Term Paper on "Literacy Memoir"

Quoted Instructions for "Literacy Memoir" Assignment:

Our first essay calls for you to compose a literacy memoir. You can look to Rodriguez for an example of what this means, considering the way he wrote and reflected on the events, people, and influences that shaped him through his educational journey. You are invited to identify a key moment in your literacy education or to explore an influential force in your becoming literate. With that in mind, consider some of the following questions: What are your earliest memories of reading or writing? When you reconstruct these memories, who is present? What kind of impact did they have on you and your interests in reading or writing? What was the first text you read on your own? Which texts are most memorable as you reflect on key moments or matters of influence? Have most of your favorable experiences with literacy happened inside or outside of school? In your family, your church, clubs, or informal community networks? Has you ability to use your literacy skills been determined by invitations from a teacher? a sibling? a favorite author? Has your education been steady progress or have there been backwards steps (or steps to the side) as you move toward the place you want to be?

These questions will help you get started, but they need not confine the scope of your essay. You shouldn't feel obligated to answer each question in your essay. You are welcome to write about experiences you've had at any time in your life, as long as they are detailed and connected to literacy. You can also introduce other experiences in your life that contribute metaphorically to (y)our conceptions about literacy and literacy education, about why reading and writing matter. Whichever angle you choose, remember that this essay, because it is a memoir, will not simply list a series of memories; rather, it will also link the memories to one central, reflective conclusion. (Again, compare this to the way Rodriguez' essay works.) Try to capture the full details of your experience as you begin to choose events you wish to include in your memoir. Thick, rich description and a distinguishable, cohesive thread that ties the events together should help you compose a lively, interesting and 'good' essay.

You may access other student essays, including instructor comments, by clicking here.

Guidelines for Essay One

Length: 650-800 words. You may exceed 800 words, but not by much, when planning your essay, you should be sensitive to the prescribed length and determine the scope of your essay accordingly.

Vital information: At the beginning of your essay, include your full name, the class title, my name, the due date, the title of the essay (centered), and the word count.

File format: Please submit your essay as a file attachment in Rich Text Format (RTF). This is available in most word processing programs; it will ensure maximum document accessibility for all operating platforms. If you have any doubts about the file format, you may submit your work as a text file attachment.

Cover pages: Please do not format your essay to include a cover page.