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UNIT THREE - First Person Narrative

Knowledge, experience, narrative, collaborative
We will focus on developing first person fictional narrative.  We will play with strategies for generating original and memorable characters, explore how to find our characters' stories, learn how to focus our story by creating an imaginary audience, and practice writing in a variety of voices.  We will apply our new skill sets to giving even more meaningful feedback to one another.    
FIND AN IDEA: (Also visit our Inspiring Resources Links to an external site. link!)

• Read the literary magazine The Good Ear Links to an external site. for examples of monologues.  

Links to an external site.• Write from point of view of a character from one of these photographs Links to an external site..
• Write a story inspired by an urban legend Links to an external site..
• Write a story in which a character has an usual fear.  See the Phobia List Links to an external site..
EXAMPLES OF VOICES OF INANIMATE OBJECTS:
Links to an external site.• Model of a first person narrative from the point of view of an inanimate object:  Marcel the Shell with Shoes On Links to an external site.
Links to an external site.• Trailer for a movie with an inanimate object as a main character:  Rubber Links to an external site.
• Silent video from the point of view of a falling meteor: Fallen Links to an external site.  (Thanks, Daniel!)
EXAMPLES OF CHILDREN'S VOICES:  
• Read the first couple of pages of  Room Links to an external site., by Emma Donoghue, narrated by a five-year old boy.
• Read the first couple of pages of  The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime Links to an external site., by Mark Haddon, narrated by an autistic boy.
• Read the first chapter of Because of Winn-Dixie Links to an external site., by Kate DiCamillo, narrated by a ten-year old girl.  
EXAMPLES OF DOG'S VOICES:
• Watch a video Links to an external site. or read an excerpt from the first chapter Links to an external site. of The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein.  
• Read the first pages of A Dog's Life, Links to an external site. by Peter Mayle.
OTHER FUN VOICES:
• Read I Love Girl Links to an external site., by Simon Rich, a love story in the voice of a teenage caveman. 
FOCUSING YOUR FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE:
• An employee in an office gives an orientation to a new employee in the short story "Orientation Links to an external site.."  Listen to it on the radio show This American Life (Act 4).
• A bitter woman writes her Christmas letter in "Season Greetings to our Friends and Family!!" Links to an external site. by David Sedaris.  Listen on This American Life.  (Warning--offensive point of view!)  
• An obsessed man writes a series of letters to his ex-girlfriend in the humor piece, "Dear Amanda Links to an external site.," by Steve Martin.  Or listen Links to an external site. to Steve Martin read it.  
FIRST PERSON NARRATIVES THAT ARE SHORT, BUT STILL HAVE MOVEMENT:
• Read The Custodian by Brian Hinshaw (posted below under Bonus materials).
PUBLICATION:
BONUS MATERIALS

View Links to an external site. Download Links to an external site. 		A nonfiction letter from the point of view of a deluded narrator.   147k v. 2 Oct 23, 2012, 9:34 PM

View Links to an external site. Download Links to an external site. 		A series of scenarios to help you generate plot for your stories!  120k v. 2 Mar 20, 2014, 8:55 PM Tarn Wilson

View Links to an external site. Download Links to an external site. 		Questions to help you know your character more deeply.  125k v. 2 Oct 23, 2012, 9:33 PM Tarn Wilson

View Links to an external site. Download Links to an external site. 		Hints for sounding like a real child.  123k v. 2 Oct 23, 2012, 9:33 PM Tarn Wilson

View Links to an external site. Download Links to an external site. 		  63k v. 2 Oct 23, 2012, 9:29 PM Tarn Wilson

View Links to an external site. Download Links to an external site. 		An example of first person narrative which is short, but still has a sense of movement.  21k v. 2 Mar 20, 2014, 7:48 PM Tarn Wilson