We’ve read essays featuring everything from small, personal journeys to profiles of groups in historic moments. Some of these essays feature subjects who were both familiar and strangers. For your final, essay, you’ll get to choose your own topic that draws you into an investigation. It may be a personal narrative like Sedaris or Seshadri, who have personal experiences that draw them toward larger questions. You may want to recount a new experience like Wallace or Matter, who write to make sense of the quirky, poignant, and occasionally hilarious things they encounter. Or, you may want to take this opportunity to investigate something outside of your own experience like Hersey and Orfi, who write essays that build connections to subjects who are strangers or misunderstood. Whatever you choose, your topic should prompt you to do a little research.
Write an 8-10 page (double-spaced; MLA, APA, or Chicago style) creative nonfiction essay in which you:
Pose a question about your subject. You may want to write about something personal, or you could choose an event, place, person, process, or group that interests you.
Present your findings about your question using an appropriate essay structure and genre
Demonstrate an awareness of audience through effective use of language and style
P.S. If you’re feeling stuck about how to incorporate research into your essay, have a look back at our discussion posts and lecture materials for some ideas.
