Writing a Personal Essay

1. Writing a Personal Essay

2. To show the significance of ordinary events • To tell an engaging story (narrative) The purpose of a personal essay….

3. Steps to Writing a Personal Essay

4. Sometimes called a “hook” or a “grabber.” • Grab the reader’s attention with dialogue, an anecdote, or an interesting statement. Introduction

5. Your first thesis statement needs to hint at things to come in your paper. • “Little did I know…..” • “I realized later that things didn’t exactly turn out as planned….” Thesis Statement # 1

6. Use dialogue • Rely on memory and observation • Use specific details to help create a picture for the reader. EX. exact times, dates, and geographical locations can be helpful • Use as many paragraphs as you think necessary Tell your story (narrative)

7. This is your interpretation—how you see events NOW as opposed to when they actually happened. • What was the significance of the event? • What did you learn? • How has this event changed how you see things or how you act? • What lesson did you take away from this event? • What surprises you about it now that you didn’t think about at the time it was happening? Second thesis statement

8. Vary sentence length and structure • Use clear chronological order so the reader does not become confused • Use transitions to move from one idea/event to the next. • Proofread BEFORE you turn it in to make sure you say exactly what you want to say • Show—don’t tell. Allow the reader to draw conclusions about your story. Things to do…..

9. Clichés—overused expressions • Ex. “I felt a lump in my throat and butterflies in my stomach….” • “I felt as if I were on top of the world…” Things to avoid…..