Tuesday, March 1, 2011

What Is a Personal Essay?

• An essay which emphasizes a personal, subjective view

• Focused on a belief or insight about life that is significant to the writer

• Often combines elements of narrative and memoir

Personal Narrative: Focused on a significant event
Personal Memoir: Focused on a significant relationship between the write and
a person, place, or object

• Structured similar to an essay with an introduction, body and conclusion

• Contains a thesis (This I Believe statement)

Builds upon ideas, reveals significance in the end

TASK:
1) Split into three groups and read a selected reading (one personal essay, one personal narrative, and one memoir).

2) While reading Question the Author
* Look for the author's purpose (topic). What is the author trying to say?
* Identify effective supporting details (methods). How does the author say it?

3) Discuss findings with your group.

4) Split into eight different groups each containing a personal essay, personal narrative, and memoir. Share out and determine similarities and differences.

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