autobiography

Rough Draft Due: Thursday, February 14th, 2019 (Bring a copy to class! 15% of your course grade)

Final Draft Due: Wednesday, February 20th, 2019 (MLA formatted, typed, double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font—3-4 pages, 900-1000 words)

For your first assignment, you will write an autobiographical narrative about a moment or event in your life that changed your perspective on something or someone. Because the assignment is autobiographical, you have total control over which topic you discuss; you can choose to talk about a recent event or an incident that took place a while ago. The event could have impacted your life for the better or for the worse. Your essay must follow a traditional narrative structure: set up the plot, describe the rising action and climax, and explain the story’s resolution. Your finished narrative should also answer the following questions: How did the experience change you as a person or alter your perspective? What key events led up to your change in mindset? Where did these events take place, and who else if anyone was involved? Depending on the topic, you might decide to change the names of the people you write about for privacy reasons.

The narrative should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. I will grade it based on how well you organize your thoughts, as well as your grammar, spelling, and punctuation. I will also pay special attention to the tone of your essay, making sure that your word choices and narrative structure complement the story you’re telling. Lastly, I expect you to show, instead of tell. For example, don’t just say that an event made you sad or worried. Express these emotions and feelings through descriptive writing and sensory language. You should also give consideration to who your audience is and why they might be interested in reading your essay. Think about how Kenneth Miller adapted his narrative writing in “Class Act” to appeal to his audience as he told the life story of Brenda Combs. Do not feel like you have to reveal your deepest, darkest secrets or disclose details about your life that are too personal. Use this assignment as an opportunity to tell a compelling story that means something to you.

Your narrative must be formatted according to MLA guidelines, with a header and page numbers in the top right corner of each page. If you have questions about formatting, please visit a tutor or refer to the OWL Purdue website, where you can find sample papers and exemplars. Failing to adhere to MLA guidelines will affect your grade, so please make sure that you use 12-point Times New Roman font and double-space your assignment. You must submit your assignment via Turnitin on Blackboard by the due date listed above. I will not accept essays through email. If questions arise, please do not hesitate to reach out during the writing process. I will assist you as best as I can. Happy writing!