Personal Narrative- the SENDD Method

Writing a personal narrative isn't about telling everything that happened in an entire day. It is about zooming in on a small moment—like looking at a single frame in a movie instead of the whole film.

See It in Action: The Pool Example 🏊‍♂️​

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Here is how a student used SENDD to write about a single, scary

moment on a diving board.

Notice how they didn't write about the whole swim lesson—just the few

seconds before jumping.

Part of the Text SENDD Analysis I stood at the very edge of the trembling blue diving board in the crowded pool hall. Setting The air smelled strongly of chlorine, and I heard the other children's screams echoing against the tiled walls. Experience (Senses) I looked down at the glittering water, which seemed a mile away. Next Step "Jump now!" my big brother shouted. My knees shook so much I had to use my arms to keep my balance. Dialogue & Action My heart hammered in my chest like a trapped bird. I was terrified, but I had never been closer to my goal. Deep Feeling

Activity 1: Analyse a Moment 🕵️‍♀️​

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Read the short paragraph below about taking a test. Identify the SENDD

elements:

The Exam Room

The classroom was completely silent, except for the loud ticking

of the clock above the whiteboard. I smelled the sharp scent of

pencil shavings and saw thirty heads bent over their papers.

I turned the page of my exam, the paper crinkling loudly in the

quiet room. "Five minutes left," the teacher announced, and I

gripped my pen tighter until my knuckles turned white. Panic

fluttered in my stomach; I knew I wouldn't finish in time.

Activity 2: Create Your Own Small Moment ✍️​

Choose one of the prompts below. Use the table to draft a sentence for each part of SENDD. Remember: zoom in on just a few seconds! Prompts: The moment you dropped your lunch tray in the dining hall The second before you scored a goal in the Champions League Opening a surprising gift you got from someone you love

SENDD Checklist	Your Sentences
Setting (Where are you?)
Experience (What do you see/smell/hear?)
Next Step (What happens?)
Dialogue & Action (What is said/done?)
Deep Feeling (Physical feeling in body)

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Take a look at the assignment:

• identify SENDD

• has the author written about all three parts? 

Model Text: Being a Teen – Now and in the Future 

The blue light from my phone screen glows in the dark room at 6:00 AM as I begin another day as a teenager in my hometown. I can hear the distant hum of traffic outside and the soft, repetitive "ping" of new notifications on social media. I slowly reach out to silence my alarm, already thinking about the long day of school and practice ahead. "Five more minutes," I mumble to myself, even though I know the pressure of grades and future expectations is already waiting for me. Being a teen here feels like a constant race between the digital world and reality—it is exciting and exhausting all at once.

This is the reality for many of us, and as you gather for the international youth conference in Madrid, there are specific issues you must address. First, the conference should focus on mental health, as the pressure to perform in education and maintain a perfect image on social media is creating a crisis of anxiety. Secondly, you must prioritise the environment and climate change; young people today feel a deep sense of responsibility for the planet's future, and we need to see global leaders take real action. These issues are vital because they define our quality of life and determine whether we feel safe and supported in our transition to adulthood.

Looking ahead, life as a teenager will likely change significantly in the future. Education may become entirely digital, allowing for more flexibility but perhaps making real-life friendship harder to maintain. While technology might solve some problems, the economy and the changing nature of jobs could make our future more unpredictable. However, despite these changes in lifestyles, the need for human connection and a fair world will always be at the heart of the teenage experience. By focusing on these issues now, the Madrid conference can help ensure that the teenagers of the future have the tools they need to thrive.

Without looking at your notes! Do you remember?

1. What does SENDD stand for?
   
   

2. Which part shows feelings?
   
   

3. Which part moves the story forward?
   
   

4. Why is dialogue useful in a story?

Now go to Trelson and write your own text! 

Final Assignment: Will be published on the same day

You write.

Here is the whole theme if you prefer to print: Personal narrative - SENDD