Illustrative Essay Guidelines

(10% of grade)

Rough Draft due __________

Final Draft due____________

The Assignment

Pick a topic of interest to you.  You are going to make a claim or point about your topic.  Then, using three specific examples, which you will explain in detail, you will illustrate or show how the point you are claiming is true.  Use a five-paragraph essay form for this essay.  This essay will be your portfolio essay to be evaluated by a committee which will determine your pass/fail status with regard to English 090.

The Format

+ The essay should be 500-700 words.

+ The first paragraph will give a little bit of background and/or establish why the point is important.  It will also contain your thesis for the essay, stating the claim you will illustrate in the essay.  Put this thesis in the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.

+ The three paragraphs that will make up the body of the essay illustrate how your thesis is true and will each contain:

~a topic sentences that serves as a supporting point for the claim that is made in the thesis statement of the introductory paragraph

~strong and important details supporting the topic sentence in the paragraph and contributing to how the thesis claim is true

~a concluding statement

~smooth transition from the preceding paragraph

~and/or a smooth transition to the next paragraph

+ The conclusion will reassert the thesis, but in new words.  The conclusion will also contain some reflection on the topic that has been covered.  Leave the reader thinking about the topic in a new light.

+ Essays will be typed, and in 12-point Times New Roman or Courier font.

+ The left margin should be 1.5 inches. All other borders/margins should be 1 inch.

+ Double space each essay.  (Do not worry about how many pages your essay becomes.)

+ Headers should appear as those shown in the MLA example paper. It is okay to single space name, instructor, etc.,...

+ Be sure to include your surname in the pagination header 12-point Times New Roman or Courier font. Pagination header should be .5 inch from the top of paper and 1 inch from the right edge (flush with the right margin).

+ Give your narrative a meaningful title. It will not be entitled Narrative Essay. Center the title above the essay in normal12-point font.  Do not underline and

Put It In Title Case

+Please just staple the paper in the upper left corner. Please do not use paper clips or plastic covers on your papers handed in for grades.

Grades

+ Essays will be graded for coherence, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and overall writing quality, and adherence to assignment guidelines.

+ Use full sentences.

+ Addressing the reader as you, using contractions outside of quotation, failure to use commas and correct punctuation, so-ing the reader, and/or using conjunctions to begin sentences will earn an F for the essay, and a rewrite within regular class.

+ Be sure not to commit errors shown on the General Rubric hand-out.