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Welcome to GattPrep, your Guide for Life and Learning
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Welcome to GattPrep, your Guide for Life and Learning
Imagine you’re around a fire, sharing a captivating story with your friends. You begin with, “You won’t believe what happened to me last year…” and instantly, everyone leans in. That’s the power of storytelling—and that’s exactly what a narrative essay is about. In the WASSCE, narrative essays allow you to demonstrate your creativity, emotional depth, descriptive skills, and ability to structure events in a logical and engaging way.
This lesson will guide you step by step through understanding what narrative essays are, how to write them effectively, and how to avoid common mistakes that students make in the exam.
A narrative essay is a form of writing that tells a story—usually based on a real-life experience or a fictional event. It unfolds chronologically (in time order) and focuses on engaging the reader through plot, characters, and emotional details. You are not just listing events—you are drawing the reader into your world.
🧠 Think of it as writing a short movie on paper.
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Characters | The people involved in your story. Use names and roles (e.g., “My cousin Kojo”, “A strange man in the market”). |
| Setting | Time and place. Make it vivid: “On a rainy Tuesday afternoon in my grandmother’s village…” |
| Plot | The storyline. Make sure there is a logical sequence: beginning → rising action → climax → falling action → conclusion. |
| Conflict | The problem or tension in the story. This drives the action (e.g., a misunderstanding, a physical danger, or a difficult decision). |
| Climax | The turning point or most exciting moment. Often the most emotional or suspenseful part. |
| Resolution | How the story ends or how the conflict is solved. This often includes a lesson learned. |
Tense: Use past tense unless the question instructs otherwise.
Point of View: Commonly first-person (I, we) or third-person (he, she, they).
Descriptive Language: Use adjectives, adverbs, similes, and metaphors. Example: “Her voice was as sharp as a knife.”
Dialogue: Include realistic speech to make characters come alive. Example:
“Where have you been?” Auntie yelled.
“I…I was just by the river,” I stammered, avoiding her gaze.
📝 TIP: Show, don’t just tell. Instead of “I was scared,” try: “My knees trembled and my heart raced.”
You may be asked to:
Complete a story (e.g., “The moment I opened the door, I knew something was wrong…”)
Start or end a story with a given sentence
Tell a personal experience (e.g., “Describe a journey you undertook and what you learnt from it”)
Imagine a situation (e.g., “Write a story titled: The Stranger Who Changed My Life”)
“Write a story that ends with the sentence: ‘It was then that I realized I had made a terrible mistake.’”
Think of a believable scenario:
Skipping school for a party
Trusting the wrong person
Ignoring advice
Losing something important
Choose one with emotional depth and clear conflict.
Beginning:
I was home alone. My parents had warned me not to invite anyone over. But temptation won.
Middle (Rising Action):
Friends came over. Music played. I lit scented candles. Everyone danced and laughed.
Climax:
A candle fell. Fire spread fast. Panic set in.
Falling Action:
Neighbours helped put out the fire. Parents came back.
Ending (Resolution):
It was then that I realized I had made a terrible mistake.
The sun was high when I waved goodbye to my parents. I was seventeen, bold, and foolish. They had barely turned the corner when I began inviting my friends over. Laughter filled the house, and the bass of the music made the windows shake. I felt like a king. That is, until the curtains caught fire.
Read the following paragraph:
I woke up to the sound of sirens. Smoke curled under my bedroom door. My little brother screamed. I leapt from the bed, flung open the door, and ran straight into the thick fog of smoke. Our house was on fire.
Questions:
What tense is the story written in?
Who is the narrator?
What is the conflict?
What senses are used in the description?
Suggest what could be the climax.
Answers:
Past tense (woke, screamed, ran)
First-person narrator
House on fire – urgent, life-threatening situation
Sound (sirens, scream), smell (smoke), sight (fog)
Possibly the rescue or someone getting trapped
Write the opening paragraph of a story that starts with:
“That morning, I had no idea it would be my last day at school.”
✔️ Include:
Time and setting
Narrator’s emotion or expectation
A hint of conflict or suspense
Original:
I was sad when I left the village.
Rewrite it with emotion and sensory detail. For example:
As I boarded the rusting bus, the scent of ripe mangoes and smoky fires filled the air. My grandmother’s hug still clung to my shirt, and I couldn’t stop the tears sliding down my cheeks.
Here’s what you’ve learned:
A narrative essay tells a story with a clear structure: beginning, middle, and end.
Key elements include characters, setting, conflict, climax, and resolution.
Use descriptive language, emotions, and dialogue to engage readers.
Plan your plot before writing and ensure your story has a purpose or lesson.
Keep tenses consistent and use vivid, clear language.
Think about a memorable experience in your life.
How would you turn it into a narrative essay?
What would be your climax?
How would you end it in a way that leaves the reader satisfied or surprised?
GattPrep is built to inspire students, challenge curious minds, and unlock their full academic potential through engaging, focused learning.
