This document provides instructions for a personal narrative essay assignment for an English course. Students are asked to write a 4-page minimum essay reflecting on a place from their childhood that has significantly shaped their identity. They must describe the place creatively, tell stories about their experiences there, and analyze how being in that environment has led them to who they are now. A rubric is also included that will be used to grade the assignment based on narrative elements, content, organization, formatting, and submission of a rough draft.

1. ENGL102 SP18- C.J. Hill
Page 1 of 2
UNIT 1 ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Personal Narrative Essay: Place-Identity
Spaces and places are far more than four 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 duration 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 great deal 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 page minimum 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 clear
examples. It is one thing to describe the place and give us stories, but the key part of this
assignment is reflecting on how this has all played a part in leading you to who you are now
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, JANUARY 19TH
11:59 PM
FINAL DRAFTS ARE DUE ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND
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 SP18- C.J. Hill
Page 2 of 2
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