Considering+Culture

=PERSONAL NARRATIVE #1: Considering Culture= Length: 500-750 words, 12-point Times New Roman font and manuscript form Points: 50

//When I Was Puerto Rican// is a memoir written by Esmeralda Santiago that depicts important events in her early life. Through vivid concrete detail, dialogue, and sensory images she brings each episode to life. Though we did not actually experience these events, Santiago’s words make us feel as if we were there with her. The concept of culture plays an important role in her memoir. I would like each of you to hone the art of narration, using culture as a “jumping-off point”.

In this narrative, detail a personal experience that illustrates an aspect of culture or cultural misunderstanding. Tell your story from the first person point of view, providing concrete details and dialogue, if appropriate, to convey a vivid recollection of the event or experience. Through the inclusion of your thoughts and feelings, this personal narrative will demonstrate for the reader the impact the episode has had on your life.

Keep in mind: The event does not have to be monumental or earth-shattering. It must be important to you, illustrate an aspect of culture or cultural misunderstanding, and be important enough to share. Perhaps you learned a lesson from what happened; perhaps you found a new friend; perhaps you changed the course of your life; perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. Nearly any memory powerful enough for you to recall is a potential personal narrative.

-Try to write in scene. That is, put your reader in a specific place at a specific time. -It is your goal to express some ‘big idea’ (or theme) without stating it too directly. -Show the reader what happened through sensory detail and description. -Approach the story/essay using the 1st person (“I”) to emphasize that it is direct, personal, experience.

=Assessment Criteria: Considering Culture= //**A Tip Top Essay contains the following:**// -Focus on topic is clear and definitive -Effective and appropriate details create a vivid picture
 * Ideas and Content**

-Memorable hook and conclusion are clearly linked and establish a focus -Sequencing of details is effective/logical -Transitions effectively tie the story together.
 * Organization**

-Writer’s personality is expressed -connection to audience and purpose is effectively crafted. -writing evokes an emotional response
 * Voice**

-**Precise, vivid, natural language creates a clear/complete picture in reader's mind -powerful verbs, precise nouns, appropriate adjectives and phrases enhance meaning -original phrasing and memorable language prompt reflective thoughts and insights
 * Word Choice

-Sentences contain words that are relevant and enhance meaning. -Flow between sentences is seamless. -Writer employs effective sentence variation
 * Sentence Fluency**

-A strong grasp of writing conventions is apparent, grammar and spelling is accurate and correct -paragraphing enhances the organization of the paper. Presentation The form/ presentation of the text enhances the ability for the reader to understand and connect with the message. Pleasing to eye.
 * Conventions/Keables**

__**Bringing Words to Life: Show Rather than Tell**__ As you revise your personal narrative, you must understand the importance of using descriptive sensory writing in creating clear characters, setting, and plot for your readers. Writing that relies on telling the reader what is going on prevents the reader from fully engaging with your test. The reader doesn’t have to do any work as everything is spelled out for him or her. Let me TELL YOU something: that’s dull. Writing that relies on showing engages the reader with vivid description of action and appearances. It uses active words, realistic dialogue, and sensory description to fully immerse the reader in the given context. The reader gets to make his or her own conclusions rather than being told what to think or feel. Ah, the freedom.

"Don't tell me the lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream!" Mark Twain

Telling: Frannie thought she saw something move outside the window. She screamed.

Showing: "You know your eyesight is flawed, Frannie," she whispered to herself, staring at the dark window. She listened to the ticking clock, and waited for the shadow to move again. "You're being ridiculous. Go to sleep. This is ridiculous--" The profile of a man slowly crossed the window as a scream smothered the silence.

SETTING: S The man was bored and it wouldn’t stop raining. T “Lost in his thoughts, he stared out the window at the gray clouds hanging low over the dark water of the bay. It looked like it would rain again today.” Disclosure Michael Crichton

TRY SHOWING: Describe someone walking through the desert without using the words desert, hot, or dry. Include 3 of the vocabulary words listed in your description.

CHARACTER: S Frank was sick. He had a bad fever and couldn’t fall asleep. T Some hours after midnight, Frank Tempe wakes sweaty in his bed as the snow ticks against the window of his room. Fever consumes him as the heat pulses through his body in sudden flashes. He tries to focus on the digital clock face feet from his eyes, but the image will not be still. He can’t make sense of the cracking, splitting sound of the wind through the woods behind the house.

TRY SHOWING: Describe someone waiting in line for an ice-cream cone. Avoid the words, excited, ice-cream, or line. Include three of the vocabulary words listed in your description. (Diff. words from above)

PLOT: It was so exciting. It was so boring.

TRY SHOWING: Take one of the above statements and bring it to life. Do not use the words boring or exciting, but do incorporate three more words from your vocab list.