Best examples of 3 examples of how to develop characters in a narrative essay

Examples of 3 ways to develop characters in a narrative essay

Let’s get straight to what you actually need: examples of 3 examples of how to develop characters in a narrative essay that you can borrow and adapt. The three core methods we’ll focus on are:

• What characters do (actions and behavior)
• What characters say (dialogue and voice)
• What characters think and feel (inner thoughts and emotions)

Most strong narrative essays use all three. The balance might change, but the toolbox is the same.

Example of character development through actions and behavior

One of the best examples of character development is when you barely describe a person directly, but their actions tell you everything.

Imagine you’re writing about your first day at a new high school.

Instead of:

I was very nervous and shy. I did not like talking to new people.

You might write:

I stood in the doorway of the cafeteria, gripping my tray so hard the plastic bent. Kids moved in smooth patterns, sliding into seats they’d clearly claimed years ago. I pretended to check my phone, even though there were no messages, and aimed for the empty table by the trash cans.

You never say, “I am shy,” but the reader gets it. The character is developed through behavior: gripping the tray, pretending to check the phone, choosing the empty table.

Here are a few more concrete examples of how actions build character in a narrative essay:

• A character who always straightens the books on a desk before starting homework shows us they’re organized or anxious without ever labeling it.
• A teenager who volunteers to take the blame for a broken window, even when their friends stay silent, reveals loyalty and courage.
• A basketball player who keeps shooting free throws alone long after practice ends shows determination and maybe fear of failure.

In each case, the actions do the heavy lifting. When teachers talk about “show, don’t tell,” these are the real examples they mean.

If you’re looking for examples of 3 examples of how to develop characters in a narrative essay, notice how this first method works in combination with the next two. Actions alone are powerful, but they become even stronger when you layer in dialogue and inner thoughts.

Examples include dialogue that reveals personality, conflict, and relationships

Dialogue is one of the best examples of how to develop a character quickly. The way a person speaks, what they avoid saying, and who they interrupt (or don’t) all reveal personality.

Take a family dinner scene. You could write:

My brother was annoying and always made jokes at my expense.

Or you could show it:

“So,” my brother said, leaning back in his chair, “how’s the future valedictorian doing with that B‑minus in chemistry?”
“It’s not a B‑minus,” I muttered. “It’s an 82.”
“In this house,” he announced to the table, “we round down.”

You never need to say “he’s sarcastic.” The dialogue builds the character.

Here are several more specific examples of how dialogue can develop characters in a narrative essay:

• A nurse in a hospital scene who says, “I’m fine, really, just a long shift,” while her voice cracks on the word fine hints at exhaustion and maybe burnout.
• A coach who tells a player, “You’re not there yet, but I’ve never seen anyone work as hard as you do,” shapes both the coach’s character (tough but supportive) and the player’s (hardworking but insecure).
• A grandparent who calls every young person “kiddo” and tells the same story three times at Thanksgiving shows age, affection, and a little forgetfulness.

When you study examples of 3 examples of how to develop characters in a narrative essay, pay attention to how dialogue is never just people talking. It should:

• Reveal relationships (Who has power? Who feels small?)
• Expose conflict (What are they avoiding? What are they fighting about?)
• Show personality (Formal? Sarcastic? Gentle? Blunt?)

A quick way to check your own writing: read the dialogue out loud. If every character sounds the same, you probably need to sharpen their voices. You can find helpful advice on writing dialogue and narrative voice in college writing resources like Purdue OWL and Harvard College Writing Center.

Real examples of inner thoughts and emotions that deepen character

The third major method is showing what’s happening inside your character: their thoughts, fears, hopes, and private reactions. Narrative essays are usually written in first person, which gives you an easy way to step inside a character’s head.

Here’s a simple before-and-after.

Instead of:

I was angry at my mom for not coming to my game.

Try:

When I saw the empty spot on the bleachers where my mom usually sat, my stomach dropped. I told myself she was just late, that traffic was bad, that maybe her phone had died. By halftime, I stopped checking the door. I knew exactly where she was: at her desk, chasing one more email instead of my free throw.

The character isn’t just “angry.” We see disappointment, rationalizing, and then quiet resentment. That’s deeper, more believable character development.

More examples include:

• A student waiting for college decisions who keeps refreshing their email every ten minutes, thinking, If I don’t get in, everyone will know I was never that smart, reveals insecurity and pressure.
• A new immigrant walking into an American classroom for the first time, thinking, Don’t mispronounce my name. Please don’t laugh at my accent, shows vulnerability and fear of judgment.
• A runner at the start of a marathon repeating, Just don’t be last, while smiling confidently at friends shows the gap between public appearance and private anxiety.

If you’re collecting examples of 3 examples of how to develop characters in a narrative essay, notice how inner thoughts can:

• Explain why a character acts the way they do
• Create empathy by letting us feel what they feel
• Add tension when thoughts and actions don’t match

Psychology and education research consistently show that readers connect more strongly with characters when they can see their emotions and motivations. For example, the American Psychological Association discusses how narrative and perspective-taking increase empathy in readers and listeners (apa.org). That’s exactly what you’re doing when you write a character’s inner life well.

Blending the 3 methods: the best examples feel layered, not flat

So far, we’ve looked at each method separately. But the best examples of 3 examples of how to develop characters in a narrative essay don’t keep them apart. They blend actions, dialogue, and inner thoughts in the same scene.

Let’s build a quick scene using all three.

Scenario: You’re writing about the moment you almost dropped out of community college.

I stared at the red “D” on my biology exam, my fingers slowly curling the paper into a crumpled ball. Around me, chairs scraped back and people chatted about weekend plans like nothing had happened.

“Hey, you good?” Marcus asked, slinging his backpack over one shoulder.

“Yeah,” I said automatically. “Just tired.”

The lie tasted like chalk. I wasn’t tired. I was done. Done pretending I could work thirty hours a week, help my little brothers with homework, and somehow keep up with mitosis and meiosis.

In just a few lines, you get:

• Actions: staring at the red D, crumpling the paper
• Dialogue: a quick exchange that shows the character hiding their real feelings
• Inner thoughts: the lie “tasted like chalk,” and the list of responsibilities building pressure

This is one of the best examples of how to develop a character in a narrative essay because it feels like a real person in a specific moment, not a label like “hardworking student.”

When you study examples of 3 examples of how to develop characters in a narrative essay, look for this layering. Ask yourself:

• What is the character doing?
• What are they saying (or not saying)?
• What are they thinking and feeling underneath?

If your draft only shows one of these, you have an easy way to revise: add the missing layers.

Modern 2024–2025 trends: using current settings to develop characters

Narrative essays in 2024–2025 often use contemporary settings—group chats, social media, online classes—to develop characters in ways that feel current.

Here are a few modern, real-world flavored examples of character development:

• A character who types a long text in a group chat, then deletes it and sends “nvm” instead, shows insecurity and fear of being judged.
• A student who keeps turning their camera off in online class, while thinking, No one needs to see my little brother running behind me again, reveals family responsibilities and embarrassment.
• A friend who “likes” every one of your posts but never replies to your messages might be trying to stay connected while feeling emotionally distant.

These are still the same three methods—actions, dialogue (including digital communication), and inner thoughts—but in updated environments. When you write about TikTok, Zoom, or Discord, you’re not just being trendy; you’re giving yourself more tools to show who your characters are.

If you want to see how narrative and storytelling are used in modern education and communication, sites like Harvard’s Bok Center for Teaching and Learning and Stanford’s Hume Center for Writing and Speaking share strategies that overlap with what you’re doing in a narrative essay: using specific stories to make people care.

How to build your own examples of 3 examples of how to develop characters in a narrative essay

Now let’s turn this into something you can actually use for your next assignment. Here’s a simple process to create your own strong character scenes.

Step 1: Pick one key moment
Choose a moment where your character has to make a choice, face a fear, or react to a surprise. That’s where character shows up most clearly.

Step 2: List three things for that moment

• What the character does (visible actions)
• What the character says (to others or out loud)
• What the character thinks/feels (inside their head)

For example, if your moment is “the first time I drove a car alone”:

• Actions: white‑knuckle grip on the steering wheel, checking the rearview mirror every two seconds
• Dialogue: “You got this,” whispered to yourself at the red light
• Thoughts: If I crash, Dad will never trust me again. Maybe I should just turn around.

Step 3: Write the scene using all three
Instead of summarizing the event, slow it down and let the character’s actions, words, and thoughts appear on the page.

Step 4: Compare with real examples
Look back at the earlier scenes in this article and at examples from your class readings. Ask:

• Do I see all three methods at work?
• Can I cut any direct labels like “I was sad” and replace them with behavior, dialogue, or thoughts instead?

Over time, you’ll build your own collection of examples of 3 examples of how to develop characters in a narrative essay—scenes you’ve written that you can adapt for future assignments.

For more guidance on narrative writing in academic settings, many universities provide free online resources. For instance, the University of North Carolina Writing Center offers tips on creative and narrative writing that line up well with the techniques you’re practicing.

FAQ: examples of character development in narrative essays

Q: Can you give a short example of character development in one paragraph?
Yes. Here’s a quick example of a paragraph that develops a character:

By the time the bus pulled up, my little sister was already bouncing on her toes, waving her glittery backpack at me like a flag. “You’re coming to the concert, right?” she asked for the third time that week. I opened my mouth to say yes, then glanced at the stack of late notices peeking out of the mailbox. “I’ll try,” I said instead. Her smile flickered, and I looked away before she could see how much I hated that word.

In just a few sentences, we see a responsible but worried older sibling through actions (glancing at late notices), dialogue (“I’ll try”), and inner emotion (hating that word).

Q: Do narrative essays always need dialogue to develop characters?
No. While many of the best examples use dialogue, you can still develop strong characters through actions and inner thoughts alone. However, even a small amount of dialogue can make a scene feel more vivid and help distinguish characters from one another.

Q: What are some other examples of small details that help develop a character?
Small details can be powerful. An example of this is a character who always corrects people’s grammar, or someone who keeps a lucky keychain from middle school on their backpack. These details hint at personality (perfectionist, sentimental, anxious) without long explanations.

Q: How many characters should I develop in a short narrative essay?
For a typical school assignment (about 2–4 pages), it’s usually better to focus on developing one or two characters deeply rather than trying to give full backstories to everyone. You can still include other people, but keep the spotlight on the main character’s actions, dialogue, and inner thoughts.

Q: Where can I find more examples of narrative essays with strong characters?
Look at student essay collections from universities, sample narratives in writing textbooks, and online writing labs. Many college writing centers share sample essays that show exactly how students use these techniques in real assignments.

If you remember nothing else, remember this: the strongest examples of 3 examples of how to develop characters in a narrative essay always come back to the same three tools—what your character does, what they say, and what they secretly think and feel. Use all three, and your people will stop feeling like names on a page and start feeling like someone your reader actually knows.