Writing an Outline for a Narrative Essay on The Happiest Day of My Life

Lesson Plan: Writing a Narrative Essay (Outline)

Subject: English Grammar

Class: JSS 3

Term: First Term

Week: 1

Age: 13-14 years

Duration: 40 minutes

Topic: Writing an Outline for a Narrative Essay – The Happiest Day of My Life

Sub-topic: Structuring an Essay Using a Clear Outline

Behavioural Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Understand the structure of a narrative essay.
2. Write an outline for a narrative essay on the topic The Happiest Day of My Life.
3. Organize their ideas using the outline.

Keywords

• Narrative
• Outline
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion

Set Induction

The teacher shares a brief personal story about a special day and asks students to think about a day they will never forget.

Entry Behaviour

Students are familiar with the concept of essay writing but need guidance on structuring a narrative essay.

Learning Resources and Materials

• Flashcards showing parts of an essay (Introduction, Body, Conclusion)
• Sample narrative essay outline
• Whiteboard and marker

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher reviews the purpose of narrative writing and asks students to recall how they told stories to friends or family.

Embedded Core Skills

• Organization
• Creative thinking
• Writing skills
• Logical reasoning

Learning Materials

1. Flashcards with the parts of an essay
2. Examples of basic narrative essay outlines

Reference Books

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• Junior Secondary School English Composition Textbooks

Instructional Materials

• Flashcards
• Essay outline examples

Content

Understanding Narrative Essay Writing

A narrative essay tells a story about an experience, event, or a memorable day in a person’s life. It is written in a clear, organized way, with a beginning, middle, and end.

Steps to Writing an Essay Outline
An outline helps to organize ideas and structure the essay logically.

Structure of the Narrative Essay: The Happiest Day of My Life

1. Title: The Happiest Day of My Life
2. Introduction
   The introduction is where the writer introduces the topic and gives the reader a sense of what the essay will be about.
   Example: “There are many special days in my life, but one day stands out as the happiest day I’ve ever had. This day brought me so much joy that I will never forget it.”
3. Body of the Essay/Contents
   The body of the essay contains the details of the story. It is where the writer answers questions like:
   • What day was it?
     Example: “It was my 14th birthday, a sunny Saturday in July.”
   • Where were you?
     Example: “I was at home with my family and friends, preparing for my birthday party.”
   • What happened on that day?
     Example: “We played games, ate cake, and I received the best gift I could ever ask for—my first bicycle!”
   • Who were with you?
     Example: “My parents, siblings, and close friends were there to celebrate with me.”
   • What made it the happiest day of your life?
     Example: “It wasn’t just the presents or the party, but the feeling of being surrounded by people I love, all there to make me feel special.”
   • How did you feel at the end of the day?
     Example: “By the end of the day, I was filled with joy and gratitude, feeling lucky to have experienced such a wonderful day.”
4. Conclusion
   The conclusion wraps up the essay by summarizing the main points and sharing how the writer felt about the experience.
   Example: “That day remains the happiest day of my life. I will always cherish the memories, the laughter, and the love I felt from everyone around me.”

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

1. The title of the essay is “The ______ Day of My Life.”
2. The first part of the essay is the ______.
3. In the body, you answer the question: What ______ was it?
4. The essay should end with a strong ______.
5. A narrative essay tells a ______ about a personal experience.
6. The body of the essay should have several ______ that describe the event.
7. The conclusion helps to wrap up the ______.
8. The introduction should give the reader a sense of what the essay will ______.
9. One question to answer in the essay body is: Where were you on that ______?
10. A good essay outline will help to ______ your ideas.
11. The main part of the essay is called the ______.
12. In a narrative essay, the writer tells a ______ story.
13. The outline of the essay helps to ______ the writing process.
14. The happiest day in my life was my ______.
15. A well-written narrative essay should have a beginning, ______, and an end.

FAQs with Answers

1. What is a narrative essay?
   A narrative essay is a story about a personal experience.
2. What should the title of the essay be?
   The title should reflect the topic, such as The Happiest Day of My Life.
3. Why is an outline important?
   An outline helps organize ideas and keeps the essay structured.
4. What is the first part of the essay?
   The first part is the introduction.
5. What should the body of the essay contain?
   The body should contain the details of the story, including what happened and who was involved.
6. How should the essay end?
   The essay should end with a conclusion that wraps up the story.
7. What question can be answered in the introduction?
   You can answer what the essay is about in the introduction.
8. What is the main focus of the body of the essay?
   The body focuses on what happened during the event.
9. What should be included in the conclusion?
   The conclusion should summarize the event and how you felt about it.
10. Can an essay have more than one paragraph in the body?
    Yes, the body can have several paragraphs.
11. How do you decide what details to include in the body?
    Include details that are important to the story and help explain why it was the happiest day of your life.
12. What is the main function of the introduction?
    The introduction gives an overview of what the essay will be about.
13. Why is it important to answer who was with you?
    It helps give a clearer picture of the event and the people involved.
14. What makes a good conclusion?
    A good conclusion summarizes the story and shares your final thoughts or feelings.
15. How does a narrative essay differ from other essays?
    A narrative essay focuses on storytelling and personal experiences, unlike expository or argumentative essays.

Presentation Steps

Step 1: The teacher explains the structure of a narrative essay and the importance of creating an outline before writing.
Step 2: The teacher introduces the topic The Happiest Day of My Life and discusses how to answer the key questions in the outline (e.g., what day it was, where it happened, what made it special).
Step 3: The teacher asks students to draft their own outline for a narrative essay, using the format provided.

Teacher’s Activities

• Explain the parts of a narrative essay (introduction, body, conclusion).
• Provide examples and help students brainstorm ideas for their essay.
• Guide students in writing their outline by asking key questions about their story.

Learners’ Activities

• Listen to the explanation of narrative essay structure.
• Create an outline based on the topic The Happiest Day of My Life.
• Write down key points for each part of their essay.

Assessment

1. Define a narrative essay.
2. Write the title of the narrative essay discussed.
3. List the three main parts of a narrative essay.
4. Draft an outline for a narrative essay on The Happiest Day of My Life.

Evaluation Questions

1. What is a narrative essay?
2. Write the title of the essay discussed in class.
3. What should the introduction of a narrative essay include?
4. What questions should be answered in the body of the essay?
5. Write a sentence that could be used in the conclusion of your essay.
6. How does the body of the essay help in telling the story?
7. Why is it important to organize your ideas in an outline?
8. How can you make your conclusion strong?
9. Give an example of an event that could be your happiest day.
10. What makes a narrative essay different from an argumentative essay?

Conclusion

The teacher moves around the class, checks students’ outlines, and provides feedback on their structure and content.

SEO and Metadata

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