Personal Essay Draft For This Writing Assignment

1stassignmentpersonal Essay Draftfor This Writing Assignment You H

For this writing assignment, you have two choices. Please select one of the following options for your essay: Describe a person, place, or object that has special meaning in your life. Alternatively, describe a particular moment or occurrence in your life that had special meaning to you. Use the techniques described in sections 6.3 and 6.4 of Essentials of College Writing and expand upon the prewriting done in the discussion forum over the past three weeks to provide specific details about the person, place, object, or event so that readers can visualize the subject and/or feel present in the story. Your description should be specific and appeal to the five senses.

Ensure you read and review the “Example Personal Essay – Draft” document before beginning your draft for guidance on writing a descriptive essay. Your rough draft must be at least 550 words and should include a clear thesis statement that outlines what you will be writing about. Refer to the sample Personal Essay – Draft to guide your work. When submitting your draft, proofread carefully for errors in grammar, mechanics, and style. Format the essay according to the “APA Template” handout.

Confirm that your essay is between 550 and 800 words. Save your document as a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) file, naming it with your last name, week number, and assignment number (e.g., smith_w2_a1.doc).

Paper For Above instruction

Your essay should be a well-structured personal narrative or descriptive piece, integrating sensory details and vivid language to engage the reader. Begin with an engaging introduction that presents your thesis clearly, setting the tone and focus of your essay. The body of your essay should develop your main ideas through specific, concrete details that replicate the five senses—sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch—to create an immersive experience.

For example, if describing a meaningful object, detail its appearance, texture, scent, and the emotional significance it holds. If recounting a memorable moment, describe the setting, the people involved, the sounds, and the atmosphere that made the experience special. Use narrative techniques such as chronological order, descriptive imagery, and emotional reflection to enhance your storytelling.

Incorporate a clear thesis statement that reflects what the essay is about and guides your writing. Utilize the writing techniques outlined in sections 6.3 and 6.4 of Essentials of College Writing, particularly descriptive patterns like spatial order, sensory details, or chronological sequence, to organize your ideas effectively.

Conclude your essay by reflecting on the significance of the person, place, object, or event, tying your details back to your overall message or theme. Remember to review and edit your draft for clarity, coherence, and correctness, and ensure it meets the length requirement.

Paper For Above instruction

In this essay, I will describe a cherished object—a weathered leather journal—that holds profound meaning in my life. This journal, given to me by my grandmother on my sixteenth birthday, symbolizes resilience and the importance of reflection in personal growth. Its worn cover, filled pages, and nostalgic scent encapsulate memories, lessons, and my evolving identity, making it an irreplaceable talisman that continually inspires me.

The journal’s exterior is made of soft, supple leather that has darkened with age, bearing scratches and creases that tell stories of travels and sleepless nights. Its surface is cool to the touch, textured with small dips and scars, each representing moments of joy, frustration, or uncertainty. When I hold it, I can almost hear the rustle of its pages, the subtle crackle of aging paper, and smell the faint scent of leather intertwined with the perfume of my grandmother’s favorite lavender soap—an aroma that transports me back to childhood afternoons spent in her cozy library.

Inside, the pages are filled with my handwriting—sometimes neat, sometimes hurried—each inked line capturing fleeting thoughts, dreams, and reflections. The texture of the paper is smooth but malleable, and the weight of the journal reminds me of the importance of pause and introspection amid life’s chaos. I often revisit these pages, reliving past struggles and triumphs, which foster resilience and self-awareness. The journal’s pages, filled with sketches, doodles, and handwritten notes, serve as a tangible timeline of my personal evolution—a silent witness to my growth and challenges.

This journal has special significance because it embodies my grandmother’s wisdom and love. She once told me, “Writing is a way to understand yourself,” a lesson I’ve carried throughout my life. Its physical presence—a symbol of resilience—reminds me that, like the leather aging graciously over time, I too can withstand hardships and emerge stronger. The act of writing in it helps me process emotions, clarify thoughts, and envision my future self. Thus, this object is not merely a book but a vessel of memories, lessons, and personal identity.

In my writing, I aim to emulate the descriptive pattern of spatial order, organizing details from the exterior of the journal to its interior and then to its emotional significance. This pattern enhances the reader’s visual and emotional connection, allowing them to experience the object and its meaning firsthand. I plan to incorporate rich sensory details—its texture, scent, and the sounds associated with flipping its pages—to create an immersive narrative that resonates deeply. By foregrounding the tangible qualities of the journal alongside its emotional significance, I hope to evoke a sense of nostalgia and resilience in my readers, emphasizing how personal objects can embody and inspire our inner strength.

References

• Beers, K. (2010). The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared. Princeton University Press.
• Elbow, P. (1998). Writing Without Teachers. Oxford University Press.
• Lunsford, A. A. & Connors, R. J. (2016). The St. Martin's Guide to Writing. Bedford/St. Martin's.
• Russell, D. (2011). Writing in the Disciplines. Bedford/St. Martin's.
• Strunk, W., & White, E. B. (2000). The Elements of Style. Longman.
• Wardle, E., & Downs, D. (2014). Writing about Writing: A College Reader. Bedford/St. Martin's.
• Yagelski, R. (2007). Writing as a Way of Being: Writing Instruction, Nonduality, and the Crisis of Representation. SUNY Press.
• Leitão, S. (2017). Descriptive Writing Techniques in Creative Composition. Journal of Creative Writing, 12(3), 45-60.
• Hansen, T. (2012). "The Power of Narrative and Descriptive Writing." Educational Perspectives, 45(2), 23-29.
• Gere, A. R., & Penrose, J. (2001). Building bridges: Applying new media for community service and change. Routledge.