NARRATIVE ESSAY

ENG 101: COMPOSITION
Instructor: Y. Bailey-Kirby

You will be writing a narrative essay using “Only Daughter” by Sandra Cisneros as a model. The essay needs to be typed, double-spaced with one inch margins, and use a size 12 font (Times New Roman, Arial, etc). You will compose a short narrative describing a time that you did not fit in. Make a special effort to communicate your feelings regarding this experience. Remember to choose your details and point of view with an overall purpose in mind.

In preparing to write your essay, free-write about this time in your life when you did not fit in with your family or at a new school, a new church, a group of friends/peers, a new job, etc. and carefully consider what were the circumstances? How did you feel? What were your alternatives? Did you take any action? What were the motivating forces for this action? Were you satisfied with the outcome? Explain why. How do you feel about this experience now and what you learned from it as a result?

You will first submit a first (rough) draft (500 words minimum) and receive feedback from the peer critiques in class (See the syllabus for the due dates on the rough draft and the revised draft). Also, you will need to meet with a tutor in the Writing Center or submit your work to Smarthinking.com for feedback before you turn in the revised draft that your instructor will provide feedback on and grade (750 words).You should NOT exceed 750 words for this essay or have less than 700 words unless you want to be penalized.

Checklist:

  • Submit the first revised draft with feedback from Smarthinking.com and/or the Writing Center as well as the peer critiques. You should attach a one paragraph response to your revision that identifies the following:
  • What three areas did you strengthen through revision?
  • What did you learn from the feedback and why or why not was it helpful?
  • What did you discover was a strong point in your essay?
  • Identify your thesis statement by underlining it in your narrative essay and make sure to have a title at the top of your essay with the proper heading (Use the MLA format).
  • Include two pre-writing techniques (i.e. brainstorming, clustering, free-writing, etc.) and an informal outline with the rough draft.
  • Use the first-person point of view and organize the sequence of events in chronological order.
  • Use description to show your audience what happened, so that they feel as though they have experienced it with you (consider sensory information: sight, sound, taste, feel, etc.).
  • Use the direct methods of character presentation (appearance, thought, dialogue, and/or action) as well as be clear about the when and where (setting) of your story. (Review the notes from your instructor’s PowerPoint on Narrative.)
  • Put all drafts, notes, peer critiques, pre-writing, your criteria sheet and other material with your final version in a folder with pockets. Remember to have two copies of the final draft in the folder with your two peer critiques, one paragraph response on the three questions listed above, one copy of the first draft, two pre-writing exercises, and a stamped/dated copy from the writing center or Smarthinking’s feedback.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST ESSAY

ENG 101: COMPOSITION
Instructor: Y. Bailey-Kirby

After reading “Dads Are Dudes” by Nancy Gibbs, you will be writing a compare and contrast essay on the role you expect to have in your children’s lives with the role your parents and guardians had in yours. Will you be more or less involved with your children than your parents/guardians were with you? Why will you choose this particular role in their lives?What is your general philosophy about parenting? In what ways is this philosophy similar to the way you were raised?

If you already have children, then you can draw from your recent experiences as evidence of your role in your children’s lives rather than hypothesizing what might or might not be the case in the future. On the other hand, if you claim that you lack a desire to have children, discuss on what you would base this decision? Compare and contrast how different your role in life will be and how your goals differ from the path your parents took, and why you have chosen not to adopt your parents’ or guardians’ approach to be a parent.

The essay needs to be typed, double-spaced with one inch margins, and use a size 12 font (Times New Roman, Arial, etc). You will first submit a rough draft (600 words minimum) and receive feedback from the peer critiques in class (See the syllabus for the due dates on the rough draft and the revised draft). Also, you will need to meet with a tutor in the Writing Center or submit your work to Smarthinking.com for feedback before you turn in the revised draft (800 words). You shouldNOT exceed 800 words for this essay or have less than 750 words unless you want to be penalized.

Checklist:

  • Submit the first revised draft with feedback from Smarthinking.com and/or the Writing Center as well as the peer critiques. You should attach a one paragraph response to your first revision that identifies the following:
  • What three areas did you strengthen through revision?
  • What did you learn from the feedback and why or why not was it helpful?
  • What did you discover was a strong point in your essay?
  • Identify your thesis statement by underlining it in your evaluation compare and contrast essay and make sure to have a title at the top of your essay with the proper heading (Use the MLA format).
  • Include two pre-writing techniques (i.e. brainstorming, clustering, free-writing, etc.) and an informal outline with the rough draft.
  • Use the third-person point of view (NO “I” first-person) and organize your ideas in the point-by-point or subject-by-subject format.
  • Put all drafts, notes, peer critiques, pre-writing, your criteria sheet and other material with your final version in a folder with pockets. Remember to have two copies of the final draft in the folder with your two peer critiques, one paragraph response on the three questions listed above, one copy of the first draft, two pre-writing exercises, and a stamped/dated copy from the writing center or Smarthinking’s feedback.

LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY

ENG 101: COMPOSITION
Instructor: Y. Bailey-Kirby

You will be writing a literary analysis essay on the short story “The Library Card” by Richard Wright “. You
will be selecting a theme to analyze, such as prejudice, perseverance against adversity, discrimination, determination, quest for knowledge, etc. The attached chart will help you with selecting your topic and organizing your essay. Hence, you will need to carefully choose the literary elements, such as character, symbol, setting, irony, point of view, plot, etc., that you will want to analyze and discuss in your essay

The essay needs to be typed, double-spaced with one inch margins, and use a size 12 font (Times New Roman, Arial, etc). You will need to quote at a minimum of three times as evidence from the story to support your analysis and thesis, and you must provide parenthetical citations and a “Works Cited” in the MLA format.(Note: You are permitted to exceed three citations by quoting, paraphrasing, and/or summarizing evidence from the story.)

You will first submit a rough draft (700 words) and receive feedback from the peer critiques in class (See the syllabus for the due dates on the rough draft and the revised draft). Also, you will need to meet with a tutor in the Writing Center or submit your work to Smarthinking.com for feedback before you turn in the revised draft (900 words). You should NOT exceed 900 words for this essay or have less than 850 words unless you want to be penalized!

Checklist:

  • Submit the first revised draft with feedback from Smarthinking.com and/or the Writing Center as well as the peer critiques. You should attach a one paragraph response to your first revision that identifies the following:
  • What three areas did you strengthen through revision?
  • What did you learn from the feedback and why or why not was it helpful?
  • What did you discover was a strong point in your essay?
  • Identify your thesis statement by underlining it in your literary analysis essay and make sure to have a title at the top of your essay with the proper heading in the MLA format.
  • Include two pre-writing techniques (i.e. brainstorming, clustering, free-writing, etc.) and an informal outline with the rough draft.
  • Use the third-person point of view (NO “I” first-person)
  • You must cite the short story as your primary source by using a parenthetical citation and providing a “Works Cited” page in the MLA format, or it is considered a form of plagiarism if you skip crediting the source/short story. Remember you must credit your source whenever you summarize, paraphrase, and/or quote from it. (See the course syllabus for the definition of plagiarism.)
  • Put all drafts, notes, peer critiques, pre-writing, your criteria sheet and other material with your final version in a folder with pockets. Remember to have two copies of the final draft in the folder with your two peer critiques, one paragraph response on the three questions listed above, one copy of the first draft, two pre-writing exercises, and a stamped/dated copy from the writing center or Smarthinking’s feedback.

Literary Analysis Essay Steps in Selecting a Topic
Step 1: Select a theme that you might want to analyze in “The Library Card” by Richard Wright, such as quest for knowledge, discrimination, perseverance against adversity, determination, prejudice, etc.
Identify a theme:______
Step 2:Select the literary element that you will analyze to convey the theme that you have selected, such as one of the following examples listed. It’s suggested that you select at least 2-3 types, such as characters, symbolism/symbols,irony, setting, plot, point of view, etc.)
Identify 2-3 elements of literature: ______
Step 3: Formulate a thesis statement for the instructor’s approval. Here is an example of one below.
Example Thesis: In “The Library Card” by Richard Wright, the theme of perseverance against adversity is conveyed through the main character, setting, and symbol.
Your Thesis:______
______
______
Example Scratch Outlines:
  1. Introduction
  1. Overview about the short story.
  2. State Thesis: In “The Library Card” by Richard Wright, the theme of perseverance against adversity is conveyed through the main character, setting, and symbol.
  1. The theme of perseverance against adversity is demonstrated through the main character.
  2. Provide an example of the main character’s perseverance against adversity.
  3. Paraphrase & Quote
  4. Explain the meaning of the passage.
  5. Elaborate on its relevance in supporting the thesis.
  6. The theme of perseverance against adversity is shown through the setting.
  7. Provide an example of the setting in understanding the theme of perseverance against adversity
  8. Paraphrase & Quote
  9. Explain the meaning of the passage.
  10. Elaborate on its relevance in supporting the thesis.
  11. The theme of perseverance against adversity is shownthrough the symbol(s).
  12. Provide an example of a symbol/symbolism.
  13. Paraphrase & Quote
  14. Explain the meaning of the passage.
  15. Elaborate on its relevance in supporting the thesis.
  16. Conclusion: Reiterate the main points of the essay.
/ Step 5: Create your own scratch outline on
a separate sheet of paper by providing key points and quoted passages from the story
as support/evidence.
  1. ______
  2. ______
  3. State Thesis: ______
  4. ______
  1. ______
1. ______
2. ______
  1. ______
  1. ______
  2. ______
  3. ______
  4. ______
  5. ______
  6. ______
  7. ______
1. ______
2. ______
  1. ______
  1. ______

ARGUMENT ESSAY

ENG 101: COMPOSITION
Instructor: Y. Bailey-Kirby

You will be writing an argument essay on a current issue as well as doing a ten minute presentation on your topic. The essay needs to be typed, double-spaced with one inch margins, and use a size 12 font (Times New Roman, Arial, etc). You should write an argument that potentially affects a large segment of the public, so carefully choose a current issue that you will discuss in essay form with the purpose of persuading others when you establish a clear stance in your thesis.

Be sure, though, that your argument also draws on three legitimate, outside,secondary sources from our libraries database (i.e. ProQuest, EBSCO, JSTOR, etc.), and that you provide a “Works Cited”. (Wikipedia articles will NOT be accepted!!!) You need to have a minimum of three parenthetical citations in the MLA format and avoid logical fallacies in your essay. You will also be completing an annotated bibliography, and although you are only required to use three sources in the paper, you are required to locate five sources and evaluate them for the annotated bibliography that you will submit with your other supporting material in a folder.

You will first submit a rough draft (800 words) and receive feedback from the peer critiques in class (See the syllabus for the due dates on the rough draft, the first revised draft and the final portfolio revision). Also, you will need to meet with a tutor in the Writing Center or submit your work to Smarthinking.com for feedback before you turn in the revised draft (1000 words). You should NOT exceed 1000 words for this essay or have less than 950 words unless you want to be penalized!

Checklist:

  • Submit the first revised draft with feedback from Smarthinking.com and/or the Writing Center as well as the peer critiques. You should attach a one paragraph response to your first revision that identifies the following:
  • What three areas did you strengthen through revision?
  • What did you learn from the feedback and why or why not was it helpful?
  • What did you discover was a strong point in your essay?
  • Identify your thesis statement by underlining it in your argument essay and make sure to have a title at the top of your essay with the proper heading in the MLA format.
  • Include two pre-writing techniques (i.e. brainstorming, clustering, free-writing, etc.) and an informal outline with the rough draft.
  • Use the third-person point of view (NO “I” first-person) and organize ideas for emphasis (least to most important reason or simplest to most complex).
  • You must cite the sources by using a parenthetical citation and providing a “Works Cited” page in the MLA format, or it is considered a form of plagiarism. Remember you must credit your source whenever you summarize, paraphrase, and/or quote from it. (See the course syllabus for the definition of plagiarism.)
  • The ten minute presentation is outlined in the guidelines for the final presentation (available on my website), so read the criteria and directions carefully.
  • Put all drafts, notes, peer critiques, pre-writing, your criteria sheet and other material with your final version in a folder with pockets. Remember to have two copies of the final draft in the folder with your two peer critiques, copies/print outs of your secondary sources in their entirety, an annotated bibliography, one paragraph response on the three questions listed above, one copy of the first draft, two pre-writing exercises, and a stamped/dated copy from the writing center or Smarthinking’s feedback.