Objective

 ENGL 110C. English Composition. 3 Credits. The principal objective of the course is to prepare students to be effective writers of the kinds of compositions they will be called on to produce during their college careers. By the end of the course, students should be more mature in their understanding and use of language, should develop efficient writing processes, and should know and demonstrate the qualities of effective composition in a given rhetorical situation. Prerequisites: A passing grade on the Writing Success Placement Tool (WSPT).

 

Students successfully completing English 110C will be able to:

• To hone skills in and learn the conventions of writing for specific genres and rhetorical situations; in this case, the narrative genre.

• To think critically about, analyze, and reflect on the different facets that compose your identity, and then to convey those thoughts clearly to an audience.

• To learn about the prewriting, drafting, and revising parts of the writing process.

 

           FINDING WINGS : “I CAN” NARRATIVE OVERVIEW

A narrative tells the reader a story.  In this first major assignment, you will tell your audience the story of who you are and what it’s like to walk through the world as you, through your own unique voice and experience.  Reflect on a facet of your identity and how it intersects with the surrounding society based on power, privilege, and connections to different communities. And then what changed? Did you discover a new insight about yourself or a new self acceptance?

Focus on an identity that you feel has the biggest influence on how you see yourself in the world.  You may want to consider: gender identity, racial group, religion, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnicity, culture, ability/disability (mental or physical), language, etc.

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Who are you and, more importantly, why? How have your habits, perceptions, and values been shaped by your education, culture, family, community, access, and other factors? What agency do you have in shaping and re-shaping these values, habits, and perceptions? What is most important to you? What challenges you? What angers you? What motivates you? 

 

During the first unit in this course, I will provide you with the opportunity to consider these questions (and more) as you write an essay responding to the questions. You are not tasked with writing your life story as you think about how you have become the person you are today, what has influenced you, and ultimately what you believe; rather you are choosing one specific example/story to showcase what you overcame, why you overcame it, and perhaps how your new found insight affects your life.

 

The best narrative essays do three things: 

1. Tell a story. 

2. Observe details closely.

3. Make a point. 

 

There are a number of ways to arrange your essay and you do have some creative freedom. Your topic is completely your choice, but should follow the conventions of a narrative essay. Your title will be in this format: Now I Can, I Can ______________. 

Assignment Resources

Don’t skip this step! It will help you tremendously to read some of the recommended essay listed below:

 

Talking Back - Bell Hooks

Finding Freedom in Forgiveness - Ronald Cotton & Jennifer Thompson-Cannino; incredible story from NC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLYECIjmnQs  - Famous Failures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8f8dz0uCBM - Abraham Lincoln 

 

Your final draft should be no fewer than 700 words and no more than 1000 words (3-4 pages), and the document should be formatted according to MLA style, including the heading and page numbers, header, and line spacing. Though they are not required, should you choose to use outside sources in your Unit 1 essay, you should introduce them in your text, but need not provide a Works Cited page. Please include the final word count in your heading next to the assignment title.

 

Create a folder in your class Google Folder and title it “Unit 1.” Save each draft of your paper (peer review draft, polished draft, and if you do another draft, final draft) individually in the folder (ex. “Unit 1: Peer Review Draft.”). You can do this easiest by going to “File” then “Make a Copy.” This will help you keep up with your portfolio. Rest assured, we will talk through this more in class.

Deadlines:
Early Draft Due:

Peer Review Draft Due: 

Final Draft Due with a brief reflection: