How to write a first person essay

A first person essay is a type of academic essay written in the first person point of view that presents a significant lesson learned from a writer’s personal experience.

The aim of a first person essay is to establish a bond with the reader. You encourage the reader to accompany you on your personal journey when writing this type of essay.

Step 1: First person essay example

Before we go further into the steps, analyze the following first person essay example This will give you an overall idea of what a first person essay is.

When I think of my past life, one of the memories I remember the most vividly is my first day at school. Hook: Engaging first sentence that helps the reader grasp the importance of the event. I have always been a student that loved school and studying; I am what you might consider a nerd. Therefore, I don’t think it’s necessary for me to say how excited I was to start school. Personal information: Information that connects the reader with the writer.

In the weeks leading up to the first school day, I remember checking my stationary my parents had bought me for school every day and admiring them, thinking how excited I was to finally start using them. Opening sentence: Vivid explanation of the past events, creating a more appealing story. I had already learned to read and write before starting elementary school, and I could not wait to see the look on my teacher’s face when I told them, “I already know this stuff!”. Yes, I was an annoying kid. Insights: Insight into the writer’s personality, which creates a more sincere tone. You can ask my childhood friends if you would like to hear someone else’s thoughts on this; I am sure they will tell you the same thing. Concluding sentence: Casual and humorous tone that eases the reader.

You probably expect a happy first day of school story from me right now. Emotional connection: Addressing the reader, therefore strengthening the emotional connection. The truth is far from that. As much as I was a nerd, I was a mamma’s kid. Insights: Further insight into the writer’s personality. So, when my parents dropped me off at school, I started crying my eyes out. Event: Vivid description of the event. I did not want them to leave, but I also wanted to begin my first school day. So, my mother set eyes on a blonde girl that she thought looked like a good kid and made me sit next to her. After starting to chat with my new friend, I slowly eased off and was ready to put on a show. Needless to say, that blonde girl became one of my best friends in elementary school. Feelings: Description of feelings felt by the writer. This helps strengthen the bond between the writer and the reader. Even though it did not go quite according to my plans, I still cherish the memory of my first day at school. Concluding sentence: Concluding sentence of your paragraph which should be memorable and descriptive.

The rest of the school year was much more eventful because, being a crybaby, I started crying even at the slightest of inconvenience. Emotional connection: More insight into the writer’s personality. Adding these details creates an emotional bond with the reader. Naturally, this created a problem for my teacher and classmates, in so much that the deputy headteacher was telling kids to keep quiet, not because it disrupted the class, but because it made me cry. Emphasizing memories: Recounting of more memories in a casual tone. Thinking back to my first school day and generally, my elementary school experience always makes me happy. Therefore, I always have so much fun talking about my school experiences. Final sentence: Your finishing sentences, make sure to make it memorable for your reader.

Step 2: Structure of a first person essay

When it comes to first person essays, both structured academic writing or casual personal narratives can be used.

But remember that the style of first person essays is typically conversational. You need to combine a mixture of personal anecdotes, an emotional connection, and a clear point of view. So personal pronouns are highly common in first person essays.

  • First person pronouns

First person pronouns example

Pronouns such as “I,” “me,” and “we” First person pronouns must be used when writing first person essays. This contrasts with the third person point of view, which uses third person pronouns such as “he,” “she,” and “they”. Third person pronouns

  • Second person pronouns

Second-person pronouns example

First person essays also contrast with the second-person point of view, which uses second-person pronouns such as “you,” and “yours”. Second-person pronouns

Now that we have learned the essentials of first person essays, we can continue with the steps to write an excellent one.

Step 3: Choosing a first person essay topic

Almost any topic can be written in a first person essay. But this should not scare you, as we have some tactics for you to easily choose your topic.

  • It doesn’t matter what you write as long as it’s something you’re enthusiastic about.
  • Ask yourself this question: “What have I experienced in the past that has had an emotional appeal on me?”
  • Choose a topic that is amusing, compelling or moving.
  • If you’re having trouble choosing what to talk about, think about what makes you happy or sad.

First person essay topic examples

  • Your first day at school
  • Your new life in a new city​
  • The funniest day of your life​
  • A sad event you have gone through​
  • A memory from your childhood​

For this guide, we’ve chosen the topic of “your first day at school.” Above, you’ll see the example essay. When you’ve worked out what you want to say, move on to the next step: figure out your tone.

Step 4: Define your tone

Before starting your first draft, think about your essay’s tone and language (see UK and US English). 

Your writing style will need to change depending on the purpose of your essay. For instance, if you’re writing an argumentative or persuasive essay, you may want to use a calculated and rational first person viewpoint.

This will persuade the reader to agree with your key argument. But when you’re writing a reflective essay, you may want to use satire to keep the reader entertained.

So for first person essays, ask yourself these questions to see if your tone is appropriate:

  • Is my tone clear?
  • Is my writing intimate and appealing?​
  • Can my first person storytelling connect with the reader?​

If your answers to these questions are “yes,” you are probably doing a good job.

Step 5: Create an outline

It’s time to make a brief outline now that you’ve selected your topic and decided on the right tone. The outline will help you get your thoughts organized. It will also help you with the order of your headings in the writing process.

Your first person essay should follow the traditional introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion essay structure, unless stated otherwise.

Example of a first person essay outline

  1. Introduction
    1. Hook
    2. Personal information

  2. Body paragraph 1
    1. Opening sentence
    2. Insights
    3. Concluding sentence

  3. Body paragraph 2
    1. Emotional connection
    2. Insights
    3. Event
    4. Feelings
    5. Concluding sentence

  4. Conclusion
    1. Emotional connection
    2. Emphasizing memories
    3. Final sentence

Ask yourself these questions while creating your outline:

  • What are your story’s or argument’s key points?
  • What are the places, people, and events that are important for my essay?​
  • What do you want people to understand from your first person essay?​
  • What feelings do you want to inspire or trigger?​
  • What do you want your readers to think about you? ​

Step 6: Write your first draft

Now, let’s get to writing. The first draft of your essay is an important step toward creating a well-thought-out and concentrated academic essay.

First person essay introduction first draft example

Introduction (Hook, Personal information)

I was always attracted by the stars in the night sky as a youngster. They appeared to be tiny pinpricks of light, far away and enigmatic. My passion in astronomy only grew as I grew older, and I began to spend countless hours studying the stars and planets. I didn't realize the enormous power of a telescope until I was in college. I could see aspects of the world that I had never dreamed conceivable with such a little tool. I've been studying the stars as an amateur astronomer for almost a decade. I've always been captivated by the universe's beauty and complexity, and I feel is no greater thrill than learning something new about our surroundings.

Things to consider

  • Don’t be too harsh on your first draft. You’ll have plenty of time to revise it later.
  • All you have to do now is identify your story's basic elements: characters, locations, and incidents.​
  • It’s fine to stop, gather your thoughts, and remind yourself of your main idea when writing your first draft.​
  • If you can, give yourself a few days to rest after writing the draft, then come back and revise it. ​

Step 7: Revise your draft and finish writing

It’s time to revise your essay after you’ve finished your draft. This is your chance to check if you have a strong point of view and your writing is clear. During this step, feel free to get assistance from professional writing tools such as Grammarly or Hemingway App.

First person essay introduction final draft example

Introduction (Hook, Personal information)

I was always attracted by the stars The stars always attracted me in the night sky as a youngster. They appeared to be tiny pinpricks of light, far away and enigmatic. My passion in astronomy only for astronomy grew as I grew older, and I began to spend spent countless hours studying the stars and planets. I didn't realize only realized the enormous power of a telescope until once I was in college. I could see aspects of the world that I had never dreamed of conceivable with such a little tool. I've been studying studied the stars as an amateur astronomer for almost a decade. I've always been captivated by the universe's beauty and complexity, and I feel and there is no greater incredible thrill than learning something new about our surroundings.

Important things to consider while revising

  • Don’t just tell the reader what’s going on; use vivid common words, phrasal words, transition words, and transition sentences to describe the situation and depict the storyline.
  • Avoid excessive emotions. It’s perfectly appropriate to convey happiness, frustration, or sadness, but you must strike a balance.​
  • Proofread the essay for common mistakes, spelling and grammar mistakes (active and passive etc.), capitalization rules, punctuation, and repetitions.
  • Examine the writing and see if it’s straightforward and to-the-point and whether you’re sharing your ideas in an understandable way.
Additionally, make sure you can say yes to these questions when proofreading your essay:
  • Is there consistency in the essay, both structurally and contextually?
  • Are there any passive voice sentences that I can rewrite in active voice?​
  • Is there enough sensory information in my essay to touch the reader and make them feel like they’re a part of my experience?​
After all, write in-depth, be honest, and discuss feelings in your first person essay, and your reader will be captivated.

Key takeaways

  • A first-person essay is a type of essay that is written from the perspective of the author, using "I" statements and personal experiences.
  • To write a first-person essay, you must be willing to share personal details and experiences with your reader.
  • Begin your essay with a clear introduction that provides context for your topic and establishes your voice as the author.
  • Use personal anecdotes, sensory details, and other techniques to bring your experiences to life and engage the reader.
  • End your essay with a conclusion that reflects on your experiences and provides a final thought or message for the reader.
Picture of Ibrahim Akturk
Ibrahim Akturk
Content editor at Tamara Research. Translation major, huge coffee and baking nerd. Addicted to good music and great articles.

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