origin essay

Personal Narrative and Position Essay: Origin of Ideas

This semester we will be strengthening our understanding of the public nature of writing. Before we delve into discourse communities outside ourselves it is best to understand where our own ideas originate. Knowledge of our own state of being enables us to take a more objective stance when discussing highly debatable topics (which we will be doing on a regular basis). This is a reflective paper, but each statement must be supported by examples.

Our ideas are often the product of our subject position and personal experiences. Within a focused and organized four-page essay locate the origin of your ideas and make a claim about a specific social issue. We will create a list of possible topics as a class.

Ideas to Consider Before Writing:

· How do I identify myself? What is my role in society?

· What social issues are important to me?

· How/where was I raised (how has this influenced my beliefs)?

· How strong/weak is my understanding of certain issues I feel strongly about?

Writing – What to include:

· *Choose one social issue and take a position

· Include anecdotes about specific events in your life that led to your views

· Organize and balance your position and how it was developed

Requirements – The polished paper must be four pages in length and adhere to MLA guidelines. Please refer to our essay rubric for areas of evaluation.

Related Readings:

· “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua

· “Language and Literature from a Pueblo Indian Perspective” by Leslie Marmon Silko

· “If Black Isn’t a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?” by James Baldwin

· “What is Poverty?” by Jo Goodwin Parker

· Sample Student Essays