Heart Map Extension: Part I

  • Prompt: Write a personal narrative about a time when something unexpected happened.
  • Select 2 story ideas from your Heart Map, OR if you feel you have another idea that is better, begin that story here.
  • Fill in information vertically for each story.

Create a title for your idea. Title: ______Title: ______

1. Explain why you think this idea would make a good story to write about.
2. What is the time frame for this experience? Keep it short! (NO “Bed to Bed” stories!)
3. Briefly describe what happened.
4. When this experience was over, explain how it affected you. What did you learn from it? How did it impact you? Why will you always remember this (specifically)?

Heart Map Extension: Part 2

  • From your stories in Part I, develop the stories further.
  • Use the same title so I know which story it matches.

Title: ______Title: ______

LEAD

  • Grab the reader!
  • Write a bodacious beginning lead paragraph for your story.
  • Consider using Thoughtshots, Snapshots or a combination of the two!

CONCLUSION

  • This is your last paragraph.
  • Talk to the reader about how you were affected when this experience was over.
  • What did you learn from this?
  • How were you feeling?

Prompt: Write a personal narrative about a time when you had fun participating in an activity with other people. Be sure to write about your experience in detail and describe why it was memorable.

Heart Map Extension: Part I

  1. Read over your Heart Map and Prewriting.
  2. Select 2 (two) ideas that would make great stories.
  3. Use the chart on the other side of this paper to draft your thoughts.
  4. Ask yourself:
  5. What type of Snapshots can you use with the senses to create mental images for the reader and put the reader there with you?
  6. What could you write so the reader would know what you were thinking and feeling at the time?
  1. You may also use an idea that is not on your Heart Map. Sometimes one story idea can remind you of another story.
  1. If an idea you have on the map is still fairly broad, you’ll need to narrow the focus to one of the most memorable experiences about that whole event.
  2. Example: A weekend trip to Houston covers too much time.
  3. On the way to Houston, we drove through a terrible storm and had to stop under a bridge to avoid the hail.
  4. We got in trouble for feeding the monkeys at the Houston Zoo; I thought they would throw us out.
  5. I met one of my cousins from Houston for the first time; he looks a lot like me.
  6. While I visited my cousin in Houston, I forgot to close the garage door. Their cat disappeared and someone stole the lawn mower.