Essay 1 --A Significant Moment of Communication

The Assignment: For our first essay, you will write a detailed personal account of a significant moment in your life that involved communication. You may choose to write about an extraordinary moment that is memorable because it left you with an important insight or a new perspective, or because you gained a new understanding of yourself. Or, you may choose to write about a time that didn't seem very special to you then, but which, in retrospect, led to significant changes in the way you see yourself, others, or the world.

Notes: Your paper should be 4-5 pages in length and follow the MLA formatting guidelines as discussed in class. Because this is a personal narrative, it makes sense to use the word "I." However, "personal" does not necessarily mean private, intimate, or filled with powerful emotion. If you have doubts about the appropriateness of your topic, ask. You may also choose to tell this story from a different perspective; if you like, you can narrate the story from the perspective of the other person involved, from a bystander or audience, or even from an inanimate object.

Since this is a moment of communication, there will need to be at least one other person involved and some relevant dialogue. Therefore, moments such as getting a diploma, a death in the family, or winning at a sport are all inappropriate topics for the essay.

You will want to analyze the experience and have a controlling purpose to the story, but don't worry about composing traditional introductions and conclusions for this essay. You will want to use literary techniques such as rich, vivid description of people and places, as well as realistic dialogue, to present this moment as vividly as possible.