Patterson
-400-700 words
-Typed in MS Word, 12 point font with
one-inch margins, double-spacing and MLA heading as seen in the Harbrace chapter 33’s paper example – replacing “section” with class time/days
-Topics must be approved verbally, in-person
or by email by January 30.
-Final draft due February 4 when class
begins as a hardcopy (printed version) and must be submitted to www.turnitin.com by the due date. (Papers
not submitted to Turn It In will not be graded.)
Write a
well-developed narrative essay. In a narrative, you tell a story. That is, you
describe some significant event or incident. The significance of the event will
give the narrative its thesis – and provide focus for the whole essay.
You may
choose your own topic, but I must approve it. Consider an incident which you
experienced, either as a participant or witness. The possibilities include a
memorable occasion; a hunting, fishing or sporting
event; a travel experience; an episode which changed you in some way; an
incident which taught you something; an occurrence which struck danger, terror,
excitement, romance, embarrassment or amusement.
The essay
should have an introductory paragraph which will include the thesis sentence
wherein you present the subject and your attitude towards it. The essay should
also have a number of body paragraphs which prove your main point as they
present the story. And finally, it should have a conclusion paragraph that
reflects upon the paper’s content and brings closure in an original,
non-repetitive way. Depending on the narrative, your essay should be between
four and six paragraphs long. Furthermore, remember to include enough
descriptive details to make the narrative vivid to the reader and help him/her
imagine the event without having been there.
We will
revise rough drafts during a portion of the class on January 30. This means you should have your
rough draft completed and bring it to class on that date to ask needed
questions, not come to class then and begin the paper. I also encourage you to
have a classmate or someone whose grammar and punctuation skills you trust
review your rough draft.