Personal Essay

Personal Essay

Definition

            In a Personal Essay, the writer tells a story about a series of events, a personal experience, or a topic of personal interest.  The writer needs to explain the event(s) clearly enough for the reader to follow what happened and when it happened or to understand the importance of the topic.  The writer also has to write with enough details 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 19; Final Draft due October 3.

– 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

Classroom Policies

Writing 1 – 2019/2020

Classroom Conduct

·         As we explore the topics in our literature selections and the various aspects of writing, we’ll engage in whole-class and small group discussions.  Be polite and respectful of each other’s time and comments.

·         We only meet once a week and need to make the most of our time.  Come to class prepared and with the appropriate materials (books, notebook, pens, etc.).  Avoid unrelated and unnecessary conversations and activities that will distract us from learning.  Turn off ALL electronic devices.  (They may be confiscated until the end of the CHAT school day.  Please see the CHAT Code of Conduct for specific guidelines.)

Communication

·         Weekly updates that include the material covered and upcoming assignments will be sent to the e-mail addresses that parents submitted when registering for the class.  I will also collect e-mail addresses from students.  I prefer to communicate via e-mail, but can be reached on my cell phone if the concern is urgent.  (507/581-0270)

·         I’m using two other on-line resources: a blog and Google Drive as a document storage site.  Here’s how they will work:

–  Writing 1 – www.chatwriting1.blogspot.com.  The blog entries will contain the same information from the e-mail updates.  These entries will serve as a consolidation and reference for our weekly lessons for the semester.  Hopefully we can avoid forgotten assignments or missing e-mails.  If students or parents are unsure about an assignment, they have two places to go to find the information.

–  Google Drive –Most of the handouts will be available on a shared folder in Google Drive either as Word documents or PDF files.  Parents and students will receive an e-mail and be invited to view the “Writing 1” folder.  These documents can be downloaded and printed from home computers.

–  MyGradeBook – www.mygradebook.com. This is an online grade book on which I will enter the grades and scores for completed assignments.  Parents and students can log in to check progress.  Note:  Scores may not be immediately added to the website; feel free to contact me for any questions.

Homework Guidelines

·         Short writing assignments, Literature assignments, and Grammar worksheets should be handed in at class time when it is due.  Unless arrangements have been made with Mrs. Prichard, any assignments handed in after this time will be considered late.  While a lot of grace and patience will be given for overdue homework, students must show effort and must communicate about any difficulties they are having.  Please see the Late Homework Guidelines below.

·         Keep on schedule with the reading assignments.  Students who have read the assigned portions will engage more actively, learn more effectively and enjoy more fully the class discussions.

·         Rough drafts must be handed in on time, either in class or via e-mail so that they can be corrected and handed back on time.  If a rough draft does not get handed in, the student will miss out on the opportunity to learn from mistakes.  His/her composition will be graded as a final draft.

·         Final copies of assigned essays should be handed in when due or e-mailed on the Monday after it was assigned.  With special permission, an essay will be given an extension.

·         Extra credit activities will be offered from time to time.  The thrust of these will be mostly “fun and interest.”  Even though the scores will be added to the cumulative scores for the class, they are not a substitute for regular assignments.

Late Homework Guidelines

·         Homework is most useful when it is completed by the due date.  Grammar worksheets and     literature-related homework is not as beneficial for the student if it is done after the class has     covered that topic

·         Any homework handed in more than 2 weeks late will not be scored.  For example, if a worksheet     is assigned in Week 2 and due Week 3, it will not be accepted after Week 5.

·         If a student is absent due to an illness or family situation, parents should contact me.  Extensions       will be given in these circumstances.

Grading Policy

·         Accumulating points is the NOT an important aspect of this class.  My goal is that students grow as learners and writers; this is not always reflected in classroom points.  However, points are a helpful indicator of diligence, improvement, and, to some extent, quality.

·         Points will be given in the following areas:

–  Quick Writes & Vocabulary Builders – 5 pt. /day.  These exercises at the beginning of each class will not be graded for content, but will receive points for participation.

–  Short writing assignments, including lists, grammar exercises, 1 paragraph answers, etc. – points are dependent on the assignment.

–  Extra Credit – 2 – 10 pt. each, depending on the assignment.

–  Pre-Writes – 5 points for outlines, mind maps, and any activity that shows brainstorming and researching.

–  Rough Drafts – 10 points for handing it in on time.

–  Final Essays – 40 pt.  Essays will be graded in four areas:  Focus, Content, Organization, and Mechanics /Grammar.