People tell their stories every day in millions of different ways: six-word memoirs like the ones above, poems, songs, personal narratives, and more. By reading, annotating, and critiquing personal narratives written by published authors both famous and obscure, you will gain a clearer sense of what you believe makes for an effective narrative so that you can write your own. In the process, you will discover answers to the following questions: 

 

• How do readers/writers accumulate story details to creatively understand/convey themes?

• Why do we read stories? How do they impact our personal and collective experiences?

• What are the qualities of a good personal narrative?