First Nine Weeks Project Directions

For this project, you will write a narrative essay that you can submit as your personal essay when you are applying to colleges next year.

We will go over the project standards, rubric, and model in class, but they are also all available on this site for your perusal so you can understand every aspect of why and how we are doing this project and what is expected of you.

We will plan and outline our essays in class the week of September 14-18. We will decide on our essay topics and discuss how to develop them in the essay. We will outline the essay to make sure it meets the criteria set forth in the rubric. It is imperative that you use this time wisely.

We will write our essays in the computer lab the week of September 21-25 and September 28. We will proofread and revise our essays so they are perfectly polished. It is very important that you use your time wisely so you will have time to edit your essay based on peer/teacher feedback.

Here are a few more requirements.

Your narrative essay must be TRUE. You must write about a real experience.

Your narrative essay should be written in first person point of view.

You should seriously consider writing a narrative essay that follows the structure we studied in class: Exposition --> Rising Action --> Climax --> Falling Action --> Resolution

Your narrative essay should use sensory words so the reader can "see" your story.

Your narrative essay cannot be more than 650 words.

You must respond to one of the following essay prompts from the 2015-2016 Common Application:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

If you are having trouble generating ideas for your narrative essay, or if you want to read outstanding essays that have been written by others, please click this link to the materials we read and discussed in class.

All papers must be printed out and turned in to me by September 25th (A Day)/September 28th (B Day). Papers should be in Times New Roman 12 font, single-spaced, and with paragraph indents. You should put your name and your block in the header and the class name (Hall ELA 11) and your submission date in the footer.

Papers must also be submitted as comments to the Project Submission post at the top of this blog so we will have a saved electronic copy of your essay when it comes time for you to apply to college next year. Make sure to put your name at the bottom of your comment.

Your final grade on your paper will show up as "PBL Anchor Activity" in your Chalkable grades section. However, your participation during the project as well as your topic ideas, outlines, and other tasks related to the project will also be graded during "PBL Portfolio Checks" and for your overall "PBL Participation" grade.

Late papers will lose 10 points per day. If you do not submit a paper, you will fail the assignment.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should contact me directly.