Name: __________________________________ Date: ____________________________
Personal Essay Assignment
Overview:
Task
Due Dates
1. Brainstorm
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
2. Topic Selection / Outline
Thursday, February 21, 2013
3. a) Student Rubric
Thursday, February 21, 2013
b) Rough Draft
Friday, March 1, 2013
4. Good Copy
Monday, March 4, 2013
* Each task MUST be handed in with your final copy!
Your Task:
You will write a Personal Essay based on one of the topics listed below (or on a topic
of your choice). Your essay will be entirely about YOU. You do not need to use
outside sources in your essay.
Possible Essay Topics:
1. An experience that has changed your life: i.e., travel, international exchange,
serious illness, attending a conference, etc.
2. A problem that you have: i.e. procrastination, perfectionism, low self-esteem, etc.
3. An obsession that you have: i.e. sports, Facebook, gaming, etc.
4. A pet peeve of yours: i.e. unpunctuality, people who spit, etc.
5. A problem that you have conquered: i.e. smoking, skipping class, etc.
The Basics:
Your essay will:
 Have a clear and concise thesis statement (it does NOT have to be in the opening
paragraph!)
 Have at least five (5) paragraphs (introduction, three [3] body paragraphs, and
conclusion).
 Have at least six (6) pieces of anecdotal evidence (two [2] for each supporting
point).
 Have a catchy title that draws the reader in (DO NOT title your essay: Personal
Essay or English Assignment)
 Include a least three (3) DIFFERENT rhetorical devices.
 Have a distinct tone appropriate to an identified audience.
Format:
Before you hand in your essay, make sure that you have:
 A title page with your name, date, course code, and teacher’s name
 Underlined your thesis statement
 Underlined each of your three (3) rhetorical devices
 Double-spaced your essay
 Used a 12 point font (no larger)
 Your brainstorming sheets, essay outline, rubric, and rough draft attached to
your essay
Personal Essay Assignment – Brainstorm
Brainstorming Ideas (Potential Personal Essay Topics):
Possible Thesis Statements:
1. _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Personal Essay Assignment – Outline
** This outline must be handed in with the final good copy. **
Essay Topic: _______________________________________________________
Essay Tone: _______________________________________________________
Essay Audience: ___________________________________________________
Introduction: How do you plan on ‘hooking’ your reader?
Thesis Statement: It must be clear and concise and located in an effective part of your essay.
Body Paragraphs: Each of your three (3) supporting points MUST prove your thesis statement.
Supporting Point 1
Supporting Point 2
Supporting Point 3
Supporting Evidence 1
Supporting Evidence 1
Supporting Evidence 1
Supporting Evidence 2
Supporting Evidence 2
Supporting Evidence 2
Rhetorical Device
Rhetorical Device
Rhetorical Device
Personal Essay Assignment – Rubric
Thinking
Knowledge
Curriculum
Expectations
Constructing
Meaning
Developing
and
Organizing
Content
Application
Using
Knowledge of
Form and
Style
Teacher Criteria
 Demonstrate knowledge of personal
essay format requirements
 Demonstrate knowledge of literary
techniques (rhetorical devices)
 Title is interesting and appropriate
 Clear and convincing thesis
 All points lead from the thesis and
prove your points
Student Criteria
- opening paragraph, body paragraph,
conclusion
- Included all 3 literary devices (one in
each paragraph); effective literary
devices
- Title that is exciting, related to your
essay, preview to your essay
- Stating a main point that will be
argued throughout your paper
- At the end of each body paragraph
you restate / connect your proof to
your thesis
 Develop a coherent plan to structure
- completed your brainstorming, essay
argument and essay
outline, rough copy & peer editing on All elements are completed on-time to time
allow for revision
- you’ve chosen a topic that is
 Demonstrate original ideas
personal and interesting to YOU
 Provide effective and relevant proof to - Each paragraph has TWO examples
support argument
from YOUR life
 Organise ideas into logical progression - You have planned your writing so
that is effective and engaging, and
that each point is separate and makes
reinforces the argument
sense to the reader
 Write complete sentences that
 Creative sentence writing (not
communicate their meaning clearly
having every sentence the same
and accurately, varying sentence type,
length)
structure, and length and making
 Speaking to YOUR audience instead
logical transitions between ideas
of speaking to no one
 Evidence of engagement with
 Have expression- not monotone
audience
and dry (punctuation, use words
 Sense of voice; creation of appropriate
that emphasize “Extremely”
tone
“incredibly” etc.)
 Evidence of effective diction
 Use a thesaurus
 Correct use of accurate conventions
 Proofread / have someone else
(spelling, punctuation, grammar)
proofread it for you!
 Proof reading done thoroughly and
 Also includes, double spacing, title
thoughtfully
page format, having your last name
beside the page number
 Good at correcting your own
mistakes, making sure everything’s
in context, etc.
 Has filled out the student side of
this rubric
Level
Personal Essay Assignment – Reflection
What aspect of your personal essay makes you most proud?
What specific actions would you take next time to make your writing better?
Using the feedback you have been given, re-write a particular sentence/paragraph and
discuss why the new version would be an improvement.