Unit 1 Paper: Narrative Essay

Unit 1 Paper: Narrative Essay

Full and complete rough draft due by 11:55 p.m. on 2/13

Final paper due by 11:55 p.m. on 2/27

Page length: 4-5 pages, double-spaced

(Use of AI is NOT permitted)

In the readings for Unit 1, our authors discuss what exactly they enjoy about their field of study. Sacks narrates his early discovery of the joys and risks of chemical experimentation. Didion discusses her passion for writing or, more specifically, discovering how stories take shape in what she calls the pictures of her mind. McKellar describes how her love for math burgeoned in a way that allowed her to assert her individuality while shedding the burden of her identity as a child celebrity. In a sense, they each tell the story of how they fell in love with their discipline.

For this assignment, Id like you to write a narrative essay, in which you tell a similar story about your own experience: what led you to pursue your major? You may not have almost burned your house down in a chemical explosion like Sacks or dreamed a childhood dream of having a mathematical theorem named after you like McKellar, but you certainly have your own unique story to tell.

It would probably be best if you centered your narrative on a single significant event or experience that first revealed to you the joy, possibility, or challenge of pursuing the academic subject you enjoy most. I understand that life is messy, and big decisions (like choice of major) dont always readily emerge from a neat and tidy set of circumstances. That said, for the sake of this essaywhich is not life, but a personal narrative, a storyplease try to narrow your focus as much as possible. While experiences in the world might not be cleanly organized and tightly focused, your essay should be. As you engage in this assignment, take all of the advice offered by WikiHows How to Write a Narrative Essay to heart. I really cant stress this enough: click the hyperlink on Canvas or our course syllabus to access this webpage and use it to inform your writing.

Above all, your story should address the prompt; offer a clear focus, thesis, or theme; and contain a manageable plot appropriate for a 4-5 page assignment. You may draw from and cite sources if you feel this strategy would be appropriate for your narrative. However, you are not required to do so. You are, of course, required to use the first-person throughoutafter all, this is your story!

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I would like you to post the rough draft of your narrative essay to this forum as an attached document–ideally in Word, but .pdf is OK too. Please note that I’ve prearranged three-person groups for this discussion forum. After you’ve posted your rough draft (by 11:55 p.m. on 2/13), you’ll return here to complete two peer reviews–one for each of your other group members. Please see Week 5 on our homepage for the appropriate handout to complete; the peer reviews need to be finished and posted here by 11:55 p.m. on 2/20. Got it?! I realize Canvas makes this navigation a bit confusing, but let’s do our best to make the process as smooth as possible. Essentially, these are the steps: (1) Post your rough draft here on 2/13 as an attachment in Word or a .pdf. (2) After you’ve done so, go to Week 5 on our Canvas homepage; there, read the guidelines for peer review and download the peer-review handout. (3) Read and then reply to your group members’ drafts by posting the completed peer-review handout here by 2/20. Make sense?

• I pursued being a biology major because I wanted to go into PA school, which was my end goal of mine
• I loved science, always felt connected to chemistry and biology
• Anatomy and physio always interested me
• I wanted to make a difference in this world and knowledge is power so I decided to pursue a difficult degree
• A bio degree would set me up for what is to come in PA or med school. The debate between the two paths continues
• Ive known I wanted to be a doctor since I was 10 but in college is when I switched to PA

PLEASE DON’T GIVE ME A ROUGH DRAFT VERSION. GIVE ME THE FINAL BEST VERSION POSSIBLE! IF THERE ARE TINGS MY CLASSMATES FIND THAT NEED TO E ADDRESSED OR FIXED ILL DO IT BUT HOPEFULLY THERE ISNT ANY LOL!