ESSAY I
3-4 pages (750 word minimum) typed and double-spaced
50 points possible (10% of semester grade)
Draft Due for Workshop on September 18, 2002
Final Draft Due at the beginning of class on September 20, 2002

Assignment:  Write a well-organized, unified, and developed multi-paragraph essay reflecting on one specific milestone within your own overall education to date that has encouraged you to "examine life."  Integrate into your reflections a comparison and/or contrast to one or two of the perspectives presented in one or two works considered so far.  For some tips on structuring a comparison/contrast reflection see The Easy Access Handbook 29-33.  For tips on final paper layout see The Easy Access Handbook 41-44.

Evaluation Criteria establish by Fall 2002 class:

Primary Criteria

• how thoughtfully and insightfully focused  is the reflection on your specific learning experience?
• how effective is the integration of the personal connection to the textual connections through the comparison/contrast with the course material?

Secondary Criteria

• does the essay carry out an effective and appropriate pattern of organization? is the essay organized into well-developed paragraphs to follow through on the main point?
• have you provided specific support from the work in a way that enriches your presentation?
• how creative or original is the approach?  how much honesty and personality (or "voice") are apparent in the writing?
• is your essay mechanically effective? Are there errors that distract from the clarity and the professionalism of the presentation?

Keep in mind that I want you to tell me what you think.  Try not to get too hung up on imagining what I want to hear:  there are an infinite number of "correct" approaches to such an assignment.  What is crucial, however, is that you limit your focus, present your point of view, and develop your best thinking on the subject in the time and space you have available.