Background: This paper builds on what was practiced in the first unit of the course. This paper must be at least 3 full pages, typed, double-spaced, adhering to MLA format (Times New Roman, 12 point font, MLA header, etc.). You will submit this paper on Canvas as a PDF or Word Document.
Paper Prompt: Write a detailed, imaginative, and interesting narrative paper telling a story of a time that you were successful in school as a student using the techniques outlined in my PPT. You are welcome to include visuals (photos, videos, etc.) in your narrative. You are encouraged to use the first person (I) in this paper. You must have a narrative arc in your story (see below for reference). In addition to using a narrative arc, you must follow the assigned prompt of writing a story that outlines a time when you were successful as a student. Therefore, your story for this paper must be related to a form of student success that actually happened in your own life.
Now, if you DO NOT have a story in which you were successful in school, that is okay! Instead, you can write about an experience in school in which you were not successful, and relay how that impacted you.
Regardless of whether you choose a story in which you were or were not successful, this should be academic related (whether that is during K-12, in a particular training course you completed, previous college courses, training for work/professions, etc. This has to be something academically related and does not have to be restricted to the K-12 or college environment)
In your story, you should include the following and incorporate it smoothly in a storytelling fashion in the narrative arc:
Properly establish the time, place, etc.
What your goal was to succeed
Detail anyone who helped you (either helped your ability to succeed and/or hurt your ability to succeed)
Explain how you developed that goal to succeed
Explain how you ultimately succeeded
Explain how this form of student success inspired you to succeed elsewhere (in school or outside of school)
Narrative Arc Structure (also see PPT on this for more specific breakdown):
Introduction and Narrative set-up
Hook the readers by tempting them to read the story (aka your thesis for this paper should be specific to your story and the message you intend to get across)
Set the readers up on the path that leads to the conflict
Build the narrative in the introduction by using 2+ paragraphs
Give readers essential information/context
Suggest a central theme or message that can be alluded back to in the resolution
Announce/suggest the conflict toward the end of this section
Rising Action
Create a series of events that heightened the conflict
Use the essential moments of the conflict, but be purposeful and reflective
You can use more than one event – be sure it all relates to one another
Climax
The highest point of tension but also brings the conflict to high relief
See this as the point of no return – things can never be the same
Resolution
Your resolution does not necessarily mean you need to have a happy ending or a lesson learned conclusion.
Reveal how you have (or potentially have not) resolved the conflict
Subtly but carefully point the reader back to the overall theme or main message through your resolution
Conclusion Paragraph: In your final paragraph, in at least 5 full sentences you must make connections to at least one piece of content we read for class that is available on Canvas. This can be anything from week 1: student/college fear factor, stress and coping, Superman and Me, Mother Tongue, Shitty First Drafts. Note that this comparison does not have to be something identical or similar to our course contentyou can make any connection youd like, no matter how big, small, or different it is. As long as you make a solid connection, quote/reference the course material, and meet the sentence requirement then you meet the criteria here.
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