenue guidance, we see a more favorable risk/reward backdrop at current levels. " — Matt Niknam

36. Marvell

Ticker : MRVL

Thesis : " The company continues to benefit from expanding AI revenues focused in Optics and Custom Silicon, expanding its AI- related revs from ~$400m in CY23 to potentially significantly above DBe ~+$800m in FY25 (CY24) which should boost investor appeal and hedge against much of the company's typical historical cyclical volatility. " — Ross Seymore

Ticker : ORCL

Thesis : " Following what we view as thesis validating F3Q results, Oracle looks poised to continue its recent outperformance as bullish pipeline and ramping cloud capacity additions, incl. for GenAI workloads support ongoing top-line acceleration (ex- Cerner), led by mix shift to structurally faster growing Cloud revenue that for the first time eclipsed License Support revenue in F3Q. Within Cloud revenue, we are laser- focus on OCI, which is driving the equity narrative and for which we are more confident than ever in the demand picture. This is driven mostly by price- performance advantages and the ability to land smaller than competitors in the form of dedicated regions, sovereign cloud, and Alloy partnerships. " — Ross Seymore

38. Warner Music Group

Ticker : WMG

Thesis : " We are incrementally positive on WMG continuing on its path of steady, durable revenue growth underpinned by a very favorable industry backdrop, along with multiple high-margin growth vectors as music expands beyond traditional streaming platforms. Further, the recently announced restructuring plan is expected to generate $200mn in annual run rate savings by the end of FY25, which management plans to reinvest into: 1) discovering, marketing, and licensing new talent for new tracks and copywrites, particularly those with global appeal 2) acquiring additional catalogs, which WMG can administer, distribute and monetize efficiently, and 3) opportunistic M&A where the purchase of a label or team can be additive to A&R capabilities. " — Ross Seymore

• Main content

April 14, 2024 | 7:00 pm

Free - no tickets required

Bare Display is an avant-garde interactive immersive dance performance, set to unfold in the Brehm Technology Suite on April 13 and 14 at 7:00 pm. Presented by SinYu Deng, candidate for the MA in Media Arts in the Department of Performing Arts Technology.

This provocative piece delves deep into the commodification and objectification of the human body within society, presenting a critical examination of how bodies are standardized, traded, and valued as mere objects awaiting utilitarian use. It confronts the audience with the unsettling reality of bodies transformed into standardized commodities, subject to scrutiny, control, and consumption.

Through the medium of dance, performers in Bare Display become the observed, symbolizing victims confined within the spectacle of the stage. This performance serves as a stark mirror, reflecting the harsh truths about societal norms and the commodification practices that dehumanize and depersonalize the individual. Incorporating a blend of sound, visual effects, and motion capture technology, Bare Display not only challenges but also immerses the audience in a narrative centered around the ‘body’ as the main axis of the exhibition.

This daring exploration invites viewers to reconsider the value and autonomy of the human form in a digitized and scrutinized world. Bare Display aims to provoke thought, stir debate, and inspire a reevaluation of the roles that bodies play in a consumer-driven culture, highlighting the often overlooked implications of treating bodies as exhibits to be observed, judged, and utilized.

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MA in Media Arts Thesis Performance: SinYu Deng - April 13, 2024

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Tressie McMillan Cottom

Oprah, Ozempic and Us

By Tressie McMillan Cottom

Opinion Columnist

Oprah Winfrey’s back, and she wants to talk about losing weight. Again. On March 18, Oprah’s ABC special , “Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution,” promised to answer some of the biggest questions around the new weight-loss drugs. The special was, as we call it in academia, a rich text. There were layers of history, with both Oprah and the intellectual history of bodies in pop culture. But, viewed at a distance and as a whole, the one-hour program was above all a harbinger of how the weight-loss industry is rebranding: Obesity is a disease, and — for the first time — it’s not your fault.

From the special’s outset, Oprah made the story about GLP-1 receptor agonists — Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro — a retelling of her own struggle with weight. Of course, the public noticed last year when a remarkably thin Oprah emerged on red carpets. There was rampant speculation that she was on Ozempic. While Oprah never names which brand of GLP-1 she is taking, she confirmed again in this show that she is on a weight-loss drug.

That’s Oprah’s trademark: turning big political questions into a personal narrative of freedom and triumph. And it is this special’s raison d’être. Over and over again, deft production turns the thorny issue of weight-loss medicalization into (admittedly compelling) personal stories. But personal stories about prom dresses and self-esteem distract viewers from the inequality of obesity treatments that risk becoming luxury cosmeceuticals.

There is a war brewing between insurers and providers over who can get these drugs, and not even Oprah will be able to broker a resolution. True to her brand, she did not try.

What Oprah did try to do is finally write the ending to a story about bodies that she has been writing for almost 40 years. “The Oprah Winfrey Show” went into national syndication in 1986. I was 10 years old. That means I have been in a psychosocial relationship with Oprah’s weight-loss struggles for longer than I have been an adult.

In the 1980s, most of the Black women on television were either fair-skinned beauty queens like Vanessa Williams or darker-complexioned mother figures like Nell Carter. Oprah was not a thin beauty queen, but she also wasn’t the help. Engaging, articulate and utterly in control, Oprah embodied possibilities. Along the way, she also introduced a new language about bodies. They could be sites of struggle, and changing them could become a public ritual. The show’s 25-year run became a cultural textbook for remaking oneself as Oprah lost weight, gained weight, pivoted from “skinny” to “fit” and took us along for every part of the ride.

This special reminded audiences that Oprah is remarkably, almost preternaturally, good at making compelling television for a broadcast audience. It was her narrative storytelling that turned “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” a talk show, into something more like long-form narrative. Each episode had a topic. The topics had range: the best vacations, how to know if your husband had cheated on you, reconciling with your racist mother-in-law after you have a biracial baby.

But Oprah also created a meta-narrative in the ongoing story of her weight. Would this be the day, the week, the show, the year that Oprah loves or hates her body?

When Oprah ended her talk show in 2011, she had settled into her body. But settling is not love. In that way, she was, as she had become during her career, a stand-in for millions of Americans. Chained to our bodies, destined to be wed to them but never falling in love. We are at turns fat, not fit, overweight and obese. The acceptable terminology changes. It accommodates new fad diets — Atkins, Mediterranean, low-glycemic — and new morals around bodies. What has not changed is that weight loss is a booming business that seems to have no ceiling. Being fat can be hell. Selling to fat people is profitable.

Oprah knows this. She owned her title as the nation’s dieter in chief when she joined the board of WeightWatchers in 2015. Oprah-branded meals appeared in grocery stores. She even appeared in WeightWatchers commercials . The brand that pioneered meeting in strip mall storefronts and church banquet halls to be weighed in front of strangers may have felt a bit common for Oprah’s “live your best life” brand of almost-accessible luxury.

But in the end, WeightWatchers could have just been the safest co-branding opportunity; the least noxious of branded diets partnered with the warmest face of diet culture. And, as she said in the TV special, Oprah believed that WeightWatchers’ point-counting system was the best pathway to a smaller body. For a reported $221 million or so gained by trading WeightWatchers stock, why wouldn’t she want to share that with all of us, too?

Then the new drugs came. They work on multiple physiological levels to help some people lose a moderate to significant amount of weight. Expensive, hard to ignore, these new drugs promise us that weight loss can be more than a new diet. They promise to solve obesity.

Obesity is not merely about calories or self-control. It is about physiology and culture. This country has managed obesity as a moral failing because it will not solve the culture of inequality that makes it so easy for Americans to gain weight they would rather not have. The drugs’ price compounds obesity’s inequality problem. The people who might benefit from them the most are least likely to have medical access to them, culturally sensitive medical supervision to take them, the insurance approvals to subsidize their cost or the money to pay for them at full price when their insurance does not cover them. The new weight-loss drugs might help fight obesity, but only if people can afford them.

Even so, it is hard to overstate how much this has turned the fitness and weight-loss industries upside down. Self-help fitness gurus have long styled themselves priests in America’s Church of Fitness. They preach self-control, calorie deficits, supplements, cardio and strength training. But the truth is that the lithe, ultrafit bodies of people like Tracy Anderson, Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper have always not so tacitly been selling thinness. The structured programs based on discipline and shame become far less salable when clinical trials disprove their underlying thesis — diet and exercise alone do not work for everybody.

And then there is WeightWatchers. It is the corporate elder of the industry. After decades of convincing people that they could lose weight if they incorporated willpower and accountability, WeightWatchers is rebranding. It ended some in-person meetings, its mainstay, and purchased a GLP-1 provider . The new WeightWatchers also offers a GLP-1 program, a concession that it takes more than behavioral choices to lose weight.

Oprah says she donated her stake in WeightWatchers so she could produce this special without appearing to have a conflict of interest. Despite that, Sima Sistani, the chief executive of WeightWatchers, was a guest on the special. She pushed the new WeightWatchers story, which can be boiled down to: “It’s not your fault.” It seemed to me that companies like WeightWatchers that profited from the shame cycle of yo-yo dieting should start with, “I’m sorry.” But that’s the way of it when you are serving fat people. There is rarely an apology for serving them poorly.

Oprah herself used the “it’s not your fault” language to release individuals from the shame of fat bias. But it also does something else. It positions these GLP-1s as management drugs, like insulin for diabetics or hypertension medication for those with high blood pressure. Those are the kinds of drugs that insurance companies are compelled to subsidize.

It is hard to imagine a weight-loss revolution if Medicare continues to limit coverage. Currently the two brands of GLP-1 that are F.D.A. approved for only weight loss are underinsured. Two pharma reps who appeared on the special indicted insurance providers for denying drug coverage. Insurance providers will tell you that demand for the drugs and the prices that the pharma companies charge for them are unsustainable. The obesity crisis is a health financing crisis, just as much as anything else. We can’t solve one without solving the other.

But above all of this, the new weight-loss drugs offered something else to Oprah’s metanarrative. They offered the nation’s dieter in chief a chance to fulfill her show’s destiny — to finally create a body she can love. It was a payoff that some of her audience has perhaps waited 30 years to see. For others, it could be a letdown. A woman so successful that she redefined the term not just for women but specifically for Black women born to unglamorous means and expectations. If she cannot fall in love with her body at any size or shape, what hope is there for the rest of us?

In a way, it feels unfair to ask this of Oprah. She gave enough of herself in ushering us through our own national chaos about good bodies and bad bodies. It is unfair to blame her for popularizing diet culture. The Richard Simmonses, Suzanne Somerses, Jane Fondas and Susan Powters of the world deserve some credit. So, too, does the idea of a thin body as a moral body. It is an idea far older than Oprah. And it is an idea with a nasty racist and classist history. In some ways, it is a triumph of its own kind that a Black woman took a foundational idea of white supremacist thinking about aesthetic virtue and turned it into her own private fortune. I’m pretty sure there would have been a dieter in chief even if Oprah had never existed.

The ABC special doesn’t solve the pressing political issues of the weight-loss revolution. But, watching Oprah stand onstage, towering above the audience, wearing the kind of figure-hugging monochromatic jumpsuits she now favors, I realize that this may not be about us. This is about Oprah. You may find inspiration in her final weight-loss chapter. Even if you don’t, she clearly has found a way to love her body. It is hard to judge that.

Tressie McMillan Cottom (@ tressiemcphd ) became a New York Times Opinion columnist in 2022. She is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science, the author of “Thick: And Other Essays” and a 2020 MacArthur fellow.

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An earlier version of this article misstated a Weight Watchers policy. It ended some in-person meetings, not all of them.

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