This document provides instructions for a personal narrative essay assignment for an English course. Students are asked to write a 3-4 page essay reflecting on a place from their childhood that is important to them and how it has shaped their identity. They must describe the place creatively, use narrative elements, and analyze how the environment influenced who they are. A rubric is also included to assess students' use of narrative components, content, organization, and formatting.

1. ENGL102 SP17- 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 3-4 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 The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing and as
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:
• As stated in the syllabus, this first assignment will be graded by the attached,
standard rubric. This rubric will be revised together as a class for consequent
assignments
Optional rough drafts are due as a hardcopy by class on Friday, January 27th
Final drafts are due on Bb Learn on Friday, February 3rd by 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 SP17- C.J. Hill
Grading Rubric for Major Assignment 1:
Narrative
Components
30 Points
Content
30 Points
Organization
30 Points
Formatting
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.
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.
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.
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.