Essay #1 Exploring an Issue Through Personal Experience
The first unit of this class is designed for you to choose a debatable topic to write about and research for the rest of the semester. Often we care about issues because of an experience in our own lives, or because that issue has personal relevance to us.
The first essay assignment asks you to reflect on how a significant personal experience has shaped your view on an issue. Write a 4 - 6 page essay which uses personal reflection and narrative strategies to develop a thesis which relates how your experience is significant and contributes to your own views or position on an issue.
You will convey to your reader a narrative that demonstrates how the experience relates to the more universal or public issue. We will address the question of audience for this essay in class, but generally speaking, you will consider your audience your peers. That is, your readers will share many things in common with you, but certainly will not be able to guess at details in your life. Further, your audience will be expecting your personal exploration to have some relevance to them. The fact that your readers will expect you to make the essay relevant and clear requires you to make sure that your essay meets some basic criteria:
We will determine further criteria as we work on the drafting process and read other essays in class.
Rough Draft (2 copies)
You are required to turn in a rough draft of this essay to me on Wednesday,
September 17. On that date, you are required to bring an additional
copy of the rough draft to class for peer editing.
Final Draft
The final draft of this essay is due Friday, September 26 by 5pm.
The final draft must be in your folder with:
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