Essay #2 – Memoir

Essay #2 – Memoir
Important Dates:
Regulations: All essays must appear in proper MLA format. This means you must use 12 pt. font, Times New Roman, and double space your paper. It must have the proper heading with margins set to one inch and you must include a thoughtful title. All essays must be at least 2.5 pages in length. If you include a lot of dialogue, your paper should be slightly longer – do not overuse dialogue to add length. General format will include: a creative title, an introduction (sets the scene or gives background information), at least three body paragraphs of detailed description of the events (rising action/climax/conflict), and a concluding paragraph that discusses the revelation/resolution. Keep in mind, this is not expected to be as strictly organized as your last essay. You do not have to stick to a traditional 5 paragraph format. You will not use any outside sources for this essay. This event should be something that actually happened to you in the past, so you will rely on your memory as your primary source.
Assignment Details: This paper should be written in first person and should recount a specific event in your life. You should include your own thoughts and feelings about the event, detailed descriptions of the setting and characters, the significance of the event (why does it matter?), and dialogue if you so choose. Select an event that occurred over a short period of time and make sure your reader can follow the passage of time. Entertain me! Get creative!
Organization (suggested):
1. Introduction: Establish the setting and introduce key characters. Set the stage for the event and hint at its significance (give hook or attention grabber – “little did I know, this day would change the entire course of my life”)
2. Body Paragraphs (at least 3):
a. Provide details about the event. You are telling a story with a beginning, middle and end. Avoid stream of consciousness.Each body paragraph should have a specific focus. Include your thoughts, feelings, and emotions throughout this experience. Make your reader feel how you felt.
3. Conclusion:
a. Explain the resolution of the conflict/moral of the story. Why does this event matter? How did it change your life for the better/worse?
b. Leave readers with something to think about (implied thesis). What do you want readers to take away from your story? What is the lesson or food for thought?
c. Do not begin with “In Conclusion. . .” because that is boring and obvious and will take away from the beauty of your story! Be subtle, grasshoppers.