NON-FICTION WRITING:WRITING A

PERSONAL ESSAY

PERSONAL ESSAYSTEP 1

Choosing Your Subject/TopicTo Fit Your Audience

A LIFETIME CHALLENGE

STEP 2NARROW

YOUR TOPIC TO FIT THE

ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS

"An essay needs conflict, just as a short story does," Philip Lopate warns. "Without conflict, your essay will drift into static mode, repeating your initial observation in a self-satisfied way."

STEP 3Start Outlining Your Essay using one of 2 ways:

Write down the events that took place in the order they took place

OR

Write down what happened in the end and working backwards

STEP 4Start Writing By Developing the Scenes (Events)

Using Descriptive Language:

Similes and HyperbolesDialogueLively and Vivid AdjectivesShort sentences for Effect and ImpactAllusion to capture attentionIllusions to draw a pictureResearch facts to addConduct InterviewsUse Active Voice Rather Than Passive

EXAMPLE

Entering the baseball diamond for the first time in April 2006, Thomas Henri Groves realized that a new world opened up to him as did I. The air was crisp and clean and I could smell the dirt on the pitcher’s mound. I looked around the field only to see the differently-able children with two in wheelchairs, a few standing in the dugout and three standing with the coach at home plate.

Using Dialogue

Mike Martin, owner of the Challenger Division of Bridgeport Little Baseball League came over and asked, “Thomas ready to play ball?” Thomas just glanced at him and cracked a faint little smile, as if to say, “Yes Mike!” Mike knew Thomas could not speak, but just the look on his face said it all.

STEP 5

SHAPE INTO SCENES

Paragraph 1: Introduction

or the Beginning of

the Story

Paragraphs 2-10 or more:

Middle or theClimax with

Supporting Details Develops the Scenes

of the Story

Last Paragraph: Summary or the End of the Story

The Personal Essay

is

1. What is your take on this subject?

2. How do you feel?

3. How do the details and description you have added reveal your individual point of view?

STEP 6

In The Beginning

One of the most played sports is baseball and that is a fact. Many players like Joe DiMaggio and Hank Aaron are great historical baseball players nationally and internationally known. However, they played in the major leagues with unknown local little league beginnings.

WAYS TO BEGINGeneralized FactsDialogue / ConversationArgument / DebateThesis Statement First then Develop Into

Conversation Open Ended QuestionsQuotationAttention Getting StatementSadnessJoke

TypesImplied or Inferred

GeneralizedDefinite Stated

PlacementIntroduction

BodyEnd

Not At All

THESIS STATEMENT

STEP 7 CREATING AN ENDING

SUGGESTED ENDINGSRestate your thesis statementAnswers to your opening questions (if you had

questions in your introduction)Mini-story with a moralDialogue / ConversationJokeSadnessAn Exclamatory StatementGeneralized FactsRhetorical Question that will keep your audience

guessing

EXAMPLEHis greatest interests of the great outdoors and baseball had merged which was a challenge, but easy for him to accomplish and experience in his lifetime. If outdoors was his place he wanted to be, then I made sure that is where Thomas would always be!

STEP 8PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER

STEP 9POLISH YOUR PERSONAL ESSAY

STEP 10 THE FINAL PRODUCT