21W.022.02: Writing and Experience: Autobiography

Essay #1 Sequence: Reflections on Identity

This assignment asks you to reflect on a central aspect of your identity. Individuals define their identities in varying ways–in terms of individual personality traits, core values, personal goals and commitments. In addition, people often define themselves through membership in family, gender, ethnic, racial, national, religious, cultural or political groups.

Through exploring a central aspect of your identity, write an essay that narrates and reflects on your experience(s) to connect with issues that speak to a wider audience.  In essays, it is often effective to ground your discussion of identity in such experience(s) as:

*an important event(s) or turning point(s) in your life;

*a meaningful experience within a close family or personal relationship;

*a family or personal ritual or “rite of passage”; an evocative memory (e.g., of food, home);

*a meaningful artifact (photo, sentimental object, family heirloom or keepsake);

* a special or “sacred” place or meaningful journey.

Reflect carefully on the voice that you adopt as a writer. Don’t assume that first- person narration is your only option; you can write about yourself in the third person, if you wish.  Be vivid and descriptive in your prose; use the tools of fiction –character, setting and dialogue. Shape your narrative to convey clearly a perspective or central idea.

The challenge of this assignment is to shape and frame the raw material of experience and memory for a reading public. Using the lens of experience, you have a rich opportunity as a writer to communicate with readers about a wide variety of topics. Think about how best to reach your intended audience(s).

For the revision, you should use at least one outside source as an epigraph quotation under your title or source within the essay. We also will review epigraph usage in class. You should also use outside sources within the essay if you make a claim that requires knowledge outside your own experience.

Due Dates

First Version: Submit on Canvas (Word doc or PDF) and email to peer review group.  For the instructor only, include a cover letter describing the strong points and areas for improvement in the essay. Word is highly preferred for commenting purposes.

Format: Place your name, 21W.022.02, assignment number/type (e.g., Essay

1, Version 1), and date in the top right hand corner of the first page. Title essays!

Length: First version should be at least 4 pages; revisions should be at least 5 pages. Use Times New Roman 12 point, double-spaced. Name your electronic files with your last name and essay number and version (e.g., Lee, E1V1).

Revision:  Three weeks later (with new cover letter describing revision changes). Bold significant changes that you have made in revision.  Revised essays should have at least 250 words that differ from (or are added to) the first version. Essays and cover letters should be in separate files.