(1000-word minimum)

Rough Draft Due: 9/20

Final Draft Due: 9/27

Assignment 

In discussing the education narrative genre, we have read several examples in which the writers discuss meaningful experiences, texts, and spaces that have shaped their understanding of themselves and/or the world around them. 

You have read these mentor texts as a reader, to understand them and learn from them, and also as a writer, as Mike Bunn describes in “How to read like a Writer,” looking at not only what they have to say but also how they do so, for what purpose, and for what audience, and in what style or with what tone.

For this assignment, you will write an education narrative of your own that tells a story about a meaningful learning experience, whether in school or in your life. For example, your experience might be about a class, a text you read, a space where you like to learn, or even a mentor who had an impact on you.  Describe the meaningful experience. Then tell about when, why, and how the experience was significant for you. In telling about your experience, you should refer to one or two of the authors we have read this semester. Quote from the author to help you develop your narrative and/or point. 

Things to think about: In addition to your topic, for your education narrative, you will need to choose

  • what the purpose of your narrative is–other than completing Project 1, what else can it do? If you shared your finished narrative with people, what would you want them to take away from reading it?
  • who is your intended audience? Are you writing for people who had similar experiences? People who can’t imagine what your experiences were? Family members who know you but not your specific ideas? Students who are not as far along as you? Classmates with whom you want to connect and collaborate? Potential employers?
  • what style or tone do you want for your essay? This will be connected to its purpose and intended audience. Do you want it to be funny? intense? emotional? controlled?
  • what format do you want it to take? Are you writing it as plain text, or do you want to integrate images or other media? If you do, they should work with your chosen purpose, audience, and style/tone, rather than being unrelated.
  • who do you want to refer to? Think about everything we’ve read so far this semester. In your narrative, you will need to quote from one or two of our readings and use/respond to those authors’ ideas either in support of what you’re saying or as a counterpoint.

Grading Criteria: You will be graded on your

  • ability to develop an overall point/significance for your narrative.
  • use of concrete, significant details rather than generalizations
  • focus on one event or connected, series of events
  • integration of one or two ideas from another writer into your narrative
  • construction of a narrative that serves a purpose for a particular audience
  • organization’s effectiveness
  • use of tone, language, grammar, and sentence structure as appropriate for your genre, audience, and purpose
  • scope: aim for 1000 words!
  • finishing touches, in terms of proofreading, formatting, submitting, etc.
  • timely submission of the assignment

You will not be penalized for having negative things to say about education, if that’s appropriate for your chosen purpose! If you have any concerns about this project, its subject, your ability to complete it or to submit it, please communicate with me–we can start with email or scheduling a meeting or meet during office hours.