Personal Narrative (Summative Assignment)

Due Wednesday, October 7^th

What is my relationship to NYC?  How is my identity shaped by where I am from and where I live?

Summative Assessment:  Personal Narrative writing piece and photo illustration

How do writers communicate their experiences of being a New Yorker?  After reading and analyzing personal essays by several New Yorkers describing their perceptions and relationships to where they live, write a narrative from your own perspective of living in New York that addresses your relationship to the city, and how living here shapes your identity.   Use imagery and sensory language to develop a narrative effect in your work.   Include personal anecdotes, reflection and details to support your ideas about what it means to live in the city.

Remember: You are writing for an audience.  This audience will be visiting our class exhibition in January and will be school and community members and will be meeting you through your pieces.

You will choose from 3 possible formats to craft your piece:

1.     Sensory Descriptions – for this you will talk about the sights, sounds, people and places that make up your NYC/Brooklyn. You must use details to bring these places to life for your reader. Also, make clear why these places are so important to you, how have they shaped you?

2.     Pivotal Moment(s) – A deeper look at a select few NYC/Brooklyn moment(s) that had a big impact on you

3.     Compare and Contrast to other places you have lived or spent time in – which feels more like you?

Anchor Texts:  One in 8 Million website, Colossus of New York, Colson Whitehead; The Bronx Remembered slideshow, David Gonzalez; + 1 from the immigrant experience

Guidelines:

• The assignment should be 2 pages minimum and 4 pages maximum.
• Typed, 12pt font and double spaced
• Make sure to give your piece a title.
• Essays should be submitted via google docs giving Salak edit privileges
• Be Sure to proofread your essay