This document provides instructions for the first assignment in an English course titled ENGL102 FA17. For the personal narrative essay assignment, students are asked to write a 4-5 page essay reflecting on a place from their childhood that is important to them and how it has shaped their identity. The instructions provide details on the required components of the essay such as a clear description of the chosen place and thoughtful analysis of how it impacted the development of the student's self-identity. A grading rubric is also included that will be used to assess the students' narrative essays based on their use of narrative components, content, organization, formatting, and submission of a rough draft.

1. ENGL102 FA17- C.J. Hill
Unit 1 Assignment Instructions
Personal Narrative Essay: Place-Identity
Spaces and places are far more than fours walls or several acres of wild grass. Our
environments perform a larger purpose in our lives than simply being the settings in
which they play out.
Throughout the course of this class, we will be using analytical, research, and
argumentative writing technics to explore the different ways that environments affect
human beings and situations. And for our first assignment, you will begin this journey
with narrative reflection writing.
For this essay you are to reflect on a place or space that holds a lot of importance for you,
ideally from your childhood. This could be your hometown, your elementary school
playground, your grandparents’ kitchen—somewhere that has held on and never let go.
After determining an environment, you are to write a 4-5 page personal narrative in
which you discuss how this place or space has affected your identity and who you have
become.
This assignment requires:
• A clear, creative description of your chosen place or space
• Narrative elements as detailed in classroom discussion and gleaned from the
example essays assigned throughout the unit
• Thoughtful analysis of how your chosen environment has shaped your identity,
including examples
Audience:
• Write this essay toward an audience of your peers
Format:
• Write in standard edited English and adhere strictly to MLA 8 formatting
Assessment:
• This assignment will be graded by the attached rubric
Rough drafts are due by Friday, September 1st 11:59 pm
Final drafts are due on Friday, September 15th 11:59 pm
“Self-identity is not restricted to making distinctions between oneself and significant
others, but extends with no less importance to objects and things, and the very spaces
and places in which they are found.” –Harold M. Proshansky, Abbe K. Fabian, and
Robert Kaminoff, “Place-Identity: Physical World Socialization of the Self”

2. ENGL102 FA17- C.J. Hill
Grading Rubric for Major Assignment 1:
Narrative
Components
30 Points
Content
30 Points
Organization
20 Points
Formatting
10 Points
Rough
Draft
10 Points
A
90-
100
Total
Points
Narrative
components are
implemented
strongly
throughout the
piece. The voice
and perspective is
clear and
compelling.
Description of the
environment is
detailed and
creative. The
statement of
relevance to
identity is well-
pondered and
explored
thoroughly
throughout the
essay.
The writing moves
quick and clean
through a well
structured form.
Transitions are
artful and tied into
topic sentences.
MLA 8 format
is used in exact
detail with no
errors.
A complete
rough draft was
submitted and
feedback was
taken into
account in
revision.
B
80-89
Total
Points
Several narrative
components are
used well at
various points in
the essay.
Description of
environment is
clear and
thoughtful.
Statement of
relevance to
identity is
discussed often
throughout the
essay.
Writing follows a
clear organization
with transitions
and topic
sentences that rise
slightly above
being only “good
enough.”
MLA 8 format
is used
correctly with
only a few
errors.
A complete
rough draft was
submitted and
feedback was
generally
incorporated
C
70-79
Total
Points
Narrative
components are
attempted in
several areas of the
essay.
Description of
environment and
statement of
relevance to
identity is
present.
Writing is
organized in a
logical manner.
Transitions and
topic sentences are
simple.
MLA 8 format
is used but with
distracting
errors.
A rough, rough
draft was
submitted.
Feedback was
slightly
incorporated
NC
No
Credit
Narrative
components are
completely absent
from the writing.
There is no
description of the
selected
environment or a
clearly stated
connection to the
writer’s identity.
Writing does not
follow any clear
structure.
Transitions and
topic sentences are
absent.
MLA 8 style is
not followed in
any way.
No rough draft
was submitted