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Best Narrative Essay Topics: Funny, Personal, Literacy and Fictional Ideas

Researching on best narrative essay topics? Deadline approaching, but you haven’t started yet? Worried because of such a mess? Want a better and more timely solution to your problems? Well! Continue reading this if you want to seek an answer to these questions.

Selecting a suitable narrative essay topic can present a daunting challenge during one’s academic journey, as these topics are often elusive. The process hinges on an individual’s life experiences, with impactful encounters naturally suggesting engaging themes. Nonetheless, certain experiences may defy translation into compelling written pieces. This is precisely where our essay writing service comes into play, offering assistance in overcoming such hurdles. Now, let’s delve into the specifics of your quest:

Table of Contents

What Is a Narrative Essay?

A narrative essay is a form of essay in which the writer tells a story or narrates it in a way that appeals to the audience. This can involve an adventure, an incident, a life story, etc. Not always, but a narrative essay is usually about personal stories and life experiences.

In such an essay, there is the freedom to choose any good topic that suits the writer; however, when assigned by the teacher, he/she might set strict criteria or boundaries to make the roadway a bit difficult. Similarly, choosing a topic involving personal experiences might be difficult because some experiences cannot be narrated in a presentable manner. Personal topics can be used when writing a personal essay. That is why we are here to help you out choosing such topics.

Choosing a Topic for a Narrative Essay

Choosing a topic for such an essay requires some good steps. These steps are as follows:

Remember to tell a story

Choose an idea worthy of discussion.

Planning and brainstorming ideas

Structuring for the essay

Let’s discuss these in detail:

Make sure that the topic chosen for the essay must connect with the audience. The story the writer is telling should be such that the experiences, life lessons, skills etc., connect with the audience. Otherwise, it will spoil the whole writing and result in boredom.

One might have read the story of some famous writer. How do you feel when you read it? Of course, we develop a connection with that story; even some people cry reading it because they feel it’s their own. This is the art of narration. Learn it.

Choose an idea worthy of discussion

Do not randomly choose an idea for the essay; rather, choose the best one on which a good discussion would be made. Boring ideas not involving the writer’s interest make it an ambiguous essay and, in turn, make it a bad piece of writing. To make sure the idea is useful, ask yourself:

What are my associations with the chosen idea?

Would I be able to convey it to the readers the way I have an association with it?

If yes, how am I going to convey it?

Do I have enough information or memories related to the idea?

Questions like these will make the essay rigorous. However, one can always change the topic or idea of an essay if he feels at any point that the above questions are not answered.

Plan the structure of the essay. Brainstorming is a good session to start with. Do brainstorming and write good ideas and information regarding the chosen topic to give a fine structure to the essay from this stage. Make sure to plan how one will structure the essay properly at this stage. This step can also help you to make your essay longer.

Throughout, the writer needs to mix different life memories to check whether it is a good idea to mess up. The subject should be such that it hits the audience’s emotions and guarantees that the story is narrated so that it develops the same association with the audience as with the writer.

Structuring For the Essay

The structure of the essay is always standard and is followed in every essay writing. Whatever idea or topic the writer chooses from his experiences, it should be such that it develops a logical order starting from a good introduction, passing through the body and ending with the conclusion. The standard for body paragraphs is three. So whenever choosing the topic or opting for an experience, memory or lesson, ensure enough information is available to make three paragraphs out of it. The paragraphs for the body should also have enough information to support the thesis, as will be stated in the introduction part.

40 Best Narrative Essay Topics

A narrative essay should be such that it presents a picture of the writer’s life experiences. Since the reader cannot see the picture, the writer can show him through the power of words.

Some 40 best narrative essay topics for college are as follows:

The first flight I made

My memories of the school time

My first day of school

My memorable trip

A friend in disguise

The accident I have gone through

An eye-opening event of my life

Experiencing a crash

A realization to the new world

My favorite movie

A row with my peers

The first time I drive

A time when I faced unequal employment opportunity

My memorable vacation
My favorite dish

Realization of the double-faced people

betrayer friends

Going through psychological trauma in my life

My mental health
The diet I follow

How do I maintain a work-life balance?

The people I love the most

How do I survive shark attack?

The help that I will never forget

My favorite place in my house

How have I learned decoration?

The first time I danced

How do I manage a high workload?

If I were an HR officer

My achievements

A proud moment in my life

Changes in my body after vaccination

How do I enter into good bonding?

Why do I sometimes judge?

The biggest punishment I ever had

My shortcomings that kills me

The first time I appeared in a show

Personal Narrative Essay Ideas

The best moment of my entire life

The toughest decision I ever made

My favorite place to visit

Reason why I love my best friend

What I do in my entire day: a complete schedule of my full day routine

The most perfect decision I have ever made in my life

The story of racism I faced in a foreign country as a Muslim

The reason why I hate going to the college

How do I overcome fears and turn them into my strength?

Most embarrassing moment of my life

The moment I had to lose my best friend

The disease I have fought and defeated in my life

The memorable debate competition in the school

My first ever pet

The perfect sunset I’ve ever seen

The day I had to say good bye to my best friend

My experience with receiving my first ever degree

The most horrible food I have ever tried

My favorite fruit juice

My most liked music playlist

How do I connect with the people?

Why do I always take the blame and become bad in the picture?

The unforgettable fight with the bully in college

The most horrible and annoying teacher at school

The race I have been trying to complete since many years

My experience of university life

The perfect wedding I ever attended

The most valuable life experience I ever had

Exploring a new city in my Summer vacations

The moment I met a car accident

Fictional Narrative Essay Ideas

The incident of our friend’s day out going wrong

A dark night, and my car ran out of Petrol

The worst scenario ever happened during exams

A horrible dream that turned into reality

The story of vampires and their exact origin, a place no lesser than hell

How I felt like Cinderella once but it ended up like a nightmare

The dream I saw about myself rotting in hell

The most fierce monster I saw in a famous park in the dark

The story of my town about to suffer a hurricane

I met a person who lost his memory and I had no way to remind him anything

The story of a teen who creates a viral video and becomes famous

The story of a click that ticks 13 too

A tale of a 10 year old kid who became the President of the country

The most horrible thing happened on the island where no human existed

An art character that comes to life

A strange creature coming to life straight out of a story book

A pink hill that looks like an ice cream

A parallel world where all parents support their kid’s decisions

A world free of racism and discrimination

A tale of zero hatred in the world

The haunted place and my visit to it

A bully victim who turned into a bully himself

A wild gorilla broke into the house

A giant tree came to life

A giant candy house with chocolate doors

A normal girl got superhero powers

The paper money got replaced with digital currency

The world turned into metaverse

Time started passing backwards

A town where can read minds

Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

Most memorable incident in my life

The best college memory

The most important day of my life

My favorite course in college

My favorite book

My favorite professor

A note to my old self

A note to my future self

A research project I can never forget

The best classmate I had in college

The best teammate I had in college project

Most interesting party I attended in college

The dangerous trip we all friends had in college life

The best adventurous trip I had in college life

My most favorite dish I loved eating in college days

My hostel room in college

The tale of meeting my life mate in college

The most epic drama rehearsal in my college

How one mass bunk changed everything in my college

How hard the life of college students is

My last day at college

Narrative Essay Topics for High School Students

We agree that coming up with narrative writing topics is not easy as it sounds. But it gets convenient when you have lists of such amazing topics. Here’s another one!

The story of my first day at high school

A bad experience with the rude teacher

My favorite subject

The most special lunch I had in school

Most memorable farewell party

The most amazing welcome party in high school

My favorite teacher at high school

My best friend at high school

The perfect friendship I saw at high school

The worst mistake I made

The best decision I took being a high school student

The best street food I tried in high schooling days

The best thing I learned in high school

The best classmate I got in high school

The worst team mate I had in high school

The most boring subjects and it’s lectures

A high school teacher that changed the way of teaching

An extremely boring day in high school

A perfect friend I made in high school

The last exam in high school

The story of my last day at high school

Literacy Narrative Essay Topics

Here’s another list of 30 unique literacy narrative topics. We have tried our best to give you some of the best literacy narrative ideas you can consider.

The most useless book I have ever read

My most favorite subject at school

The first short story I ever wrote

My favorite novel based on real life incident

The best poem I have ever read

The worst piece of literature I have ever read and felt disappointed

The worst book I studied in my college

A large collection of books my favorite teacher recommended to me

A letter to myself that I should keep secret

The last letter I wrote to my best friend

Why did I start writing?

How writing makes me feel like?

Why I always wanted to be a writer?

Is becoming a freelance writer good career choice?

The worst writing mistakes that you should avoid

Best marketing email I have ever read

Best essay writing guide I always recommend to everyone

The most satisfying writing piece I have ever read

The poorly written writing guide I still laugh at

Best novel I read about realism

The only book that made sense to me

The best author I have ever read

Can I become an author myself?

The best writing guide my friend gave me

A collection of beautiful poems I can never forget

A list of my favorite poets and what I like about them

A list of my favorite writers and what I like about them

The best book collection my friend owns

10 ideal methods I use to write a good essay

The favorite short story of mine

Note: These are just a few literacy narrative topic ideas to get you started with this essay picked from going through hundreds of literacy narrative examples. Plus you can blend two or more subjects for a unique topic.

First Person Narrative Essay Ideas

If you are searching for the best narrative paragraph topics, you are in luck! As this list has 30 personal narrative topics for you to consider.

A day in my everyday life

The best thing I have done in my life

A note to myself

The scariest thing I have ever done

The first and best short story I wrote

How do I overcoming my fears and keep going in life

The right things I have ever done that turned my life upside down

My favorite ice cream parlor in the city

My go-to place for lunch and dinner

My personal tips on how to look good casually

How I turned my own life upside down

The most horrible moment of my life

Why did I decide to leave my house at 18?

The best career choice I have ever come across

Why do I hate my parents

Why don’t I have any friends

How was my experience with flipping burgers at McDonald’s?

My first adventure ever

The first mistake of my life

Why did I drop out of college?

The best decision of my life

My first best friend

My most favorite dish

The right thing I did that saved someone’s life

The day I was about to get into jail

Most embarrassing question I ever got asked

My life in my village

The best book I have ever read

The best city I have even been to

Most expensive thing I bought with my own salary

As you have finished going through the list, you must have learned that personal narrative ideas are a lot more easier to write on as compared to the others.

Funny narrative essay topics

Writing a funny narrative essay is a great way to engage your audience and make them laugh. If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out our blogs . There, you’ll find a variety of funny narrative essays on topics such as:

Choosing to sleep over workout

A girl or boy? Who is more intelligent?

Traditional photos Vs selfie clicks

How to relate lion with a cat

If I were a grapefruit

Farming or billionaire; the choice is yours

How to enjoy during exams

Food or workout? Which to prefer?

What to choose: internet or study?

How to survive scolding by parents.

Best narrative stories

Examples of some all-time famous and best narrative stories are:

The tell-tale heart

The lottery

The metamorphosis

The lady with the dog

The gift of the Magi

Story of your life

The yellow wallpaper

The monkey’s paw

To build a fire

Perfect essay writers hope that they clarify your queries when you land on our page. We also hope that a decent explanation and good essay topics are provided to make your writing journey much more enjoyable and easier.

Are you still asking yourself “do I still need help?” Well, don’t bother yourself and let our expert essay writers help you out.

A good topic for a story is the one involving personal as well as the connection of the audience with it. Such topics can be:

How do people change?
Losing friends
The double-faced world
A friend in need is a friend indeed

A narrative essay is a form of essay in which the writer tells a story or narrates it in a way that is appealing to the audience. This can involve an adventure, an incident, a life story, etc. Not always, but a narrative essay is usually about personal stories and life experiences.

A personal narrative topic is the one that involves narration of personal experiences, life lessons, skills etc. It is the major form of narrative essay and most of them are written on such topics. These can be as follows:

Some of the examples of narrative writing are:

Narrative essay
Personal essays
Biographies

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40 Best Narrative Essay Topics

Here are 40 unique narrative essay topics to get you started with your narrative essay writing. Hope these topics will help you remember an event, a dream, a person or a day you feel you would like to write about. Choosing the right topic can be a real problem, but we are here to get you inspired. Think of the topic you would want to describe on your Facebook to share with your friends, something you really want to talk about. And check our examples!

First Day at College
The Moment of Success
A Journey Through Hell
The Biggest Misunderstanding
The Difficult Decision
The Trip of My Dreams
The Day I Decided to Change My Life
My Dad’s Influence on Me
Learning to Fit in
My First Day at Work
Why I Started My Own Charity Project
My Career Plan
Why I Always Find Time to be with My Family
My First Car
My Best Friend
Learning it Hard Way
My Baby Teaches Me
What I love about My City
My Mom’s Childhood
European Road Trip
My Crazy Wedding Day
Meeting Mr. Fisher
The Old Creek
When I realized I’m not a Kid Anymore
My Grandma’s Hands
The Person I will Never Forget
Growing up in New York
Driving Class
Be My Audience
Following a Dream
A Disastrous Date
I Didn’t Go to Her Funeral
The Perfect Encounter
The Strangest Job Interview
My First Flight Ever
The Lie That Destroyed One Life
How I Made it in LA
Lovely Britney Jones
Surviving a Tornado

Still need ideas?

-Think of describing the person who changed your life, your views or beliefs, your career, your residence, your style, or the person you wish you never knew.

-Think of the place you dream to go to, you’ve been to, you never would want to go to, you lost something at, you lived at in the childhood, you are scared of.

-Describe the experience that brings you to tears, makes you smile, embarraces you, makes you feel on top of the world.

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150 Best Topic Ideas For Narrative Essay

26 Apr 2022

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❓How to Choose a Topic for a Narrative Essay?

☝️Some Tips for Writing Narrative Essays

📑Narrative Essay Topics for:

High School Students
College Students

✏️Topics for essays on themes:

Personal Experience
About Childhood
Relationship
Personal About Friendship
Traveling and Holidays
Argument Essay

In academic practice, the narrative essay is probably one of the key elements to train students in expressing their opinions. It teaches well how to tell a story in a clear, concise manner, that’s why it is so welcome in the language and composition classes.

Narrative essays are not only valuable as such: their contribution lies in the ability to elaborate students’ storytelling and narration skills. To touch the reader’s nerves, you should opt for exciting narrative essay ideas. There are plenty of them – but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Below you’ll find a comprehensive list of essay ideas.

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How to Choose a Topic for a Narrative Essay?

When you are selecting a topic for your essay , you should consider some aspects. As a teacher, you should opt for the best narrative essay topics that would be interesting and familiar to your mentees. If you are a mentee yourself, you can be assigned a specific task to write on the topic provided by your teacher or professor. In the opposite case, you have the freedom to choose a topic on your own.

We’ve collected some useful tips on how to efficiently select a narrative speech topic for your paper. They apply to the general principles of narrative essay topic choice. You can write about something special and personal for you, or describe events and subjects that are well-known to everyone. The following rules will be a perfect support for you in the creation of a powerful narrative essay.

Opt for relevant topics Always consider your audience when picking a topic if you are a teacher. The topic shall be cognizable and meaningful for your audience, be it higher school students or schoolchildren. They must be able to express their thoughts on the subject and relate their personal experiences to it. Obviously, the requirements for younger students are lower, and narrative writing topics shall deal mostly with descriptions or reporting. On the other hand, senior schoolers and students shall be able to write an essay that is also persuasive and reflective.
Choose your comfortable writing style Experience in studying affairs clearly demonstrates that successful subjects for a narration essay are those you feel comfortable with. Picking up the right idea is the key to a powerful paper as it determines the style of your writing. Think about what you love to tell about. Do you like to describe events in a detailed and vivid manner? Or maybe you are factual and concise? Are you a fan of reflections and self-analysis? Recollecting or imagining, projecting or analyzing, reporting or insightful – if you identify your features, they will be helpful narrative essay prompts.
Show your mastery Topics are essential, but that’s not the hard and fast rule: always factor into personal proficiency. This is what turns even a dull and merely informative topic into an engaging story. A narration essay is your chance to create a description that would allow your readers to pop into your experiences and share your fun or drama with you. Whether your narration concerns a film, a book, a relationship, a person, or a situation, try to complement it with a touch of personal attitude. Discourse upon the lessons you’ve learned, describe a turning point of your life or reflect on why an event from your past is so memorable. Try to convey this in the essay outline , and you’ll see how fascinating it might be. The more so as there are plenty of brilliant topics for narrative writing.

Stuck with finding the right title?

Get plenty of fresh and catchy topic ideas and pick the perfect one with PapersOwl Title Generator.

Some Tips for Writing Narrative Essays

Narration may be both rewarding and challenging. To maximize your rewarding experience and minimize the tough aspects of essay writing, follow our tips recovered from the students’ practice.

Aim at telling a story

A narration essay stands foremost for a narration. Whether you are describing events, discussing situations, or recollecting the past, your story should be engaging and have a plot. You may introduce the elements that make your story individual. These include arguments, reflections, and opinions, but the focus of this type of essay is narrative.

Keep to an outline

The conventional structure is not required, however, it assists in organizing your thoughts properly and preserving accuracy and distinctiveness. The introduction and conclusion parts do not differ much from those in other academic papers. The body part, in turn, presents a story that may tackle moral, practical, psychological, or other problems. This clearly distinguishes your narration from all the others. This is why personal narrative topics shall be thoroughly picked.

Make a plan

Draft the events and characters to be introduced in your story. Don’t feel like you are limited by the structure you create. A plan is a guide rather than a mold for your text, so try making it comfortable for you. Drafting your essay before you start writing may also be helpful. This way you can break down the nuances and see what’s lacking for an immersive story.

Remain individual

While good narrative topics circulate in the school and college assignments, you are still able to make your essay personalized. To start with, you have your own stories to be told. Then, you might express your own opinions that are unconventional. Also, you can present the lessons you’ve learned from the story. In the end, your author’s style will surely add points to your paper.

Choose a writing narrative thoroughly

Stories may be told third-person or first-person. Weigh the pros and cons of each type of narration and opt for the one reflecting your objective. Personal experiences are usually written in first-person, and epic narratives may be third-person. Though, unconventional approaches may be an interesting artistic device making your essay even more intriguing.

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Narrative Essay Topics for Students

We’ve analyzed trainees’ experience in writing narrative paragraphs and selected narrative essay topics for college and school students. This profound list covers a wide range of subjects, so pick one!

Narrative Essay Topics for High School Students

High school students normally feel comfortable about describing their study routine. Below you’ll find interesting topics to convey some of the things at school familiar to every pupil.

My favorite class
An unexpected day-off
My favorite teacher
My most memorable participation in a sports event
My harshest debate competition
My best role in a school theatre
My after-school activities
My routine travel to school
My funny prom night adventure
My worst lost match
The craziest incident on my campus
The subject I don’t like
How I failed an exam
How I got through an exam
How I got caught cheating

Good Narrative Essay Topics for College Students

Just like high schoolers, students at colleges and universities are fond of talking about their everyday matters. Whether a topic about students’ affairs or reflection on new relationships, the most popular narrative topics for college students are collected here.

My first day at the higher school
My last day with my schoolmates
My favorite course
Meeting my better half
The story of my split-up
My brightest high school moment
How I met my old friend
My favourite professor
A funny adventure on my campus
The most symbolic episode from my college life
The day I moved
How I traveled to my college
My first impressions of the college campus
How I met my roommate
My first friends at college

Topics for essays on themes:

Personal narrative essay topics.

Each of us had moments in life the story of which would be interesting to others. Develop your narration mastery and tell the world a story about the very best, most memorable, extremely scary, or awkward situations. Our list is here to assist you.

The happiest event ever
The saddest moment in my life
The worst moment of my life
The best moment of my life
If I start my life all over again, I’d…
The most frightening episode of my life
The most dramatic decision I had to make
The life-changing event in my life
The greatest risk I took
The day I decided to move
The worst decision of my life
Getting lost abroad
The most disastrous trip
How I grew up in a city
How I grew up in a village

Personal Experience Narrative Essay Topics

Personal experiences are way more exciting for writers. Unfortunately, personal narrative essays are not always just as fascinating for listeners unless they are presented in an entertaining manner. We’re sure that the ideas for personal narratives below will help you pick your topic to maximize readers’ engagement.

The moment of my life I’m proud of
My first visiting an opera house
The weirdest accident I witnessed
How I first tried Asian cuisine
My most memorable birthday present
If I was a character in a book
The memory I wish I lived through again
If I was my favourite movie superhero
How I lost a thing that wasn’t mine
My first travel to the sea
What makes me unique
My first trip into the wild
My first job interview
My most significant loss
My most memorable Christmas

Narrative Essay Topics About Childhood

Childhood is probably the sweetest period of our lives and the one with the most number of insights. The most powerful experiences come from it, and most of our reflections are related to a child's perception in this or that way. Check out our list of captivating topics about childhood and pick one.

My first memories ever
My first pet
The role model of my childhood
The first time I met my uncle/aunt
The first time I got to a hospital
My first big sports competition
My first day at school
The first time at a stadium
My best visit to a children’s entertainment park
My favourite preschool teacher
My first time on the airplane
My most memorable picnic
The scariest incident of my childhood
My childhood phobias
The funniest incident of my childhood

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Relationship Narrative Essay Topics

Writing about this huge layer of experience – relationships – is surely thrilling. We’ve picked just some of the great variety of narrative topics about relationships for you. Even if you don’t find here exactly what you want to talk about, you’ll definitely hit upon an appropriate idea.

My first romantic date
How my best friend changed my life
How I first met my best friend
The saddest moment in a relationship I experienced
A turning point in my important relationship
My role model relationship from a book/movie
My first romantic relationship
What my parents mean to me
The best advice about relationships I got
Why is my significant other so important to me
The situation that helped me fix my ruined relationship
The best memories I share with my friends
My first confession
How I helped someone with depression
A film/book about relationships that stroke me

Personal Narrative Essay About Friendship

Friendships often determine our paths in life, and most people love telling stories. These are about their adventures with friends or reflections on the effects of getting cozy with other people. From the list below, you may pick one of the best friendship topics for narrative essay papers.

My best friend from a summer camp
How I reconnected with my friend after a quarrel
How I covered my friend
How I first met my online friend live
How I helped my friend reconnect with his/her loved one
The coolest adventure with my best friend
The first time at my friend’s place
My worst quarrel with my friend
My best older friend
How my foe turned into my friend
The toughest situation I and my friend went through
My friend’s sister/brother
The situation where I had to choose between two friends
How I met a friend on the Internet

Cultural Narrative Essay Topics

How about writing on culture? The variety of topics is enormous, and you can write here in different styles and tonalities. Find out effective narrative paragraph topics dedicated to traditions, holidays, or cultural events below.

My favourite holiday
How we celebrate Christmas
The best Christmas present I got
My best Christmas
My saddest Christmas
The holiday which is most significant for me
Our family traditions for Easter
How I took part in holidays abroad
The scariest Halloween I ever had
Home alone on a holiday night
The most memorable cultural event I visited
The festival I love most
What I was thankful for this Thanksgiving Day
My family traditions
A foreign holiday tradition that I love most

Personal Narrative Stories Ideas on Traveling and Holidays

This segment of subjects covers individual experiences. Respectively, it has to do with reflections, opinions, and feelings. Our list of personal narrative ideas related to trips and celebrations is here for your convenience.

My best entertainment on winter holidays
My first traveling abroad
How I first visited a warm country in winter
How I missed my flight/train/bus
The happiest moment during the holidays
Making a new friend during the holidays
My first time traveling alone
My most memorable holiday ever
The saddest incident on a holiday
My best visit to a foreign city on holiday
My best travel to a big city
The worst quarrel while on holiday
The best encounters during the holiday
My best trip to a countryside
How I returned home after a long vacation

Narrative Argument Essay Topics

Strong argumentation is one of the indications of a successful academic paper and a prerequisite for a higher grade. You should pick a topic you are confident in to provide your effective arguments as your objective is to persuade your readers. Opt for a narrative essay topic that speaks to you.

The toughest decision between right and wrong
The choice I regret
How I helped a friend against the rules
Involvement in a conflict between other people
Getting caught lying
How I let down a friend following the rules
How I shifted the blame to someone else
The toughest yet most important experience
Helping someone for personal benefit
The prank I played on my friend
Ignoring bullying
How my friend took the blame for me
Does justice actually exist?
Ignoring the wrong behavior of others
Eavesdropping

When writing a narrative essay, it is important to choose an interesting topic that can engage your readers. Finding the right topic can be a challenge, but there is no need to worry as there are many resources available, such as online essay writers , that can help you choose the best topic for your narrative essay.

Whether a personal experience essay, a story about your best childhood birthday, a narration about your most meaningful travel, or the way you reacted to essential world events, are all worth writing. Bear in mind that each of them requires research, adhering to a structure, and planning. Focus on what’s inspiring for you and may be of interest to your readers, and you’ll get a list of the narrative ideas working best for you.

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Dr. Karlyna PhD

I am a proficient writer from the United States with over five years of experience in academic writing. I comfortably complete given assignments within stipulated deadlines and at the same time deliver high-quality work, which follows the guidelines provided.

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50 Narrative Essay Topics

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but a narrative essay can also tell an exciting story and create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind! We’ve got 50 narrative essay topics designed to prompt students to craft memorable written narratives. These can be modified for students in elementary, middle and high school. Feel free to print the entire narrative essay topics list for plenty of inspiration for your next narrative essay assignment!

Narrative Essay Topics

Your first day of school.
Your most exciting day of school
A field trip that your class took.
Your favorite summer vacation.
A trip that included something unexpected or surprising.
A time that you experienced something spooky.
A time that you experienced something truly frightening.
A time that you learned something new that changed you in some way.
The moment when you met someone who changed your life.
The day that you got your first pet.
A move from one place to another.
Something funny that happened to you.
Something funny that happened to one of your family members or friends.
Something embarrassing that happened to you.
Your favorite birthday party.
A birthday that was disappointing.
A big storm (rain, snow or even a tornado!).
A time that the power went out.
A summer day when the temperature got much higher than expected.
A time when you went to an amusement park.
A time when you got lost somewhere.
A memorable experience with a favorite family member.
A sad experience with someone about whom you care.
Your most exciting moment playing sports.
Your most exciting moment performing in a play, singing, playing music or dancing.
An experience that left you feeling frustrated.
An experience that was hard but ended up being worth it.
A time that you experienced rejection.
A weird encounter with a stranger.
A random act of kindness.
A time that you took a stand for someone or for an issue that you care about.
A moment when you thought you might get hurt but didn’t.
Breaking a bone (or otherwise suffering an injury).
Your first time away from home for the night (or longer).
A time when you experienced a historic event.
Where you were when a major event happened. (Note: You don’t need to have been at the site of the event; this prompt is about where you were when you found out about the event and how you reacted.)
A time when you rebelled against your parents or teacher.
A dangerous experience.
A misunderstanding between yourself and someone else.
A difficult decision that you had to make.
The end of a friendship or relationship.
The beginning of a friendship or relationship.
A time when you judged someone first and then realized that you were wrong about the person.
A time when someone judged you first and then realized that he or she was wrong about you.
A moment when you felt that you were starting to grow up.
A time when you saw one or both of your parents in a different light.
A time when you looked up to your older sibling.
A time when your younger sibling looked up to you.
A time when you were grateful to be an only child.
An experience that you think has only ever happened to you!

Looking for more essay topics? Compare and Contrast Essay Topics Descriptive Essay Topics Cause and Effect Essay Topics Persuasive Essay and Speech Topics

Best Tips on How to Title an Essay

How to Make a Good Title for an Essay

The success of an essay heavily depends on its title. This may not come as a surprise given that the essay title is the first aspect to provide the reader with a sneak peek into the text. It piques our interest to read the paper in the first place and gives us a preview of what to expect from the author.

Our research paper writing help prepared a thorough guide on how to title an essay. Here you may find tips and tricks for developing an effective APA or MLA essay title. So, let's dive straight into the article for more exciting details!

Essay Title Format

During your essay writing process, ensure you know the stylistic requirements before beginning an essay. Knowing the format you need to employ is crucial because different style manuals may have varying requirements. Mostly, you could have used an APA or MLA essay title format. Our service, where you can buy essay online , explains these two in more detail below.

Essay Title MLA

If you're required to create an essay title MLA format, check whether your instructor wants you to make a separate cover page. If not, put a heading at the beginning of your work that includes your name, the name of your professor, the course ID, and, lastly, the date.

On the other hand, if you must present a cover page for your essay title MLA, then you need to include the following:

The name of the college
The title of your paper
The subtitle of your paper, if applicable
Your first and last name
Your teacher or professor's name
The class name or course number
The date the paper is due

The formatting instructions are as follows:

Double-spaced
Times New Roman font
Size 12 font
Apart from very short terms, each word's initial letter should be capitalized. The initial word, however, must always be uppercase.
The title page shouldn't include a header with the page numbers.

Essay Title APA

Having discussed the MLA format essay title, let's explore what the APA student title page includes:

The paper title
Author names
Institutional affiliation where the author carried out the study
Name and number of the course
Professor name
Page number

The title of an essay format instructions:

double-spaced
1" margins
12-point Times New Roman
According to APA, your title should be targeted and brief, without unnecessary words or abbreviations

How to Choose a Good Title for an Essay: Important Qualities

Nobody will read a dull headline. Your title should grab your audience's attention and encourage them to read the rest of the work. As it is one of the initial things readers see, having a strong attention grabber is essential when writing an essay from scratch. To fully understand how to come up with a title for essay that is strong and exciting, let's consider a few following factors:

Employ a Catchy Hook - Usually, the title of essay format follows a similar basic structure, especially if they are used for an academic article. The hook serves as a unique component that attracts the reader. It's a captivating statement informing others about the topic of the essay. You can also explore several types of sentences with examples that can help you develop the ideal hook structure.

Consider Topic Keywords - These are essential terms or expressions pertinent to your subject and help your reader understand the focus and body of your article. These focus keywords should serve as a brief, one- to two-word article summary. You can choose some terms from the research topic your instructor gave you, but after your thesis statement is formed, this is where you should hunt for ideas.

Use a Colon - A colon is frequently used in academic titles to separate concepts and sentences. The standard procedure is to place a clever remark or brief quotation before the colon. Although these beginning words offer flavor, they can be overdone. Because of this, some individuals find using the colon to be repugnant. Therefore be careful not to misuse this method.

Ask a Question - To write essay title that is strong, consider asking a question. But, use it with caution because posing a question will make your tone less formal. As long as the question is suitably phrased to meet the subject of your essay, feel free to employ it. Always check to see if the title question still applies to your points in the essay's body. The thesis statement should be appropriately reflected as well.

Find Inspirational Quotes - There is no formula for selecting essay titles from the textual content. You may get playful and choose any quotation, proverb, or catchphrase that applies to your particular publication and works as a title. You may also create a great essay title using well-known expressions or idioms. Doing so will help your readers relate to and feel more comfortable discussing your subject.

Here are other rules for how to create a good title:

Title every section of writing: In the process of writing, create interesting subheadings to give your paragraphs an identity. Also, they make your text look ordered and clear.
The title must bear the theme of the text: choose a title that summarizes the essay.
Capitalize all words with certain exceptions: Capitalize the first letter of every word in the title, but do not capitalize pronouns, articles, prepositions, and conjunctions.
Avoid underlining the title: Since topics come in boldface, underlining it will amount to overemphasis. Some authorities say that if you must underline it, do not bolden it.
Review the final version of the title: Do not forget to do a quick review of the final version of the title—check for grammar, structure, spelling and so on. Re-read it to determine if the title has given justice to the essay. Confirm if the topic is catchy enough to attract your reader’s attention.
When using a colon in your title, follow the rules: Since we are dealing with punctuation rules here, let us talk about the colon – when you have two eye-catching topics, separate them with a colon.

Student’s Guide on How to Come Up with a Title for an Essay

Titling an essay can be easy, but there are a few core principles to be taken into account. The following tips will help you stay on track and avoid any common pitfalls.

Essay Goes First

Never start with a title! If you write it before the rest of the text, it will be based on it, and it should be vice versa. Writing an essay before choosing a heading will give you a clear understanding of what should make sense to the reader. Re-read the finished paper several times to decide on the title. The last thing to create is a title - such strategy will give more time to spend on crafting an essay outline, conducting research, or writing the paper itself.

What are you writing about? What is the style of your paper, and is it an academic essay or a free-form essay like a narrative essay? If the topic of your essay is “Do people who commit heinous crimes deserve the death penalty?” your title should not be humorous; it should be strict and to the point.

If your topic is “Why do people like watching funny cat videos?”, feel free to craft a funny title. Determine the tone of your essay and base your title on it—in consideration with the essay’s topic.

The tone can be:

Serious - “The implications of global warming”
Funny - “How cats and dogs love their masters”
Amiable - “Ways to fight depression”
Persuasive - “Why positive thinking is a must have skill for every person”
Informative - “Ten rules for creating a chemical at home”

The main goal of a title is to name its paper. There is no need to tell an entire story in the title, or provide any useless details. Sum up your paper in a few words! Another way to do this is to sum up your thesis statement, as it represents the main idea of your essay. Take your thesis and squeeze it into 3-4 words. Imagine that you are creating a title for your favourite newspaper or a slogan for Coca-Cola.

Don’t use fancy words! Take 2-3 main words (keywords), put them together, and stop wasting your time. Avoid jargon and abbreviations.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is something that can help any student and young writer reap benefits. While working on a title, detect the words related to the central idea of the paper. Type the words into the search field of Google and add the word “quote.” A search engine will show numerous web pages with in-text quotations that could be useful. Select the fragment you like. It is possible to learn how to make a creative title for an essay in this way.

Discover several more tips from experts:

Never forget the “What,” “Who,” “When,” “How,” “Why,” and “Where” questions (if you start with one of these questions, your title has a chance of getting noticed);
Come up with an unexpected image not related to the selected topic;
Sometimes, starting with a lie increases the chances of a title being able to catch an eye;
Review our catchy essay title examples.

Need Some Help With Your Essay's Title?

Feel free to contact EssayPro and we will provide you with a writing help at a moment’s notice. With the years of essay writing experience, titling becomes second nature, so you no longer need to worry about having a catchy headline on your paper.

Essay Title Examples: Bad vs Good

The strongest essay titles condense lengthy essays into concise statements. When wondering how to make an essay title, think carefully about your stylistic choices and essay format to produce an excellent one. Our dissertation help has provided essay title examples to let you understand the difference between good and bad ones more vividly.

Bad Essay Title Examples

As we discussed how to create an essay title and the specific elements that go into it, you should have a clear idea of how important it is to craft a strong title. In contrast, first, look at weak essay title ideas that can break your paper. This should serve as an example of why your heading should not be like this:

Ex 1: ' How Television Has Changed Our World ' - too vast and not informative

Ex 2: 'The Ara Pacis Augustae' - unclear for those who don't know Latin

Ex 3: 'The Most Poisonous Frog' - does not provide any insight

Ex 4: 'A Brief History of Subcultures and How They Manifest Themselves in a Constantly Changing Socio-Economic Environment' - too long and complicated

Ex 5: 'The Little Mermaid 29 Years Later: Selling a Harmful Sexist Message Through a Naughty Image' - inappropriate language

Good Essay Title Examples

Now that you know what a bad essay title looks like, let's explore good essay title examples as their substitutes. Examine the following essay title format styles that will give you a clear understanding.

Ex 1: ' The Electronic Babysitter: A Social History of Uses of the Television' - gives an exact description of what the essay will be about

Ex 2: ' The Modern Historical Significance of the Ara Pacis Augustae to the City of Rome' - here, the reader can understand what they will be reading about

Ex 3: ' A Deadly Beauty: The Evolution of Skin Coloration and Toxicity of the Poisonous Dart Frog' - clear, informative, and on-point.

Ex 4: 'Reconsidering Counterculture in Contemporary Society' - informative enough and brief

Ex 5: 'The Projection of Gender Stereotypes in The Little Mermaid' - employs appropriate language

Catchy Essay Title Ideas

You now understand that long, complicated headlines do not accurately convey the paper's main idea. Take ample time to consider the word choice before tilting your work. How do you create good essay titles? Think creatively and with common sense. But meanwhile, for your convenience, we compiled title ideas for essays you may use as inspiration.

Persuasive Essay Titles

Why Receiving College Education is Important: Examining Long-term Benefits
Face-to-Face Courses Cannot Be Replaced by Online Learning
An MBA Does Not Ensure Corporate Success.
Every Company Should Adopt a Green Strategy.
Energy Drinks Represent a Lucrative Market Segment.
Aircraft, Excess Weight Charges, Need to be Prohibited.
Patients' Life Shouldn't be Put to Death by Nurses.
Google Glasses May Increase the Number of Auto Accidents.
All of the Conventional Malls Will Soon be Replaced By Online Shopping
How Do Team-building Exercises Contribute to the Development of Inventions?
Illegal immigrants are entitled to remain in the US.

Academic Essay Titles

Several English Dialects: The Link Between Various Cultures
Instagram: A social media innovation
Is it possible to reverse drug-induced brain damage, and if so, how?
What the Future Holds for Humans in the Light of Artificial Intelligence
The Story of Two Nations after Decades of Conflict: North and South Korea
Video Games and Their Learning Context in Schools
Free Wi-Fi: Strategies for Enhancing the City's Economy

Strong Research Paper Titles

Digital World Cybersecurity
E-business to Provide New Paths for Booksellers
Outsourcing for Large Businesses
Preparing for College Costs for High School Students
What News Reporters Should Do in the Digital Age and How to Do It: Examples
The Transformative Power of Music: How Heavy Metal Impacted My Life

Best Essay Titles for College Students

The Possible Benefits and Risks of Artificial Intelligence for Humans
The Potential for Time Travel in Virtual Reality
What Role Has Mathematics Played in Human History?
How to Succeed in the Real Estate Industry
E-Commerce: An Empire of Virtual Businesses Worth Millions of Dollars
How to Achieve Financial Independence in the Digital Age Without Opening a Real Business

More Creative Titles for Essays

When getting rewarded for their grades, would kids do better left alone?
How Does Fake News Impact the Mainstream press?
Homelessness in Contemporary Society: A Dilemma
What News Reporters' Best Job Is in the Digital Age and How to Uphold It
Elon Musk: Brilliant Mind or Insane Person?
Positives and Negatives of Employing a Smoker
Do We Employ the Appropriate Student Success Metrics?

Professional Academic Help

Now that you know how to make a good title for an essay, you should also understand that you should approach the task as a process. While composing your essay title, you must condense your whole thesis and point of discussion into a single, concise, yet powerful sentence. If you have time before your deadline, give it some thought and don't hurry.

Don't forget that you can always rely on our professional academic assistance, whether you need a reflection paper , ideas for a strong essay title, or any other academic papers. Consider the following words - write my essay for me - magic keywords for delegating your most complex tasks to our skilled writers!

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Narrative Essay

Narrative Essay Topics

Best Narrative Essay Topics 2023 for Students

Published on: Jun 19, 2018

Last updated on: Nov 16, 2023

Narrative Essay Topics for Students

If you're a student looking for a diverse range of topics, we've got you covered with a diverse selection of narrative essay topics.

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 5

My First Day at a New School
The Time I Learned to Ride a Bike
A Visit to a Haunted House
The Day I Met a Real-Life Superhero
My Most Memorable Family Vacation
A Surprising Encounter with an Animal
The Mystery of the Missing Homework
The Best Birthday Party I Ever Had
When I Lost a Tooth
My Adventure in a Fantasy World

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 6

An Unforgettable Camping Trip
The Day I Discovered a Hidden Talent
A Mysterious Letter and Its Consequences
A Time I Had to Stand Up for What's Right
The Thrilling Mystery of a Forgotten Diary
A Memorable Encounter with a Famous Person
My Journey Through a Fantasy Land
The Day I Learned a Valuable Life Lesson
An Unexpected Act of Kindness
A Secret Adventure in an Abandoned Place

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 7

The Most Exciting Adventure of My Life
The Day I Overcame a Fear
A Memorable School Field Trip
The Strangest Mystery I Ever Encountered
An Unforgettable Encounter with Wildlife
A Life-Changing Decision I Had to Make
The Best Book I Ever Read and Why
A Day in the Life of a Time Traveler
The Importance of Friendship in My Life
A Valuable Lesson Learned from a Mistake

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 8

A Time I Faced a Difficult Moral Dilemma
The Most Memorable Summer Vacation
The Impact of a Life-Altering Decision
An Unexpected Act of Kindness I Received
The Day I Stepped Out of My Comfort Zone
A Historical Event I Would Like to Witness
A Special Family Tradition and Its Significance
A Personal Achievement I'm Proud Of
A Challenging Obstacle I Overcame
A Journey Through My Creative Imagination

Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 9

The Transition to High School: Challenges and Triumphs
A Life-Changing Encounter with an Inspiring Mentor
My First Part-Time Job and What I Learned
The Day I Realized the Power of Empathy
The Impact of a Personal Passion or Hobby
An Unforgettable Travel Experience Abroad
A Meaningful Community Service Project I Participated In
The Role of Technology in My Life
A Defining Moment in My Cultural Identity
My Vision for the Future: Dreams and Aspirations

Narrative Essay Topics for O-Levels

The Day I Took a Leap of Faith
An Unforgettable Journey into the Unknown
A Life-Altering Decision I Made in High School
An Encounter with a Stranger That Changed My Perspective
The Role of Resilience in Overcoming a Personal Challenge
The Impact of a Cultural Exchange Experience
A Lesson Learned from a Unique Life Experience
The Importance of Perseverance in Achieving a Goal
My Most Memorable Academic Achievement
A Glimpse into My Future: Aspirations and Ambitions

Narrative Essay Topics for Highschool

The Moment I Discovered My Passion
A Life-Changing Journey Abroad
A Challenging Decision That Shaped My Future
An Unexpected Act of Kindness That Touched My Heart
The Role of Resilience in Overcoming Adversity
A Personal Experience That Shaped My Values
The Impact of Technology on My Generation
A Time I Took a Stand for a Cause I Believe In
A Memorable Leadership Role I Assumed
A Glimpse into My Ideal Future: Aspirations and Goals

Narrative Essay Topics for College

The Journey to Finding My Academic Passion
A Life-Altering Study Abroad Experience
The Transformational Impact of a Challenging Decision
Navigating the Transition from College to the Professional World
An Unforgettable Encounter with a Mentor or Role Model
The Role of Adversity in Shaping My Personal Growth
A Significant Ethical Dilemma I Faced in College
How My College Experiences Have Shaped My Worldview
The Impact of Technology on My College Education
A Personal Reflection on My Career Aspirations and Goals

Narrative Essay Topics for University

The Evolution of My Academic and Career Goals at University
An Eye-Opening Internship Experience That Impacted My Future
A Transformative Study Abroad Journey
Navigating the Complexities of Balancing Work, Academics, and Social Life at University
The Role of a Unique Research Project in My Academic Growth
A Personal Account of Overcoming a Significant Academic Challenge
A Meaningful Leadership Role in a University Organization
The Journey of Self-Discovery Through Elective Courses at University
The Impact of Peer Relationships and Networking at University
How My University Education Has Shaped My Perspective on Global Issues

Unique Narrative Essay Topics for Students

We've gathered distinct narrative topic ideas to fuel your creativity. Let’s look at some personal narrative ideas to inspire your narrative writing.

Descriptive Narrative Essay Topics

A Peaceful Day by the Riverside
Exploring a Haunted House
My Favorite Childhood Memory
A Walk Through an Ancient Forest
The Perfect Winter Wonderland
An Evening at a Carnival
A Visit to a Vibrant Art Gallery
The Spectacular Colors of Autumn
A Day in the Life of a Beach
An Exciting Night in the City

Personal Narrative Essay Topics

A Life-Changing Decision I Made
A Moment of Personal Triumph
Overcoming My Greatest Fear
A Meaningful Lesson from a Personal Challenge
The Role of a Special Friend in My Life
A Time When I Broke a Personal Record
The Impact of a Mentor on My Life
My Journey to Self-Discovery

Literacy Narrative Essay Topics

My Earliest Memory of Learning to Read
The Book That Sparked My Love for Reading
A Life-Changing Experience in a Library
The Impact of a Special Teacher on My Writing Skills
How Technology Has Shaped My Writing Habits
A Personal Reflection on My Writing Journey
The Role of Literature in Shaping My Perspective
Writing as a Tool for Self-Expression and Healing
How I Overcame Writer's Block
The Significance of Storytelling in My Life

Engaging Narrative Essay Topics

The Mystery of a Lost Treasure Map
An Unlikely Friendship That Changed My Life
A Day in the Life of a Professional Athlete
The Journey of Starting My Own Business
A Haunting Experience in a Historic Place
A Memorable Road Trip with Friends
My Encounter with a Famous Celebrity
The Day I Conquered My Greatest Fear
An Adventure in a Foreign Land
A Life-Altering Decision at a Crossroads

How to Choose a Topic for a Narrative Essay?

Choosing the right topic for your narrative essay can be a daunting task. Before you start writing, it is important to invest some time in researching and brainstorming.

Here are a few tips to help guide you in selecting an interesting and engaging narrative essay topic:

Reflect on Your Personal Experiences: If you are writing about a personal narrative topic, consider the impactful moments in your life and think about experiences that have left a strong impression on you.
Identify a Clear Message or Theme: Determine the central idea or theme of your narrative. Decide what lesson, insight, or emotion you want to convey.
Engage Your Audience: Consider your target audience and what will resonate with them. Choose a topic that captures their interest and keeps them engaged.
Play with Different Perspectives: Explore the option of incorporating different viewpoints. Combining personal and external perspectives can add depth to your narrative.
Test Your Idea: Get feedback from a friend or classmate. Assess if your chosen topic is likely to resonate with your audience.
Stay True to Your Voice: Balance considering your audience with being authentic. Let your unique voice and storytelling style shine through in your writing

Tips for Writing Narrative Essays

Once you have selected a topic for your narrative essay, it is time to start writing.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you write your story:

Start with a Strong Hook: Begin your narrative essay with a captivating hook, such as an engaging anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a vivid description.
Follow a Clear Structure: Organize your narrative essay outline with a clear structure. Most narratives follow a chronological order, but you can also use flashbacks or nonlinear storytelling when it serves your narrative.
Build Tension and Conflict: Create tension and conflict in your narrative to add depth and maintain reader engagement. Whether it's a personal struggle, a moral dilemma, or an external challenge, these obstacles will keep readers eagerly anticipating what comes next.
Revise and Edit: After completing your first draft, take the time to revise and edit your work. Review it for grammar and spelling errors, but also examine the overall structure and flow of your narrative.
Practice, Practice, Practice: Like any form of writing, improving your narrative essay skills takes practice. Keep writing and experimenting with different topics, styles, and approaches to develop your storytelling abilities.

Before you start writing, make sure you read some narrative essay examples to learn how to organize your thoughts and structure your story.

In summary, no matter the type of essay you are writing about, you need a topic to start with. Our collection of narrative essay topics offers fresh, distinct ideas.

These topics are crafted to ignite your creativity and captivate your audience. They cover a diverse range of experiences, making it easier for you to connect with your readers on a personal level.

Still, struggling to write a compelling narrative essay? Our narrative essay writing service is here to help you out!

MyPerfectWords.com stands as a legitimate essay writing service with a specialized focus on crafting exceptional essays designed for high school and college students. Our customer support team is also available 24/7, so don't hesitate to reach out whenever you need assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are narrative essay topics different from other essay types.

Narrative essay topics are usually based on personal experiences, so they are more emotional and creative than other types of essays. Also, they are often more open-ended, so you have more freedom to choose what to write about.

Where can I find good narrative essay topics?

There are a few ways to find good topics for your narrative essay. You can look through books or magazines for ideas, or search online for inspiration. You can also brainstorm with friends or family members to come up with ideas.

What do I write a narrative essay about?

You can write a narrative essay about anything, but it is usually based on personal experience. Try to recall interesting incidents from your life to develop a narrative about.

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Caleb S. has been providing writing services for over five years and has a Masters degree from Oxford University. He is an expert in his craft and takes great pride in helping students achieve their academic goals. Caleb is a dedicated professional who always puts his clients first.

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100+ Narrative Essay Topics for your Next Assignment

Writing a narrative essay should be fun and easy in theory. Just tell your readers a story, often about yourself. Who knows you better than you? You should ace this!

Unfortunately, narrative writing can be very difficult for some. When a teacher leaves the topic choice wide open, it’s tough to even know what to write about. What anecdote from your life is worth sharing? What story is compelling enough to fill an entire essay?

The first step in writing a narrative essay is coming up with a list of potential topics to write about. From there, you should focus on the ideas you believe you can spend an entire essay and tell a compelling story on.

Narrative writing will show up for the rest of your life. You’ll need to tell life stories in college essays, in grad school applications, in wedding speeches, and more. So learning how to write a narrative essay is a skill that will stick with you forever.

But where do you begin?

You can always check out essay examples to get you started, but this will only get you so far.

At the end of the day, you still need to come up with a story of your own. This is often the toughest part.

To help you get things kicked off, we’ve put together this list of more than a hundred topic ideas that could easily be turned into narrative essays. Take a look and see what stands out to you!

Choosing a Topic

Narrative essays fall into several categories. Your first task is to narrow down your choices by choosing which category you want to explore.

Each of these categories offers a stepping off point from which you can share a personal experience. If you have no idea where to begin, reflecting on these main categories is a great place to start. You can pick and choose what you feel comfortable sharing with your readers. This list is not exclusive—there are other areas of your life you can explore. These are just some of the biggies.

As you explore categories, think about which one would be the best fit for your assignment. Which category do you have the strongest ideas for? Which types of stories do you tell the best?

These categories include:

Childhood Tales

Educational background, travel and adventure, friends and relationships, experiences and defining moments, my favorite things, ethics and values.

Once you’ve selected a category, it’s time to see which topic piques your interest and might intrigue your audience as well. These topics are all a natural fit for a story arc , which is a central part of a narrative essay.

Writing about your childhood can be a great choice for a narrative essay. We are growing and learning during this delicate and often awkward time. Sharing these moments can be funny, endearing, and emotional. Most people can relate to childhood events because we have all survived it somehow!

A childhood experience that defined who I am today
A childhood experience that made me grow up quickly
My best/worst childhood memory
My favorite childhood things (games, activities, stories, fairy tales, TV shows, etc.)
What I remember most about my childhood
How I used to celebrate holidays/birthdays
My best/worst holiday/birthday memory
What I used to believe was true
The oldest memory I have
The most valuable possession from my childhood
What I would tell my younger self
What my friends were like when I was younger

Your educational experience offers a wealth of ideas for an essay . How you’ve learned and have been inspired can help others be inspired too. Although we were all educated in one way or another, your educational experience is uniquely your own to share.

First day of school/junior high/high school/college
First/most memorable school event
My favorite/worst school years
My favorite/worst teachers
My favorite/worst school subjects
What recess was like for me
My experiences in the school cafeteria
How I succeeded/failed in certain classes
Life as a student (elementary, junior high, high school, college)
The best/worst assignment I ever completed for a class
Why I chose my college
First novel I read for school
First speech I had to give

People love to read about adventures. Sharing your travel stories transports your reader to a different place. And we get to see it through your eyes and unique perspective. Writing about travel experiences can allow your passion for diving into the world shine through.

My first time traveling alone
My first time traveling out of the country
The place I travel where I feel most at home
My favorite/worst travel experience
The time I spent living in a hostel/RV
The time I spent backpacking around a country
Traveling with friends/family/significant other
Best/worst family vacation
Most memorable travel experience ever
Places I want to visit
Why I travel
Why I cruise/climb mountains/camp/fly/drive
Trying to speak another language
How I prefer to travel
How I pack to travel

The good, the bad, and the ugly. We all have family stories that range from jubilantly happy and hilarious to sad and more serious. Writing about family can show your reader about who you are and where you come from.

Family traditions that you enjoy/dislike
What your parents/siblings are like
What your family members (mom, dad, grandparents, siblings, etc.) have taught you
What being the oldest/youngest/middle/only child was like
Family members who made the most impact on your life
Most memorable day with a family member
How a pet changed my family’s life/my life

Friends, enemies, and loved ones come in and out of our lives for a reason. And they provide great material for writing. If relationships exist to teach you something, what have you learned? Writing about those you’ve connected with demonstrates how others have influenced your life.

My most important relationship
How I work on my relationships
What I value in my relationships
My first love/relationship/breakup
Losing/Gaining a close friend
How my friendships have changed/evolved
The person I’m afraid of losing the most
How technology has affected my relationships
The worst argument I’ve had with someone
What happened when I was rejected

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... sharing your best times and sharing your worst times can make great stories. These highs and lows can be emotional, funny, and thought-provoking.

The event that most defines who I am today
The best/worst day of my life
The most embarrassing/frightening moment of my life
A moment that taught me something
A moment where I succeeded/failed
A time when I was hurt (physically or emotionally)
A time when I gave up hope
An experience when I had to overcome challenges (fear, intimidation, rejection, etc.)
My greatest accomplishment
The time I learned to accept/love/be okay with myself
The most difficult time in my life
The toughest thing I’ve ever done
My first time surviving something alone

Explaining to others what you love and why can really paint a picture of who you are and what you value. It’s important to note that simply sharing a favorite isn’t a very deep topic. However, you can take this topic deeper by expressing how this favorite has impressed you, inspired you, and affected your life.

My favorite author/poet/playwright
My favorite movie/book/song/play/character
My favorite actor/actress/director
My favorite singer/musician
My role model
What I like to do to relax
My favorite activities/games/sports
How I handle stress and tough times
Why I dance/sing/write/journal/play sports/bake

Where you stand on deep issues tells a lot about you. Taking a stance and explaining your opinion on tough topics reveals some insight into your ethical reasoning.

The most difficult decision I have made
How I treat people/strangers
A time I faced a moral/ethical dilemma
A decision I regret
A lie I have told
When I rebelled against someone in authority
My most important life rule
The principle I always live by

Situational prompts allow you to step out of your past and picture a different future. If digging into your past experiences seems scary and intimidating, then look to your future. What you imagine can be insightful about your life and where you see yourself heading.

If I had a million dollars...
If I were famous...
If I could change history...
If I had no fear...
If I could change one thing about myself...
If I had one extra hour a day...
If I could see the future...
If I could change the world...
If I could have one do-over in life...

Writing a narrative essay can seem daunting at first. Sharing a bit of yourself with the world is a scary thing sometimes. Choosing the right topic, however, can make the process much smoother and easier.

Writing a narrative essay can be intimidating, but choosing the right topic can make the process much easier for you.

Browsing through topic ideas can inspire you to pick a topic you feel you can tell a story about and that can take up a full essay. Once you have a quality story to tell, the rest of the pieces will fall into place.

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Don’t overlook the title and section headers when putting together your next writing assignment. Follow these pointers for keeping your writing organized and effective.

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Home — Essay Types — Personal Narrative Essay

Personal Narrative Essay Examples

In the realm of personal narrative essays, personal narrative essay examples serve as a compelling platform for individuals to share their unique stories, experiences, and perspectives. These essays are more than just pieces of personal history; they are windows into the human condition. However, a key factor in crafting a memorable personal narrative essay lies in selecting the right topic. In this article, we'll delve into the art of choosing personal narrative essay topics and explore their significance in creating a meaningful and engaging narrative.

Finding Ideas for a Personal Narrative Essay

The first step in the journey of crafting a captivating personal narrative essay is finding ideas and inspiration. Inspiration often resides within our own lives and experiences:

Reflecting on Personal Experiences: Personal narrative essays draw their strength from real-life encounters and observations. Take time to reflect on moments that have left a lasting impact on you.
Exploring Emotions and Memories: Emotions are the lifeblood of personal narratives. Recall events that stirred powerful emotions within you, whether it was joy, fear, anger, or love.
Identifying Life-Changing Moments: Sometimes, our most profound stories revolve around events that changed the course of our lives. Identify these turning points and consider how they have shaped you.

By utilizing these ideas for a personal narrative essay, you will unlock a wealth of storytelling potential. Reflecting on personal experiences, exploring emotions and memories, and identifying life-changing moments will enable you to tap into the richness of your own life.

Childhood Memories

First Day of School: Delve into the nerves, excitement, and anticipation of your very first day of school. What did it teach you about resilience and adaptability?
A Memorable Family Vacation: Share the details of a family vacation that etched memories into your heart. What made it unforgettable, and how did it shape your bond with your family?
A Childhood Friendship: Reflect on a cherished childhood friendship. Explore the lessons you learned about trust, loyalty, and the bittersweet passage of time.

Life-changing Experiences

Overcoming a Fear or Phobia: Narrate an experience where you conquered a deep-seated fear or phobia. What steps did you take, and what did it reveal about your inner strength?
A Pivotal Life Decision: Share the story of a critical decision that altered the course of your life. What factors weighed on your choice, and what did you gain or lose?
An Unexpected Adventure: Recount an unexpected adventure that took you out of your comfort zone. What challenges did you face, and how did you grow as a person?

Personal Growth and Reflection

A Lesson Learned from a Mistake: Explore a mistake you made and the valuable lesson it taught you. How did this experience shape your decision-making and personal growth?
Achieving a Personal Goal: Celebrate the journey of achieving a personal goal. Reflect on the obstacles you overcame and the determination that fueled your success.
A Moment of Self-Discovery: Share a moment when you discovered something profound about yourself. How did this newfound self-awareness impact your life and relationships?

Tips for Choosing the Right Topic

When it comes to selecting topics for personal narratives, making the right choice is essential to craft a compelling and meaningful story. Your chosen topic forms the foundation of your narrative, shaping its tone, relevance, and impact on your readers. Selecting the right personal narrative essay topics is crucial. Here are some tips to guide your choice:

Connecting with Your Audience: Consider your target audience and choose a topic that will resonate with them. Your narrative should evoke emotions and experiences that your readers can relate to.
The Importance of Authenticity: Authenticity is the key to a compelling personal narrative. Choose a topic that genuinely reflects your experiences and emotions. Readers can sense when a story is authentic.
Balancing Significance and Relatability: While dramatic events make for engaging narratives, even seemingly small moments can hold immense significance. Balance the significance of the event with its relatability to your audience.

In the realm of personal narrative essays, the choice of topic serves as the foundation upon which the narrative is built. It determines whether your story will resonate with readers and leave a lasting impression. Personal narrative essay examples can illustrate how a well-chosen topic can make your narrative more engaging and relatable. As we conclude this exploration of personal narrative essay topics, remember that your life is a treasure trove of stories waiting to be shared. Whether it's a childhood memory, a life-changing experience, or a moment of self-discovery, the power of your narrative lies in your ability to choose the right topic and let your unique voice shine through. So, embrace your experiences, and embark on a journey of storytelling that captivates, inspires, and connects with others.

What is a Personal Narrative Essay Examples

A personal narrative essay is a type of essay that tells a story from the author’s own life experiences and perspectives. It is a form of creative nonfiction in which the author shares a personal story, event, or incident that holds meaning or significance. Personal narrative essays often aim to engage the reader by providing a vivid and emotional account of the author’s experiences.

When crafting a personal narrative essay, it’s essential to find valuable personal narrative essay examples to guide you. This type of writing demands a unique approach, where external research is unnecessary. Draw from your personal experiences and explore your ideas from a personal point of view. The purpose of such essays is to let you work on a certain topic by using analysis and by turning to reflective writing practices.

The examples of personal narrative essays may relate to anything from bullying to the way social media affects our perception of body image in a negative way. Likewise, if you are majoring in Journalism or Political Sciences, you may take any topic that would relate to what you are currently exploring unless you have already been provided with an essay prompt. In either case, you must take your time to focus on your opinion and things that inspire you the most. If you can keep your writing interesting and unique, it will always show as you write.

Many people may confuse personal narrative essays and autobiographical essays, as they both delve into personal experiences and reflections. To gain a better understanding of these essay types, you can explore free autobiography essay examples on our site. Autobiography essays provide a more comprehensive look at an author’s life, including their background and major life events, while personal narrative essays focus on specific personal experiences or stories. Reviewing various autobiography essays and personal narrative essay examples can help you distinguish between the two and learn more about thoose essays genre.

Personal narrative essays are a popular form of writing that allow individuals to share their personal experiences, stories, and insights. In the infographics we’ve prepared, you can find a most common types of personal narrative essays:

These are some of the most common types of personal narrative essays, each with its unique focus and storytelling approach. The choice of type depends on the author’s personal experiences and the message they want to convey.

How to Write a Personal Narrative Essay

Writing a personal narrative essay is a creative and introspective process that enables you to share a piece of your life with others. If you’re wondering how to write a personal narrative essay, here are 5 key steps to help you get started:

Choose a Meaningful Experience : Select a personal experience that has had a significant impact on your life. Whether it’s a moment of growth, a life-changing event, or a cherished memory, pick a topic that resonates with you.
Plan Your Narrative : Create an outline to organize your thoughts. Highlight the main events or moments you want to include and decide on the order in which you’ll present them. This will provide structure to your essay.
Engage Your Audience : Craft a captivating introduction that immediately grabs the reader’s attention. You can use vivid descriptions, a compelling question, or a thought-provoking quote. Establish the setting and context to draw the reader into your story.
Tell Your Story : In the body of your essay, narrate your story chronologically. Describe the events, emotions, and thoughts you experienced. Utilize descriptive language to create a vivid picture for the reader, immersing them in your narrative.
Reflect and Conclude : Conclude your essay by reflecting on the significance of the experience. Share what you’ve learned, how it has affected you, and the message or insight you want to leave with your reader. Summarize the key points to make a lasting impression.

Writing a personal narrative essay allows you to share your unique experiences and connect with your audience on a personal level. By carefully selecting your topic, crafting a compelling narrative, and reflecting on its importance, you can create an impactful and memorable essay. If you’re looking for an example of a personal narrative essay , studying well-crafted essays can provide valuable insights into the structure and storytelling techniques that make them effective.

Incorporating these steps into your writing process will help you craft a compelling and meaningful personal narrative essay that resonates with your audience.

How to Structure a Personal Narrative Essay: Examples

Turning to personal narrative structure , you are mostly allowed to approach a free style where you may keep your narration according to your preferences, yet it’s recommended to keep your topics narrowed down to a certain period of time or a take on things if that speaks of your life’s experience. To create an engaging and well-structured personal narrative essay , follow these essential elements:

Introduction : Set the Stage
Start with a hook: Begin your essay with an attention-grabbing sentence or anecdote that draws readers in.
Provide context: Introduce the setting, time, and place of your story.
Present the thesis statement: Clearly state the main idea or message you want to convey through your narrative.
Background Information : Build the Foundation
Offer background details: Provide essential information about the characters, setting, and circumstances relevant to your story.
Develop characters: Describe the key individuals involved, including yourself, if applicable.
Plot Development : Unfold the Story
Sequence events: Organize the events of your narrative in chronological order to maintain clarity.
Build tension: Use rising action to create anticipation and interest in the narrative.
Climax: Present the turning point or the most significant moment of your story.
Descriptive Detail s: Paint a Vivid Picture
Utilize sensory imagery: Engage readers’ senses by describing sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings.
Use vivid language: Employ descriptive adjectives and metaphors to enhance the reader’s understanding of your experiences.
Reflection and Analysis : Share Insights
Reflect on the significance: Explain why the experience was meaningful or how it impacted you.
Offer personal insights: Share your thoughts, emotions, and personal growth resulting from the experience.
Conclusion : Wrap It Up
Summarize the story: Provide a concise summary of the main events and their outcomes.
Reinforce the thesis: Reiterate the key message or lesson learned.
End with a powerful closing: Leave readers with a thought-provoking statement, a lesson, or a reflection.
Editing and Proofreading : Polish Your Essay
Revise for clarity: Ensure the narrative flows smoothly and is easy to follow.
Check for grammar and spelling errors: Use tools like Grammarly to eliminate mistakes.
Seek feedback: Have someone else review your essay for constructive input.
Title : Choose an Engaging Title
Craft a title that captures the essence of your narrative and intrigues potential readers.

Remember, personal narrative essays allow you to share your unique experiences and perspectives, making them compelling and relatable to your audience. By following this structured approach, you can create a well-crafted and engaging personal narrative essay.

How to Start a Personal Narrative Essay

Starting a personal narrative essay can be both exciting and challenging. To help you embark on this writing journey effectively, here are 5 key points on how to start a personal narrative essay :

P1. Choose an Engaging Topic: Begin by selecting a compelling and personal experience as your essay’s focus. Reflect on moments from your life that had an impact, taught you a lesson, or evoked strong emotions. Your chosen topic should resonate with both you and your potential readers.

P2. Create a Captivating Hook: Grab your readers’ attention right from the start. You can use a catchy anecdote, a thought-provoking question, a relevant quote, or a vivid description to engage your audience. The hook sets the tone for your narrative.

P3. Develop a Clear Thesis Statement: In a personal narrative essay, your thesis statement should convey the central message or lesson you want to share through your story. It serves as a roadmap for your essay, guiding both you and your readers throughout the narrative.

P4. Organize Your Ideas: Outline the main events and details you want to include in your essay. Ensure a logical flow of events, from the introduction to the climax and resolution. Organizing your thoughts beforehand will make the writing process smoother.

P5. Show, Don’t Just Tell: Use descriptive language and vivid imagery to paint a picture for your readers. Let them experience the emotions and sensations you felt during the event. Showcasing your experiences through sensory details helps create a more immersive narrative.

By following these 5 key points on how to start a personal narrative essay , you can begin your essay-writing journey with confidence and captivate your readers from the very beginning.

Personal Narrative Examples to Inspire Your Writing

A personal narrative essay example , such as this personal narrative essay example about life , is a written piece that serves as an illustration or personal narrative essay sample. It is a real-life essay that an author has written to share a personal experience or story, often in the first-person perspective.

Free personal narrative essay examples are used to demonstrate how to structure and craft a personal narrative essay, showcase effective storytelling techniques, and provide inspiration and guidance to other writers who may be working on their own personal narratives. They are valuable resources for both students and writers looking to understand the art of personal storytelling and how to effectively convey their own experiences through essays.

Good Personal Narrative Essay Samples

Good examples of personal narratives serve as effective tools for enhancing your comprehension. Here are some excellently crafted narrative essay examples. Take the time to thoroughly analyze them and leverage their guidance to create a well-written essay of your own.

Short Free Personal Narrative Essay Examples

Dive into these brief yet impactful stories for inspiration and insights into crafting your own compelling personal narratives.

Examples of Personal Narrative Essays for College

These narratives delve into diverse experiences, offering valuable insights and storytelling inspiration for those navigating the world of higher education. Dive into these narratives to discover the power of personal storytelling in a college context.

Personal Narrative Essay Examples for High School

These narratives are tailored to resonate with high school students, providing a valuable glimpse into personal experiences, challenges, and moments of growth.

Checklist for Writing a Personal Narrative Essay

While it is considered that no thesis statement is necessary for a personal narrative essay, you should keep your main thought throughout as you deal with a certain topic. See our free personal narrative essay examples and brainstorm various ideas before you start. Don’t forget to check our helpful checklist to make sure that you follow the general structure rules for this essay:

You write in the first person.
Your tone is narrative and explanatory where and if necessary.
You keep up with the same idea and avoid vague statements.
You have a strong hook or some fact in your introduction.
You bring out a moral lesson in your conclusion part.
There are transitions and topic sentences at the beginning of each paragraph. ( Use words like “Therefore”, “As a result of”)

Although it’s a personal narrative, make sure that you choose your topic wisely by exploring the objectives and checking your grading rubric twice!

The Importance and Role of Confidence in My Life

I had to ask myself an interesting question. What is something that I am certain of? It seemed simple at first glance, but grew more complicated the longer I looked at it. I am positive that everyone makes their own decisions. I know that I…

The Role Of Compassion And Teamwork In A Medical Setting

The necessity of compassion and teamwork are recognized as essential tools to improve patient satisfaction and enhance the development of communication to solve health conditions of patients. This essay highlights the concept and significance of both ‘teamwork’ and ‘compassion’ and draws relevance as a current…

Compassion Can Change the World

To be compassionate is more than to just feel sympathy or show concern. To be compassionate is to truly feel deeply about another person’s feelings and opinions as they experience the ups and downs that come along with us through life. A short essay on…

Compassion – One of the Most Important Values

What I know and I have learned is we need to have compassion. Compassion makes everything fit in place. It makes a harmony of unity among the people making us one in reaching a peaceful world. The world now is so cruel. Leaders are unfair…

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Report on My Favorite Singer Selena Quintanilla

Have you ever heard of Selena Quintanilla’s music? It is the best music in the world that you could ever listen to. I chose Selena because I love her music and she was inspiring. Selena learned to sing at a young age and started her…

My Future Expectations throughout the Semester and Life

To discuss my future, I decided to write about my expectations in life in this essay: to live for myself, have as much knowledge about things, but most of all feel accomplished of myself. As for my future after college, I expect for myself to…

My Experience Of Gender Expectations

Gender expectation refers to a normative conception of appropriate attitudes and activities for a particular racialized and gendered group. My first experience that highlights gender expectations relates to my childhood, where I engaged in activities considered appropriate for men such as camping, football and hunting….

The Importance Of Cultural Humility In Times Of Social Inequality

Cultural Humility as seen in the film, “Cultural Humility: People, Principles and Practices” directed/produced by Vivian Chávez is portrayed as a multi-dimensional concept that focuses on three themes that are central to this paper – the difference between cultural competence and cultural humility, critical self-reflection,…

The Importance and Role of the Skills and Experience in Life

Education in most institutions encompasses both the acquisition of knowledge and the application of practical skills. My work placement provided a full-time immersion in various organizations, offering me an invaluable opportunity to explore the realm of work and appreciate its intricacies. The skills honed during…

My Experience Of The False Dilemma Fallacy

False dilemma is the one type of fallacy that I vividly remember falling victim of. This was with the intensions of convincing my judgement. False dilemma is a type of false fallacy, which involves the reduction of an argument into one or two options while…

What is a personal narrative essay?

In most cases, you must take ideas that deal with a personal narrative that can be a story from your life or a case that you have been involved in. You should write from the first person. Personal narrative examples include writing about your birthday or meeting your best friend in middle school. The topics should inspire you and have a beginning with a hook sentence, content, and a conclusion.

How to write personal narrative essays?

Regardless of what subject you may write about, most personal narrative essays should include an argumentation or a lesson. Ask yourself about what can your audience learn when reading your story. It may be a little difficult to write at first, yet start with a brief introduction, thesis, and a story itself with a powerful conclusion. See our free personal narrative essay to see how it can be done right.

What is the purpose of a personal narrative essay?

The primary purpose is to share a personal experience or story, allowing readers to connect with the author on a deeper level. It may also convey a lesson, moral, or reflection.

How do I choose a topic for my personal narrative essay?

Select a topic that holds personal significance, such as a life-changing event, memorable journey, or lesson learned. Choose something that resonates with you.

What makes a personal narrative essay compelling?

Vivid descriptions, sensory details, and emotional connections make a personal narrative essay compelling. Show, don't just tell the story.

Can I write a humorous personal narrative essay?

Absolutely! Personal narrative essays can be humorous, serious, or a mix of both, depending on the tone you want to convey.

How do I conclude a personal narrative essay effectively?

Summarize the main events, reiterate the central message or lesson, and end with a thought-provoking statement or reflection.

What is the recommended word count for a personal narrative essay?

The word count can vary, but a typical personal narrative essay may range from 500 to 1,500 words. It's best to follow the guidelines provided by your instructor or publication if applicable.

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Cultural Diversity
Cultural Identity
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How to Title an Essay, With Tips and Examples

If you read this blog regularly, you’ll notice something about our blog posts’ titles: They all summarize what their post is about. This is so you know exactly what you’ll find in the post, so if you’re looking for specific tips, you know exactly which post to read.

An essay title does the same thing. There are a lot of similarities between essays and blog posts , and one of those similarities is that for the title to be effective, it needs to be concise and clear. It should also contain one or more keywords, which tells readers the essay’s main topic. Write papers with confidence Grammarly helps you make the grade Write with Grammarly

What is the purpose of an essay title?

An essay title tells readers what your essay is about. This gives them a heads up on what to expect from the essay and, if they’re reading it to conduct their own research, whether it’s relevant to their area of study.

Ideally, an essay title also catches readers’ attention and stokes their curiosity, prompting them to read your work. How important it is to achieve this depends on the kind of essay you’re writing—if it’s an assigned essay and your instructor has to read it, an engaging title isn’t your top priority. But if you’re submitting your essay to a contest, as part of an application to college or graduate school, or pitching it for publication, it needs a catchy, intriguing title because the title is the first part of your work the editor or admissions committee will see. And depending on the title’s catchiness and other circumstances of your submission, it could be the deciding factor in whether they read your essay.

As we mentioned above, a strong essay title gives a clear preview of what the reader will find in your writing . You don’t have to give it all away, but it should act as a general briefing on what to expect from your work and make them want to continue reading it.

>>Read more: How to Start an Essay: 7 Tips for a Knockout Introduction

What are the rules for essay titles?

Guidelines for essay titles in mla format.

In MLA format , your essay’s title should be in title case. That means every principle word— words that aren’t articles , prepositions , coordinating conjunctions , or the word “to” paired with an infinitive —is capitalized. The only exception to this is when one of these words is the first or last word in the essay’s title. Here’s a quick example:

Looking Through the Rear Window: Perspective in Hitchcock’s Films

Guidelines for essay titles in APA format

Similarly to MLA format, APA format requires essay titles to be in title case. In addition to this formatting requirement, APA requires that essay titles be succinct and specifically not contain any abbreviations or unnecessary words. Here is an example of how an essay title looks in APA format:

Effects of Blue Light on Boston Lettuce Crops

See how straightforward this essay title is? You know exactly what the essay is going to be about: How exposure to blue light impacts growing Boston lettuce crops. Keep in mind that APA format is typically used for scientific and technical work, so it’s unlikely you’ll use figurative language in your title.

Guidelines for essay titles in Chicago Manual of Style format

Chicago style also requires that essay titles be in title case. Other than that, Chicago style doesn’t have specific guidelines for what a title should or shouldn’t include. Here is an example of an essay title in Chicago style:

2021 Returns: What We Projected vs. Actual Returns

How to brainstorm your essay title

When you’re brainstorming for your essay, think about the potential titles you can choose. Jot down your keyword and the kind of essay you’re writing, such as an analytical or compare-and-contrast essay . This won’t only help you determine an effective title, but it can also help you determine the best way to structure your essay .

Stay away from punny or otherwise funny titles unless you’re writing a humorous or personal piece—your creative writing class is probably the only course where that kind of title is appropriate.

Here’s what your essay title should include

One or more relevant keywords to your subject
Any other necessary words or phrases that tell the reader what to expect from your essay
When applicable, a catchy phrase or figurative language

Let’s take another look at the example essay titles from the section above. In the first example, Looking Through the Rear Window: Perspective in Hitchcock’s Films , we have the following elements:

An attention-grabbing phrase that references one of Hitchcock’s most well-known films
The keyword “perspective,” which tells us immediately what this essay is about
Clarity around how the essay specifically explores perspective in Hitchcock’s films and instances where Hitchcock used perspective as a storytelling device

Now take a look at the example APA title essay, Effects of Blue Light on Boston Lettuce Crops. This one is more straightforward and technical. But still, it’s got the key elements that make up a strong essay title:

A clear preview of exactly what’s in the essay: data on how an environmental factor affects specific crops
Clear keywords: “blue light” and “Boston lettuce crops”

Additionally, notice how the tone is different from the tone in the MLA essay title. This essay title feels more objective and detached from its subject, giving a preview of the tone the reader will find in the essay.

What not to include in your essay title

It’s usually best to stay away from negative or controversial terms. Do this even if your essay is taking a stand against something or arguing that another position is harmful. Instead, reframe your position using neutral or positive words to avoid potentially offending a reader or undermining your own position by coming across as aggressive or bitter. Compare these two essay titles:

Why Rerouting Campus Traffic Is a Terrible Idea
Finding Solutions to Campus Traffic Challenges

See how the second option, the one that avoids negative language, sounds more engaging and promises a more resolution-oriented read? Remember, your reader is supposed to draw their own conclusions from your essay—don’t attempt to do their work for them by telling them what to think in your title.

As you brainstorm titles, write them down so you can revisit them after you complete your first draft. Once you have a finished draft , it can be a lot easier to determine the title that fits your essay best.

Essay title examples

Take a look at these example essay titles and take note of how the tones and vocabulary vary between essay types. A title that’s perfect for a persuasive essay might not be right for a college application or expository essay . And similarly, a title that works for a comparative essay might be too lackluster for a personal or argumentative essay .

Personal essays

Why I’ll Never Wear a Blue Baseball Cap Again

How 20 Years in Corporate America Made Me a Better Parent

Analytical essays

What is Love? How Romantic and Modern Artists’ Answers Differ

Three Reasons Why We Won’t See a Repeat of the 2008 Bubble

Argumentative essays

The Correlation between New School Buildings and Higher Test Scores—Three Stats You Can’t Ignore

Are We Using the Right Success Metrics for Students?

Persuasive essays

Four Ways Free Wi-Fi Will Boost the City’s Economy

Unless We Take Action, This Heat Wave Is Just the Beginning

Compare-and-contrast essays

Dynamite, Profit, and the Pursuit of Power: Chasing White Whales in Moby Dick and Jaws

Outdoor Growth Patterns of Shiitake and Lion’s Mane Mushrooms

College application essays

What Scooping Ice Cream Taught Me about Human Nature

Dancing and Math Are More Similar than You Realize

Essay title FAQs

What is an essay title.

An essay title concisely states what an essay is about.

Why is an essay title important?

An essay title is important because it accomplishes a few things:

Tells readers what the essay is about
Catches potential readers’ attention
Helps researchers sort essays and find the ones most relevant to their work

What should you consider when creating an essay title?

When creating an essay title, think about the essay’s purpose. Then, explain the essay’s subject and purpose in a brief clause or short sentence, making it appropriately intriguing to draw readers’ attention.

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COMMENTS

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What Would Be a Good Title for an Essay About Loyalty?
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E. B. White’s “Sadness of Parting” stands as one example of a narrative paragraph. The story first appeared in The New Yorker in May of 1935. This story has only 114 words but tells a complete narrative set in a barbershop.
Narrative Title Ideas for Personal Essays
Narrative Title Ideas for Personal Essays · The Best Summer Holiday Ever · All About My Family · The Most Embarrassing Thing · I Did It By Myself · A Time I Needed
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Personal Narrative Essay Ideas · The best moment of my entire life · The toughest decision I ever made · My favorite place to visit · Reason why I love my best
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Personal Experience Narrative Essay Topics · The moment of my life I'm proud of · My first visiting an opera house · The weirdest accident I
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Narrative Essay Topics on Hobbies · Discovering My Passion: The Hobby That Changed My Life · The Art of Collecting: More Than Just a Hobby · Music as a Refuge: My
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Narrative Essay Topics · Your first day of school. · Your most exciting day of school · A field trip that your class took. · Your favorite summer vacation. · A trip
How to Title an Essay: Tips and Examples
What is the style of your paper, and is it an academic essay or a free-form essay like a narrative essay? If the topic of your essay is “Do
100+ Interesting Narrative Essay Topics For Your Next Paper
Narrative Essay Topics for Grade 7 · The Most Exciting Adventure of My Life · The Day I Overcame a Fear · A Memorable School Field Trip · The
100+ Narrative Essay Topics for your Next Assignment
Ethics and Values · The most difficult decision I have made · How I treat people/strangers · A time I faced a moral/ethical dilemma · A decision I regret · A lie I
Free Personal Narrative Essay Examples. Best Topics ...
Personal Narrative Essay Examples · Self-Discovery: Unveiling My True Self (PDF) · A Memorable Family Tradition: Narrating Our Annual Reunion (PDF) · My First
How to Title an Essay, With Tips and Examples
An essay title tells readers what your essay is about. This gives them a heads up on what to expect from the essay and, if they're reading it to

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