prospective student

Choose a subject appropriate for a narrative essay, using one specific experience from your own life.
Your body paragraphs will take the reader through the story itself; your introduction and conclusion will situate the story.
You will use first person in this essay.
Bring your description skills to your work! I look forward to seeing your richly describe the setting, characters, and actions.
Dialogue is acceptable but not necessary. I’d rather have you write the scenes and events without significant or lengthy dialogue.
Make sure that you follow the narrative arc and have the story grow from a central problem that provides the story’s purpose and exigence.

Grading Overview (also: see our rubric)

Sensory details — do you paint a clear picture of your moment and scene for the reader?
Organization and development – do you use transitions that work to improve the flow of your paper? Does your paper have a chronology to order it?
Focus and perspective – please do not refer to the act of writing the paper or the assignment itself.
Dominant impression – what idea do you want your reader to come away with after reading your story?
Mechanics – see your textbook, or visit the Writing Center, for help with this.