ENC 1101
Instructor Sharon Cronk-Raby
scronkraby@atlas.valenciacc.edu
Narrative Writing
Minimum Word Count: 500
According to the textbook for this course, Writing Today: Contexts and Options for the Real World, on page 174,
it notes: “The narrative is the oldest structured form of human communication. The ability to process the standard
elements of a narrative seems to be genetically hardwired in the human system. Parents teach language to very young
children by telling them stories. Moreover, people spend the rest of their lives telling stories: informing the traffic officer
about what happened in the accident, explaining to the boss what happened in the client conference, letting the spouse know
about the huge argument at work, explaining to children the events that happened when they were too young to remember.
When you are old, you will probably tell young people about how strange the decades before and after the turn of the
century were.
Except when people are asleep and slaves to their subconscious, the events of their world unfold in a continuous
narrative. In some sense, every life is a narrative, a chronology of events both small and large.”
Later, on that same page, the editors add an important note: “The success of a personal narrative essay depends on
this search for significance. The narrative essay tells a story, to be sure, but the true value of the narrative comes from what
the writer and reader learn from it. Thus, what may well be suitable in a short story – for example, an amusing series of
events – may not work so well as the subject of a personal narrative essay.”
Whatever career you aspire to, you must first train for the job (that’s a part of why you’re here now!),
and then you must acquire the job…
In every interview situation I have come across (both as an interviewee and as an interviewer), these
fateful words have been approached: “So, tell me about yourself…”
What story (or stories) will you tell about yourself when those words arise in an interview situation for
your “dream job”? Use this assignment to develop a possible answer to those foreseeable words.
Write by using a properly-formatted MLA-style paper (refer to the “How To” sheet, as needed).
Develop paragraphs that start with a main idea (in the form of a topic sentence), and then include
supporting details for that main idea. As this is more of a “business” format, rather than an “essay”
format, do not worry about developing an essay-style introductory paragraph and concluding
paragraph; we’ll work on that formatting for the next essay.
As you write, follow the writing process:
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Pre-Writing / Planning (thinking & organizing your thoughts)
Drafting / Writing (developing the rough draft)
Revising (checking the word choice & ideas & organization of ideas)
Proofreading (reviewing the grammar & mechanics)
Publishing (typing the final copy, per all essay & MLA guidelines)
Reflecting (Ask yourself, “How’d it go?” + review instructor notes when received)
Refer to the general grading rubric for additional information. Use this assignment sheet and the
general grading rubric as a sort of checklist to make sure you are not forgetting anything. Also, use the
information in the syllabus about due dates and proper submission of assignments.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. I can always be reached via email between
classes: Sharon Cronk-Raby, scronkraby@atlas.valenciacc.edu.
Remember to follow the Writing Process when you write!
“We have discovered that writing allows even a stupid person to seem halfway intelligent, if only that
person will write the same thought over and over again, improving it just a little bit each time. It is a lot
like inflating a blimp with a bicycle pump. Anyone can do it. All it takes is time.”
-Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
ENC 1101
Instructor Sharon Cronk-Raby
scronkraby@atlas.valenciacc.edu
Grading Rubric:
Writing Assignments fOR ENC 1101
For all written work completed in Composition I (ENC 1101), the following grading standards will be
used; therefore, use this information as a checklist to make sure you are not forgetting anything.
FINAL COPY:
CONTENT & ORGANIZATION:
Worth 50% of the grade for each writing assignment!!!
Consideration of Purpose (What is the point of this assignment? What is the reader to understand?)
Creative Title (fits the content of the writing)
Introductory Paragraph [not necessary for Narrative Writing]
Thesis Statement [While this is not required in Narrative Writing in the same format as in other essay forms,
how will you sum up your overall main idea about your story? Where will you place that sentence?]
Concluding Paragraph [not necessary for Narrative Writing]
Body Paragraphs (as many as needed to accurately and specifically accomplish the writing task)
Each Body Paragraph starts with a Topic Sentence (in your own words; do not quote in a Topic Sentence)
Each Body Paragraph uses Specific and Accurate Details of Support (Unity & Coherence)
 Mostly in your own words
 Using and Citing information that is summarized, paraphrased, or quoted, per MLA
[not necessary for Narrative Writing]
Word Choice (avoid wordiness) (formal writing = no slang, no abbreviations, no contractions)
Transitions (flow of paper)
Overall Structure (follows a recognizable and logical pattern)
Quality and Depth of Thought (representative of college-level work)
MECHANICS & CONVENTIONS: Worth 50% of the grade for each writing assignment!!!
Typed (double-spaced; 12-point fonts; 1-inch margins)
Page Heading, per MLA guidelines (top left corner of first page)
Page Headers, per MLA guidelines (last name & page number)
Word Count: 500
Properly Documented Sources, via In-Text Citations, per MLA style [not necessary for Narrative Writing]
Works Cited page, per MLA style [not necessary for Narrative Writing]
Typos
Structure of Paragraphs (indented) (no extra spacing between paragraphs)
Sentence Structure (avoid fragments, run-ons, comma splices)
Sentence Variety
Consistency of Verb Tense (past tense; present tense; future tense) (as appropriate for the writing assignment)
Consistency of Point-of-View (personal writing uses 1st-Person) (report writing utilizes all 3rd-Person)
(avoid 2nd-Person, except for Process Writing)
Agreement (pronouns; subject-verb)
Punctuation
Capitalization
Spelling
Grammar & Usage
TOTAL:
100%