http://www.unm.edu/~gmartin/Essays/Writing%20Personal%20Essays%20-%20Turning%20Oneself%20into%20a%20Character.pdf
Egl 102 Narrative Assignment Sheet Topic: For this paper, you will be selecting and writing about a scene from your life. In other words, choose a moment in time that changed you in some way, that was important to your growth as an individual, and that you carry with you almost daily. While you can give background details in a page or two, make sure to hone in on one particular scene/moment for at least one page. Your goal is to recreate, in words, this moment so that your reader feels like they were there with you. Make sure that your topic is one with which you are comfortable writing about and discussing since you will be sharing your paper with me and your classmates. Also, this paper must utilize some of the terminology/strategies that we discuss in class. Technical aspects: Your paper needs to be 3-5 pages long. It must use size 12, Times New Roman font and it needs to be double-spaced (no more, no less) with 1" margins all around. Be aware that the margins are usually preset so you shouldn’t have to do anything to ensure your document is formatted correctly. Including sources is up to you; however, all sources used must be cited in accordance with MLA provisions (parenthetical citations as well as a Works Cited page). EVEN IF YOU PARAPHRASE OR BORROW IDEAS FROM SOMEONE ELSE'S WORK, IT MUST BE CITED. For guidelines, see this website: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/02/. You may also consult the MLA handbook or our syllabus. Due date: A paper copy of your essay is due on 9/25 at the start of class. Please bring two copies with you, one to submit and one to discuss with a classmate. If you do not bring a second copy, you will be asked to leave class and you will be marked absent. Late papers or papers that are not submitted: Papers submitted late will lose one point per each day late and I reserve the right to omit points from your grade if you are late coming to class on 9/25. If you cannot come to class on the day the paper is due, you must email me before the start of class so that we can discuss submission options. If you are sick and cannot develop/submit the essay due to longer-term illness, you can only avoid losing points if a reasonable doctor's note is provided vouching for your illness. Grading: Rubric to be provided at a later date. Narrative Essay Rubric 15-20 points 8-14 points 1-7 points 0 points Plot structure Narrative includes all components of Freytag’s pyramid. Narrative could more clearly include all components of Freytag’s pyramid. Narrative is missing a few components of Freytag’s pyramid. Freytag’s pyramid appears to have been ignored. Pacing Narrative piece is well paced. It includes moments of action/summary and appropriate discriminated occasions. Narrative is decently paced and includes mostly balanced use of action/summary and discriminated occasions. Narrative could more clearly focus on pacing and either needs more discriminated occasions or more moments of action/summary. Narrative seems to completely ignore pacing. Characterization Student has well-developed characters. Nearly all if not all aspects of characterization are accounted for. Student has mostly well-developed characters and sufficiently applies aspects of characterization. Student needs to more thoroughly apply aspects of characterization. Characterization appears to have been ignored. Application of literary and rhetorical terminology A very clear attempt to utilize literary and rhetorical terminology can be seen and the result is quite effective (generates interest). A sufficient attempt to utilize terminology can be seen and the result is relatively effective. Student could focus more thoroughly on effectively applying terminology. Terminology cannot be easily located or found at all. Grammar/ clarity/ word choice Grammar, word choice, and clarity are completely sound Grammar, word choice, and clarity are mostly sound More than a few grammar errors present, ideas unclear, and/or word choice is poor Grammar, clarity, and word choice appear to have been ignored