Essay 2: Personal Essay

PROMPT

Write a personal essay that focuses on one or two of the following themes: gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, national identity, friendship, love, family, or mental health.

This is a personal essay, so write about personal experiences; and include some insights about those experiences.

Remember to SHOW, not tell. In other words, instead of merely “telling” or generalizing, be specific (in relation to the theme).

Note: You are allowed to use the short stories Junot Diaz and the essays of Roxane Gay as sources of inspiration, but not imitation. The essay you write must be entirely your own.

Tip 1: Before rushing to find answers, spend time trying to better understand the assignment. Break down the assignment into parts. And continue to revisit the prompt as you write.

Tip 2: To go deeper into any issue, whether you are reading or writing, go beyond questions that start with WHAT. Instead, delve into questions that start with HOW and WHY.

Tip 3: Rewrite and revise your essay continuously. Read it aloud: read with your ears, not just your eyes! Be proactive about asking for help. Rewrite. Rewrite. Rewrite. It is not a race to the finish line. Writing is a step-by-step process.

Format and other requirements for the Final Draft:

Times New Roman typeface, size 12, single space
An essay without a listed, accurate word count will receive no credit
An essay above or below the word count will receive no credit
Word count: 750-900 words
The top left part of the first page should have the following info:
[Your name]

ENG 229

Personal Essay

Professor:

Word Count: ____

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