Nickolson 1

Kate Nickolson

Wilson

Period 3

March 15, 2019

The house shook as I heard the screaming from the kitchen. Sudden shouts would erupt

back and forth. It drove me insane listening to them argue. Just hearing the complaining made

my blood boil. Why was I stressing out over their problems? I wasn't the one getting in trouble.

My sister Emily had been lashing out on my parents for years. They didn’t even realize how it

was effecting me. I slightly opened the door trying the eavesdrop on the loud conversation. The

hallway was pitch black with a little bit of light peeking from downstairs. “I can do whatever I

want!” yelled my sister. “If your living under this house you will live by our rules!” yelled my

father. At the time I was only in middle school. I was not able to understand the current situation

or extend of what was truly happening in my family. My sister had been rebelling against my

parents which led to her making bad decisions. Through these decisions she started dating

someone who she met in high school. He was large, tall and stomped around making the house

shake as though it was like thunder. My parents did not like them together. Bad relationships

were one of the reasons why they were in similar situation constantly. I returned to my room

aggravated. I prayed that they would stop yelling at each other. I hated the shouts that traveled

from downstairs. I began dozed off, slowly falling asleep to the shouting. Waking up to in the

silence in the house, I felt relieved. The shouting had finally stopped. I began to walk downstairs
 Nickolson 2

when my sisters Emily and Johanna began to whispered to each other. Curiously I asked, “What

are you guys talking about?”. They both looked at each other in secrecy. Finally Emily said “I

have something to tell you”.

It was the middle of the night when my sister revealed her secret. A secret that has been

hidden for 3 months. I was the last to know because I was viewed as childish and too young to

understand. I automatically began asking saying “Are you engaged?”. My other sister Johanna

began to snarkily said “She skipped a step”. I was completely confused I had no idea what was

happening. I patiently sat on the stairs as they stared at me through the kitchen. Emily finally

says “I’m pregnant”. Instantly I was so happy and excited for her. I was going to become an

aunt! She even said the the baby was due on the day before my birthday. Both of my sisters

began to convince me that if she was born on my birthday I would not like it because it would

then be all about her. I ignored them because I was so excited of the idea of having a niece or

nephew. But as I had processed the news I became confused when she said she was 3 months

pregnant. Why did she not tell me before? My sister Johanna found out she was pregnant right

when it happened. Even other people outside of our family knew that Emily was pregnant. I was

hurt when I discovered I was the last one to know. Why did she keep it a secret? Why did she not

want to tell me? Why was I the last to know?

September 04, 2015, I was in my social studies classroom in middle school. It was an

early release and I was going to be tracked out for the rest of the month. I was so anxious to get a

break and finally rest. I came home excited and relieved to be done. My mom greeted me as I
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arrived and told me that Emily was in labor. I was so excited “Are we going to go see her?” I

anxiously asked. “Yes we are leaving soon” she replied. I jumped up and began to pack as fast as

a cheetah. I hopped in the car and off we were to the hospital. There I sat in the car waiting and

waiting for what seemed like forever. My mothers phone began to ring in the silent car. Our

family anxiously listened to the conversation until my mother put down the phone. She told us

that my sister had a great recovery and had a baby girl! We were almost there, so close to getting

to meet my new niece that I have been so excited to meet for the past 6 months. We finally

pulled into the hospital and began to make our way to the labor and delivery room. In these next

few moments I would be walking in to see my niece. Through all the argument and pain, this was

for once a happy moment. A brief moment where the world around us paused. She was beautiful,

a tiny delicate thing that meant so much after only being in the world for a few moments. She

was so delicate I was afraid to hold her in fear of dropping her. It was finally time to to discover

her name. My sister announced to the whole family, “We decided to name her Reagan Aubrey”.

It was perfect, my little niece Reagan. Everyone got to hold her and it was finally my turn. I was

so nervous but extremely excited. My father laid her in my harms as I sat next the the hospital

bed. There she was, in my arms and unaware of the world. The moment I have been waiting for,

a moment of peace. As I held that beautiful baby I smiled, excited to see how her life would turn

out and how our relationship will grow as she grows.

Narrative Essay Rubric (Honors)

Score: 43.5/50
W.9-10.3​. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and
well-structured event sequences.
Standard Exceptional (10-9) Proficient (8-7) Emerging (6-1) Not Evident (0)

3.a​. ​Introduction​ -
Engage and orient the
reader by setting out a
problem, situation, or
observation, establishing
one or multiple point(s)
of view, and introducing
a narrator and/or
characters; create a
smooth progression of
experiences or events.
9
3.b. ​Narrative​ - ​Use
narrative techniques,
such as dialogue, pacing,
description, reflection,
and multiple plot lines,
to develop experiences,
events, and/or
characters.
8 events, and/or
3.c​. ​Organization​ - ​Use a
variety of techniques to
sequence events so that
they build on one
another to create a
coherent whole.
8.5
3.d.​ ​Language​ - ​Use
precise words and
phrases, telling details,
and sensory language to
convey a vivid picture of
the experiences, events,
❏ Effectively hook the
reader with a creative,
original, and
compelling hook
❏ Effectively sets out a
problem, situation, or
observation in a
compelling and/or
creative manner
❏ Establish an insightful,
original, or creative
point of view
❏ Introduce a ​complex
and/or creative
narrator, characters,
setting, and main idea
❏ Utilize ​two or more
(teacher discretion)
narrative techniques
with purpose:
dialogue, pacing,
description, reflection,
multiple plot lines,
etc…
❏ Develop experiences,
characters and to
clearly develop a
purposeful theme
❏ Use ​purposefully
narrative techniques
such as
foreshadowing,
dramatic irony,
suspense, and/or
flashbacks in a ​highly
effective manner​ ​to
create an original plot
structure
❏ Create a smooth
progression of
experiences or events
that is logical, ​creative,
and sophisticated ​and
that uses ​highly
engaging devices
❏ Use precise, detailed
and ​sophisticated
words, phrases, and
sensory language​ to
engage the reader ​and
convey a​ ​vivid picture
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❏ Hook the reader with
a compelling hook
❏ Effectively sets out a
problem, situation, or
observation
❏ Establish an insightful
point of view
❏ Introduce a narrator,
characters, setting,
and main idea
❏ Utilize narrative
techniques such as
dialogue, pacing,
description,
reflection, and
multiple plot lines
❏ Develop experiences,
events, and/or
characters in attempt
to convey theme
❏ Use appropriately
techniques such as
foreshadowing,
dramatic irony,
suspense, and/or
flashbacks
❏ Create a smooth
progression of
experiences or events
that is logical and
engaging
❏ Use precise and
detailed words,
phrases, and sensory
language to convey a
vivid picture

setting, and/or
characters.
10
3.e.​ ​Conclusion​ - ​Provide
a conclusion that follows
from and reflects on
what is experienced,
observed, or resolved
over the course of the
narrative.
8 complex and original
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❏ Provide a conclusion ❏ Provide a conclusion
that reflects on what is that reflects on what
experienced, observed, is experienced,
or resolved observed, or resolved
❏ Extends the meaning ❏ Extends the meaning
and purpose to to convey a theme
connect to the
audience ​and​ ​convey a
theme