Friday, September 16, 2016

Personal History Essay


Definition
            In a Personal Essay, the writer tells a story about a series of events.  The writer needs to explain the event(s) clearly enough for the reader to follow what happened and when it happened.  The writer also has to tell the story dramatically enough to keep the reader’s attention and interest.  Your goal should be to develop an essay that informs and/or entertains, and that impels readers to think about their own lives.
           

Organization of a Personal Essay
Just about anything in your life that interests you, amuses you, angers you, or makes you think is a possible subject for a personal essay.  Dig as deep into your experience as you can.  As you think about a topic, event, person, or place of significance, look for an emerging focus, main idea, or viewpoint.
            A personal essay is a blend of narrative (sharing some aspect of your life) and analysis (commenting upon this time).


Thesis Statements
            The thesis statement of your essay presents the subject of the narration and its significance.  Your essay should reveal your attitude or opinion about the event.  Your essay can also tell a message or lesson related to the event.


Some Helpful Tips on Writing
Decide on the story you want to tell, and think about what the story means to you.
What attitude would you like the reader to learn by reading your story?  What feeling or attitude would you like the reader to have about the story you are telling?
Outline what happened first, second, third, and so on.  Don’t forget important, specific details.  Divide the action into major blocks.  Determine the logical breaks.
Focus on the people involved in your narrative, and try to describe them accurately.
Include the feelings you experienced at different times in you story.
Avoid stringing together a series of events without dramatizing any of them or showing their significance.
Avoid a list.  Make sure the events are logically connected with appropriate transitions to help the reader follow the sequence of events.


Essay Guidelines
Due dates:  Rough Draft due September 22; Final Draft due October 6.
Essay length:  at least 300 words (about 1 page)
Rough drafts can be typed or hand-written, but must be double-spaced.
Final draft format:
Typed (if this is not possible, please let me know)
1 inch margins
Name and date on the upper right hand corner
Number the pages on the lower right hand corner
Title centered above the text of the essay


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