Drafting your Personal Essay

Keep our discussion of the definition of personal essay in mind as you develop your draft. At the same time, if you are having difficulty identifying what you have to say, don't get stuck. Use your uncertainty as permission to develop detailed scenes, descriptions of places, personal portraits of the friends and family you are trying to understand - anything that might seem related. Your final essay needs a clear, compelling, artfully presented focus - but this is your draft - the place where you are discovering what you have to say.

Since the assignment is to write a segmented essay, (ah yes, and it would be a good idea to look back at the assignment sheet at some point) I strongly suggest that you write in blocks. If you aren't sure how the pieces will fit together - let that go for now. Give yourself permission to write that one scene that feels important but you have no idea what it connects to. Who knows - that may be the part that your classmates can explain to you.

And if you can - take some pleasure in this. It is like going on a trip - to the past, through your mind, into a place you have never been before (because you never fully understood or imagined it). Your topics all sounded like they would offer you surprises and opportunities if you dug in. Have fun and I am so looking forward to reading your work.