Essay Assignment #1 - Personal Narrative: Quest to Literacy

A Personal Essay
celebrates the writers unique voice
entertains, informs, and moves readers
reveals something personal about the writer and his or her thoughts
constructs meaning relevant to the reader
suggests meaning through inference rather than explicit statement
shows with vivid detail rather than explaining through generalizing
uses illustrations and examples to communicate meaning
relies and reflects on experience

Task: Compose a personal essay that explores your history as a reader, writer, and/or student, and
reveals a significant moment(s) of transformation during your journey toward literacy.

Purpose: to tell your literacy story, to explore and express your thoughts and feelings, and to
demonstrate your ability to construct a unified essay that expresses a main idea.

Requirements: Weave two quotes into your essay (one quote from two of the essays we have read this
week: Frederick Douglass, Amy Tan, Eudora Welty, Joan Didion, and/or David Sedaris). Use the quotes to
help strengthen your ideas. Make sure to introduce each quote and provide commentary after each one
using the sandwich method. Include a works cited page.

Target Audience: An English instructor, so remember to be creative, detailed, yet academic in tone and
diction.

Length/Format/Style: At least 1000 words (3-4 double-spaced pages using Times New Roman). Follow
MLA format. Include an introduction, body, and conclusion. Avoid writing in second person.

Due Dates: First draft due July 10
th
, second draft due July 11
th
, final draft due July 15
th
.

Grading: See Rubric on reverse side.

Consider these questions to help you get started: Where and when did your journey towards literacy
begin? Or what was one moment in particular that stands out to you? Who and what texts were the
most influential and important on your journey? What obstacles did you face? What was the result of
having to overcome these obstacles? Most important, think about why this experience is significant to
you and your readers.