English 1A
Essay 1
Due Feb 23, 2020
Online via Canvas
Length: Approximately 4 pages (1250 words)
Format: MLA, double spaced

ASSIGNMENT: Write an essay about an event in your life that will engage readers and that will, at the same time, help them understand the significance of the event. Tell your story vividly and dramatically.
TOPIC: To arrive at a topic, reflect on events that have had significance in your life. We will be doing brainstorming in class, and there will be reading materials that will help you. Be sure to choose an event that took place in a short period of time.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this essay will depend a lot on you. You are trying to communicate to the readers information about yourself as well as ideas that may apply to them.
AUDIENCE: Essentially you will be writing a human-interest piece; people will want to read your essay to learn about you and about human nature. Before you write draft 1 of the essay, choose an audience for your essay and think specifically about what you want to communicate to that audience.
INVENTION AND WRITING: We will follow the steps of the writing process for this essay: prewriting, some outlining, drafting, revising, editing. Be sure to follow instructions completely, writing all lists, descriptions, dialogue, and sketches as instructed. You are expected to generate several pages of invention. We will be revising and editing in class; make sure you have your completed draft and all invention material with you on the days these items are due.
SPECIFIC SKILLS/ABILITIES REQUIRED BY THIS ASSIGNMENT:
1. Draw on your experience for material
2. Arrange the narrative in climactic chronological order
3. Develop the event with vivid details, dialogue, examples, and illustrations
4. Reflect on the effects of the event on you and/or others, the meaning of the event, or the insight you gained from the experience

Watch out for: You will want to avoid the following problems especially:
1. Choosing a topic that is too broad (“my childhood,” “our championship season”)
2. Failing to create suspense and to build to a climax
3. Failing to reflect on the significance of the experience
4. Oversimplifying or sentimentalizing the significance of the experience