Essay

Initial Narrative Essay Instructions
The essay should have a clear purpose and a thesis statement within the first paragraph.

The narrative should share a larger lesson with the audience than simply retelling an event. 
A strong narrative centers on a conflict building from introduction to body to a thought-provoking resolution. 
It should use descriptive language to bring the reader into the experience. 

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Essay Topic: Recall a time when a person or event taught you something about yourself, something that perhaps you couldn’t fully understand until now. Write a narrative that describes the person or narrates the event. Include vivid detail and be sure to make clear what significance the person or event had in your life. For this assignment you may write from the first person point of view. Please see essay handout in Start Here for more details.
REQUIREMENTS

Narrative essay using descriptive writing based on Writing Suggestions
2-3 pages
Microsoft Word document formatted in APA (see below)
Submit to Submission Area

HOW TO REVISE YOUR PAPER ( Print Revision Worksheet)
Paragraph or Essay Structure

Appropriate title indicates the essay’s topic.
Paper addresses all the requirements. (see rubrics)
Paper is logically organized and flows well
Introduction includes relevant background information and a clear thesis statement.
Do the body paragraphs discuss main purpose and move the story forward
Each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and moves the essay forward
Effective conclusion does more than simply repeat the introduction

Sentence Structure:

Review sentence variety and construction as well as word choice and conciseness.
Correct all comma splices, run-ons, and fragments.
All sentences include complete thoughts, containing a subject and a verb.
Sentences have variety.
Vary lengths and structure using different beginnings, such as prepositional phrases, transition words, or dependent clauses.
Transition words (therefore, however, in addition, etc.) ensure writing flows smoothly, connecting related thoughts or signaling shifts in ideas?
Sentences are concise
Avoid being wordy.

Language and Tone:

Language is appropriate for audience (formal writing)
Point of view is consistent (first person/narrative essay; third person/persuasive essay)
No “announcing” what essay will do. Do not refer to the essay itself.
Essay does not talk down to reader, or make assumptions (avoid expressions like: Obviously, as you know, it is clear)

Grammar & Mechanics:

Sentences correctly punctuated.
Words are properly capitalized (including  “I”)
No words inadvertently omitted.
Subject and verb of each sentence agree.
Verbs are consistent in tense (past, present, future)
Pronouns properly refer to their antecedents.
Spelling errors corrected including words spell check does not catch (their/there/they’re; its/it’s)

APA:

Paper is properly formatted in APA.
Sources are documented with in text citations and corresponding reference page.

HOW TO FORMAT YOUR PAPER
Please review attached document for the proper format for your papers.
Please note the following:

All papers must be Microsoft Word documents.
The paper has a running head that is the title of your paper in ALL CAPS. It is accompanied by a page number. Use your header function to create this line. Do not type it as text in the actual text area for your writing. (See your help function for information on creating headers and section breaks.)
The paper is double-spaced in Times New Roman, size 12, and has no extra spaces between the paragraphs.
The paper uses one-inch margins and half-inch indentions for the beginning of paragraphs. You can set this up in Microsoft Word to automatically default to these settings for your paper.
NO RESEARCH IS TO BE CONDUCTED FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT, so you will not need to provide a references page.

HOW TO SUBMIT THIS ASSIGNMENT

Title the Word document JonesA_ NARRATION DRAFT(change JonesA to your last name and first initial). If you have a title for the essay, center it as a double-spaced half-line just above the text.
At the top of this page click on the title Revised Narrative Essay
A new page will open where you can submit your document as an ATTACHMENT.