Let's take a look at some of the elements of a first-person narrative. First person means that the essay is told by an "I". Narrative means "story". So this project is a story told from a narrator's perspective.

Every story worth sharing has a point. In this instance, point means main idea message, perspective, or dominant impression. The point is more than the theme or topic. Where a topic or theme can be stated in a word or phrase, a point is expressed in a complete sentence. Some essayists choose to state their point directly. Other imply their message, leaving it for the reader to infer the point. That's a decision you will have to make!

Plot is basically the action. Every story has action (think verbs!). Imagine a movie or book with characters who don't DO anything. That would bore the audience! So a story needs action, something happening. Authors include only the most important actions in their stories. They leave out irrelevant actions, plot points that don't help with further the main idea or dominant impression.

Setting has to do with when and where the story takes place. Details about time can greatly affect the mood and meaning of the story. Place has to do with actual location. Setting, unlike action, is descriptive. Effective writers weave together plot with setting, braiding them in such a way that both occur at the same time in the readers' mind. Writers choose descriptions that help amplify their point.

"Thought Shots" have to do with the narrator's subjective experience, i.e., what the narrator is thinking, feeling, wondering, realizing, or discovering. An effective writer lets her readers into into her mind and soul. Thought shots are like a close-up of the narrator's brain and heart. As a writer, you'll have to decide where and how detailed your thought shots should be. You'll have to ask yourself, "Does this thought shot help with my point?"

Stories often include characters - the other players. Depending on how important the character is, the writer will include details about the other characters' personalities, attitudes, needs, desire, or fears. Readers infer (pick up) characterization from how the character acts, what they say in the story, and how the author describes the character. How many characters and how much characterization to include depends on whether including them helps with the point of the story.

Background refers to what happened before the story, information that helps give the action greater meaning. Sometimes the author will directly state background. This strategy is called "exposition". Other times, authors use flashbacks to "fill in the blanks". Both strategies make the story's significance clearer, adding deeper meaning to the action. Whether to use exposition, flashbacks, or both is an important authorial decision.