For this assignment, write a minimum of three pages, with MLA formatting, on your choice of ONE
of the following options. When I wrote this assignment, my goal was to
design something where I could see how you put your ideas together
without having to deal with using or citing any outside sources. We’ll be focusing on use of detail and examples.
Here are the topics:
The Job: write about the job you have now or a job you’ve had in the
past. What’s good/bad about it? Worst moments, best moments. * Would
you recommend it to others? Why/why not?
School: discuss your educational experience so far. Worst moments,
best moments. * In what ways should college be different or similar?
What are the problems with education? How could they be fixed?
The Town: discuss the town you live in (or lived in). What’s
good/bad about it? Worst moments, best moments. * Should others consider
moving there? Why/why not?
You’ll notice that I’m asking a number of questions with each of
these topics, and when you write your essay, they might not all fit what
you want to say—because they don’t necessarily fit each other. They’re
just brainstorming questions to get you started.
Some other thoughts:
Have a title. You can’t use “Essay Assignment #1” or “The Job” or
“School” or “The Town”—those are mine and you would be stealing. Create a
title that might inspire a reader to plunge into your writing.
Have a structure, including paragraphs. These topics do lend
themselves to a five-paragraph (intro, three body paragraphs,
conclusion) structure—but you don’t have to structure it that way.
Have a point. This is where I should talk about a “thesis”—think of
it that way, if you wish, but I need to be able to tell what the overall
point (purpose) of your essay is.
Think of different ways to begin your essay that will invite the
reader to tarry forth into the essay—I have a handout on intros and
conclusions that we will discuss.
Include concrete details and specifics to make the reader “see” what you’re talking about in their mind’s eye.
*You may recognize this as a sentence fragment. I am breaking
grammatical rules for emphasis. Writers do that, but it is helpful to
know the rules and be comfortable with them before you go around
breaking them.
