ENGL 101 Spring 2011 Memoir Narrative Essay Guidelines - Prof. Elizabeth C. Washington, Study notes of Grammar and Composition

Download ENGL 101 Spring 2011 Memoir Narrative Essay Guidelines - Prof. Elizabeth C. Washington and more Study notes Grammar and Composition in PDF only on Docsity! ENGL 101 / Spring 2011 / Washington Essay #1: Memoir Narrative 600-800 words Due dates: First draft: Tues, Feb 8 Hand in: Thurs, Feb 10 Using your six-word memoir as a springboard for reflection, write about some aspect of yourself that is an essential part of who you are. You may choose to do this by telling a story about yourself, or by thinking about events that have shaped the way you think or act. If your essay tells a story, think about including sensory details such as color, touch, smell, etc. in order to make it more vivid. What will make your essay effective is how well you’re able to capture some part of who you are--what details you use, and how much of your voice we can see/hear in your essay. If you don’t feel your six-word memoir gives you enough material to work with, try to expand it (or change it completely) by asking yourself questions such as: What has influenced you the most in life? Why? When are you the happiest, or the most satisfied, or feel that you are at your best? Why? If you had only three photographs of yourself in the world, what would you be doing in them? If you were to disappear from the face of the earth tomorrow, what would you want people to remember about you? What internal qualities do you have, or would you like to develop, that you think are important? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What makes you unique? (Remember, your essay does not have to answer these questions—they’re just here in case you need ideas.) Tone: Formal, but not overly academic. This is a personal narrative, so obviously you are allowed to use the word “I”. Avoid being too casual or using slang. Audience: Your classmates, your instructor. Format: Please follow the formatting guidelines from your syllabus. Remember to title your essay, include page numbers, use black ink, etc. Organization: Each new idea should have its own paragraph—avoid lumping everything together in two or three huge paragraphs. During your editing process, check to see if you have the same idea or point popping up in different paragraphs. If so, eliminate whatever is repetitive. An exemplary paper should: • Show awareness of purpose and audience • Demonstrate the ability to be reflective and insightful • Demonstrate clear, well-written prose • Be free of mechanical and grammatical errors ** In order to receive full credit for this essay, you must include at least one earlier draft. Please place your final draft on top and make sure it is clearly labeled. ALL PAGES MUST BE secured together with paper clips, staples, etc.