Directions for the essay: Describe a specific scene, event, or ritual that imparts special meaning—something that may have taken place during childhood, perhaps—a life-changing situation or occurrence. You should have read the assigned essays (and also the student sample essays in both the Description and Narration chapters) for ideas on how these authors compose their works (they too, are writing about this same topic, in a way). Here’s an example: one might write an essay discussing how a child living in a comfortable setting may never understand the true meaning of success because perhaps he or she has never truly had to work for it. Another example might be discussing how a negative situation (death of a loved one, an illness, etc.) brings about positive results (or vice versa—a positive situation that brings negative results!).
Please feel free to run ideas by me.
You do not have to cite these (or any) required readings/ essays, but if you decide to do so, be sure to include the author’s name within that sentence (as in “According to Hughes…”) or use a parenthetical citation after the sentence you have paraphrased or quoted, like the one at the end of this sentence (Hughes 152). Just be sure to give credit where it is due when quoting a writer’s work. See MLA format in your text or look up the basics on OWL at Purdue’s writing lab. Finally, consider the theme as you write:
The Human Condition: What does it mean to be human, and how does one fit into a particular culture, race, gender, or class? How are people related by their experiences and how do individuals search for and find meaning in their existence? Studying such a theme employs a humanities-based approach to thinking, engaging philosophical, psychological, and sociological ideas, among others. Many essays involve writers’ personal experiences and significant events which have helped them answer some of their own questions about life; such essays may aid readers in questioning, rethinking, and/or changing their own outlooks.
ALL ESSAYS MUST BE THREE TO FOUR PAGES IN LENGTH! SEE ESSAY THEMES/ TOPICS HANDOUT for particulars on how to format your essay and what NOT to include…
