Explains how those details provide evidence for a deeper understanding of the relationships between language, identity, and community

The dialects and languages you have at your disposal are what allow you to communicate effectively and powerfully with a wide range of audiences.
Andrea Lunsford, The Everyday Writer (248)
Compose an informative, autobiographical essay about a time you learned to participate in a new community by learning to read, write, speak, or otherwise communicate in a new way. This personal essay should tell a story with details that you analyze and explain while reflecting critically on larger questions about language, identity, and community. Your goal is not only to tell a story about your personal development, but also to reflect on the issues addressed by Andrea Lunsford in The Everyday Writer (245-262). Ask yourself whether her account of language and identity rings true for you. Try to think of how your story might be used to support her argument, but also look for aspects of the issue she doesnt address. You are the expert of your own experience. What do you know that she doesnt?
For your topic, remember that literacy learning often takes place outside of school. Brainstorm other areas of life in which you learned to communicate in new ways. Some ideas might include learning to: contribute to discussion boards or chat streams, compose social media posts on a particular platform, read playbooks for sports, use the terminology of a sorority or fraternity, write music, or speak a foreign language. It can be anything that connects you to other people.
Your literacy narrative must be 1,000-1,500 words and composed in MLA format. You are encouraged to use first-person pronouns and to practice language awareness (EW 247-253) by mixing varieties of English. See in particular Quick Help for tips on when to deviate from academic English (EW 249). Although you do not need to cite Lunsford, your essay should demonstrate that you firmly grasp the concepts she explains. You are encouraged to use the literacy narratives we read in Unit 1 as models, and advice for narrative strategies can be found in Autobiography and Literacy Narratives (CR 76-87).
An A paper:
Is submitted on time and complete;
Presents details using narrative conventions to offer an engaging depiction of an autobiographical language-learning experience;
Explains how those details provide evidence for a deeper understanding of the relationships between language, identity, and community;
Differentiates effectively between moments of narrative and moments of analysis, advancing an argument that builds in complexity from beginning to end; and
Demonstrates proficiency with edited academic English and, where appropriate, incorporates non-academic language to good effect.
Your Literacy Narrative will go through several drafts. See below for due dates and instructions for submission.

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