LESSON
Write a personal narrative
WRITING
GET READY
Henry is sending a message to an old friend on a social networking website. Have you ever
met a friend that you had not seen in a long time? What did you talk about?
STUDY THE MODEL
A
Read Henry’s message. What news about his life does he write about?
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Home
Henry Keita
12:30pm
Hi, Gary!
It was great to hear from you. It has been a long time since we last met.
Your message reminded me of the good times we had in high school.
A lot of things have happened since high school. After we graduated,
I went into the nursing program at City College and got my associate’s
degree. It was a difficult time for me. I was working two jobs and
studying hard. But I knew it would be worth it. When I got my degree,
I moved to Houston. That’s where I am now. I got my bachelor’s
degree in nursing, and now I’m a head nurse at Park View Hospital.
I also got married. Do you remember my high school girlfriend, Tandi
White? Well, we stayed together, and now we have a three-year-old
son, Mark. He’s the biggest joy of my life. He’s also a big responsibility.
Kids are expensive! By the time my son is in school, I’d like to start
saving more money to support his education. These days I’m trying
to get ahead with my career and support my family better. I’m
thinking about going back to school to become a nurse practitioner.
I don’t know, though. It would mean a lot of work and I need to
think about it some more.
I’d love to hear more about you and what you’ve been doing since
graduation. Write again soon!
Henry
When writing a personal narrative, use
adverbial clauses of time
such as
After I graduated
or
When I moved
to show how events are connected.
Remember to use commas when these clauses come at the beginning
or in the middle of the sentence.
Writing Tip
B
Read the Writing Tip. Then read Henry’s message again.
Underline 3 adverbial clauses of time.
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UNIT 10