ENG 3U1
PERSONAL ESSAY AND POETRY WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Part One – Personal Essay
Write a personal essay of approximately 700 words in length. Include a word count! Your essay is to
take the form of a memoir. Use the essays we have read by Richards, Laurence, etc. as guides. The
purpose of your essay is to show how past experiences have shaped your identity and values. In
order to demonstrate this effectively, you must therefore vividly describe a number of memories that
have been significant in your personal development.
Content
Choose one of the following topics:
• an object, photograph, painting, piece of music, or location that makes you feel nostalgic;
• a season of particular significance;
• an inspirational event or person in your life.
Style:
• Provide a clear thesis – either implied or explicit – which may appear at any logical point within
the essay. All the details you provide in your essay must support this thesis.
• Begin and end your essay strongly.
• Write proper paragraphs.
• Use strong, effective diction to help create the mood and tone you wish to covey, which must be
appropriate to the content of your essay.
• Include (and label) a minimum of two effective metaphors.
• Include (and label) parallel structure or at least one other stylistic device.
• Use casual, conversational language, and let your voice shine through. Remember, this essay is
about you and should be entertaining to read!
Part Two – Poem
Write a lyric poem of 16-20 lines which is thematically based on your personal essay. Establish a
clear mood that is appropriate to the theme you conveying. Your poem need not rhyme, but it must
be punctuated properly.
Include at least 3 of the following poetic devices:
• alliteration;
• onomatopoeia;
• simile(s);
• metaphor(s);
• euphonious or cacophonous words, depending upon the mood you establish.
Use an asterisk (*) to mark each device and label the device at the end of the line in which it appears.
Due: