For your Final Personal Narrative, I wish for you to write a 8-10 page double-spaced personal essay where you reflect on your life and discuss how it is you relate OR do not relate to the readings or films discussed in this class. There really is no right or wrong answer here. However, what you must do is “quote” various texts to make your points. In other words, don’t just say I connect with this text because it is similar to my own life experience. You can say that, but you must follow that up with a direct quote from one of the texts or films discussed in class. At the same time, perhaps you cannot draw any parallels with your life and the texts studied in class. In this case you should explain how that is and give specific examples from your life that demonstrate a clear opposite from what you have read or viewed. Either way, the format is the same.
Here is an example of what your essay could look like…
One of the readings that most stood out to me was “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldúa. When she writes “Chicanas that grew up speaking Chicano Spanish have internalized the belief that we speak poor Spanish” (80), I remember at times being embarrassed to speak Spanish thinking that I would be ridiculed. I remember one time when I was speaking in Spanish and my professor jumped in to correct my Spanish. He said “no es parquear, es estacionar.” After that, I was always self-conscious of my Spanish.
You then would go on to talk about/expand upon this issue, giving specific examples and refer back to the texts of your choice. Since the essay asks for 8-10 pages, you should try to write about several experiences and texts, not just one. However, if you feel so inclined to write specifically about one experience, please do so.
The Final Personal Narrative is worth 25% of your final grade. This is your final assignment and is due on Monday, December 11 by midnight on Blackboard.
Your Final Essay Should:
- be 8-10 typed, double-spaced pages in length
- use Times New Roman 12pt font, have one-inch margins, and include page numbers (top right corner of each page)
- include your name and date on the top left corner of the first page only
- include a unique title on the first page only (no cover pages, please)
- use current MLA style of documentation and, at the end of your essay, include a 'Works Cited' page
- be carefully revised and edited; for help with MLA, spelling, or grammatical issues, visit the UTRGV Writing Center (STACC 3.119).
Submission Guidelines:
- You will submit the final paper on Blackboard as a Microsoft Word attachment ONLY (NO PDF files, please).
- Click HERE to visit Blackboard and Submit your Final Personal Narrative.
