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Writing a Personal Essay on Care

This homework assignment requires students to write a 5 paragraph personal essay/memoir. They are to write about a memory from their past, focusing on one event. The essay should have an introduction, three body paragraphs describing the setting, problem/conflict, and climax/resolution, and a conclusion reflecting on what was learned. Students are instructed to incorporate a Pattern 1 sentence from the assigned reading and complete exercises to practice this style of writing. Guidelines are provided on choosing a topic and outlining the essay with an example outline.

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15 views2 pages

Writing a Personal Essay on Care

This homework assignment requires students to write a 5 paragraph personal essay/memoir. They are to write about a memory from their past, focusing on one event. The essay should have an introduction, three body paragraphs describing the setting, problem/conflict, and climax/resolution, and a conclusion reflecting on what was learned. Students are instructed to incorporate a Pattern 1 sentence from the assigned reading and complete exercises to practice this style of writing. Guidelines are provided on choosing a topic and outlining the essay with an example outline.

Uploaded by

nicolejb
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Information on Homework Assignment:

1. This week we are writing a personal essay/memoir. It should


have five paragraphs: an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a
conclusion. Type up your essay, double space, and save it in a Word
document. Please remember to print it out and bring it to class.

2. Read "Fishing" by John Greenleaf Whittier and chapter two of The


Art of Styling Sentences (TAOSS). Make sure to add one Pattern 1A
sentence to your personal essay. The 1B and 1C are more difficult,
but if you're feeling adventurous, go for it.

3. Identify the Pattern 1 sentences in Whittier's personal essay.

4. There are several exercises at the end of Chapter Two of TAOSS;


try your hand at these. They will help you in constructing Pattern 1
sentences.

What we learned in class: Something New and Some Review

This week we are writing a personal essay/memoir. An


autobiography is an account of a person's entire life, written by that
person, and usually includes all specific details (when they were
born, where they grew up, the names of the parents, siblings, etc.)
A memoir is not as extensive as an autobiography. It may only relate
a single experience or one or two memories.

What characterizes a memoir?

• It is a memory: a description of an event from the past


• It is written in the first person; told from one person's point of
view
• It is based on the truth
• It reveals the feelings of the writer
• It has meaning; shows what the author learned from the
experience
• It is focused on one event; about one point in the author's life
• It is about the author's experience more than the event itself
How do I write a personal essay/memoir?

First, decide what you want to write about. *See your handout.
Choose whether you will write about a person, place, animal (pet),
or an object. Answer the questions given in the handout. This will
help you brainstorm for ideas and remember key details.

Choose a story about that person, place, animal, or object. For


instance, don't just write, "The lake house is an amazing place
because of the mountain trails, excellent fishing spots, and
peaceful atmosphere." Instead, write, "The lake house has always
been among my favorite memories, especially the time I went water
skiing with my cousin, Tim." Then tell that story about water skiing
at the lake house.

Your essay should have five paragraphs: an introduction, three body


paragraphs, and a conclusion. Your outline can look something like
this:

I. Introduction: 1-3 sentences


II. Body Paragraph One: Setting (Who is in the story? What are they
like? When does it happen?)
III. Body Paragraph Two: Problem/Conflict (What happens?)
IV. Body Paragraph Three: Climax, Resolution (What happens after?
How is the problem/need resolved?)
V. Conclusion: What did you learn from this experience? What is the
moral?

If you're stuck, re-read the story by Whittier. Note how he builds


suspense. Observe his use of description.
 

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