Narrative Brainstorming Reference Sheet
✴Step 1: Brainstorm a list of possible topics. This gives you options so you can
choose the best topic for our narrative.
✴Step 2: Choose the best topic. Once you brainstorm, you will have too many topics.
You must pick the best topic to write about.
✴Step 3: Narrow the focus. Once you have your topic, you MUST narrow that topic
down to your specific purpose for writing. Your purpose MUST connect directly to the P
in TAP. It must also show the theme/central idea you learned as a result of this event
OR describe the way this event changed you. Write a HOW statement.
✴Step 4: Prewriting. Complete a writing plan to help you organize your thoughts about
your narrative.
✴
Name________________________________________________
Good Topics
*a topic that shows your individuality (and does
not sound like everyone else’s):
EX: My first Christmas in America
EX: the time I broke my leg and a bone stuck
EX: when I achieved a goal that was really important
to me.
*a topic that lasted a short time--say, a couple
hours (not all day, not many days):
EX: when my tour group left me in Rome OR when I
got stuck in the subway
EX: a disastrous birthday party
EX: living through a tornado/snowstorm/power outage
*a topic that taught you a lesson, is very special
to you, or changed you:
EX: Amy Tan’s “Fish Cheeks” Christmas dinner
EX: Tommy’s death in “Nightmare in Blue”
*a topic you remember a lot of details about OR
can make up a lot of details about:
EX: Only you know whether or not your topic fits this
category!!!
Bad Topics
*topics that are too broad (lasting
more than a couple of hours):
EX: My week-long trip to Florida
EX: The entire first day of school
*topics that are too narrow (not
lasting long enough):
EX: The moment I received my
American Girl Doll OR my XBOX OR
my iPhone.
EX: The time I got a paper cut OR I
fell off my bike.
*topics no one would really be
interest in reading because they
sound like every other student’s
paper.
