It Takes Two for a Relationship to Work
Grade value of assignment: Narrative Project: 100 pts Narrative Assignment length requirements: 1000 words (4 pages)
Format requirements: APA formatting
Assignment description: For this assignment, you will write about a hero from your life, someone or something that changed you. This project will be written like an essay. This means you should use everything we have learned from our previous units. You will have a thesis about how this person or thing changed you; you will have claims and evidence to support your claims. However, you will also need to incorporate the elements of narrative writing we will be discussing in class. In other words, you will need to develop your character (a younger you), your plot (how someone or something changed you) and write with vivid descriptions. Crucially, you will be writing scenes, using narrative, to support your thesis. You also have freedom to be creative with the organization and structure of the essay (meaning: you do not have to stick to the strict paragraph formats we followed for the synthesis essay). Overall, your analysis of how your personal experiences changed you should be critical and creative, creating a narrative analysis. Lastly, your audience should not be me. You will need to pick a different audience for this essay. Objectives for developing writing skills: This writing assignment is meant to develop the following skills: ability to 1) write creatively, 2) understand how to portray realistic and relatable characters, 3) use artistic and descriptive language 4) present ideas and messages in artistic manner, 5) utilize character and plot development strategies. Common pitfalls: • It is normal to want to create likable characters. However, this does not mean creating flawless characters. In fact, flawless characters are less relatable for readers. Make sure to make your characters realistic. • Not all stories are a good vs. evil situation. While this is completely acceptable, it can be more interesting to write stories with conflicts that are more complex and can be viewed from different perspectives. • Do not limit yourself. You can and should take creative license of this narrative Grading criteria: Your essay will be graded on the following criteria: • Plot is fully developed and provides a captivating sequence of events (20 pts) • Characters are realistic and relatable, and undergo development (20 pts) • Underlying message/purpose of the writing is clearly expressed through the events of the story (20 pts) • Complex sentence structures are used appropriately, language/word choices are descriptive and fit the artistic style of the story (20 pts) • There are minimal errors in grammar (10pts) • Assignment is formatted appropriately (5 pts) • Assignment meets length requirement (5 pts)
The story is going to be about me and my girlfriend Sarah. She is 18 years old. We met each other in high school in shanghai. We’ve been together for three years. She has always been an emotional support for me.
Make up a story that sounds like it really happened for the narrative essay. Ask me if you got any question about details.
Narrative
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course Code and Title
Instructor’s Name
Due Date
It takes two for a Relationship to work
I believed that for a relationship to thrive, one had to be superior and need the other less. Everything changed when my father was relocated to Shanghai. This meant that we would have to move. On my first day at the new school, I was very nervous. I wasn't good at making new friends. All I knew was that I had to fit in, get back into sports. I didn't want to be that awkward kid everyone would pick on. I had to establish my dominance. The new class was well arranged; everyone was so welcoming. The teacher showed me to my seat. Beside me was a young boy about 5'9. His name was Cheng, and unlike me, he was born and raised in Shanghai. Cheng volunteered to give me a tour of the school. The tour ended before it could even begin because the senior teacher called Cheng.
Later that evening, I went to the field, few people were playing. One girl seemed to have my attention. It was love at first sight. She was about 5'6 height, and I was 5'8; she had thick, natural hair that hung on her shoulder and would be blown by the wind from time to time. Her eyes were almond-shaped, and she had a round face with a pointed chin. She wore short red pants with white stripes. Somehow the world stopped as I watched her; she had excellent dribbling skills. We would perfectly match if we were both on the same team. At one particular moment, we exchanged a few glances; it was awkward when we had eye contact. Immediately after the practice was over, I went where she was, "You were great on the field." I said. She looked up; her smile was radiant, lighting up her entire face with warmth and joy. "Thank you," she replied. For a moment, I got carried away by her voice. Having watched so many movies, I knew my next step was to ask her out, but that would seem quite obvious. Being my first day, the worst she could say was no to my offer. That would bruise my ego.
I didn't see her for the next two days. I was so desperate that I asked Cheng if she knew her. "You mean Sarah?" he asked. I wasn't sure of her name, but I knew I had given the correct description, "perhaps," I replied. "Her parents moved from the US when she was three," Cheng added. It turns out that they were close friends. "You want her number." He asked; this was tempting, considering how I longed to know her, but that wasn't the right way. As we were walking into the hall for the next class, I saw her walking towards us. I was so happy that I signaled my Cheng. "Don't stand here; go and say hi, don't waste ...