Heading Your Name Professor’s Name Course Title Date

Paper Title Centered Plain text (not bold or italics)

Font: 12 point Times New Roman

How to Format an Academic Paper

Spacing Double-spaced No extra spaces between

paragraphs

Paragraphs Each new paragraph must be

indented▪ Indent=1/2 inch, or five spaces

Page Numbers Upper right-hand corner,

preceded by your name (ex. Jacobs 1)

How to Format an Academic Paper

Parts of a Memoir

Focus on an event of some significance in the author’s life

Contains ample sensory details Moments of dialogue that

reveal something about the character or the event

Clear transitional phrases to connect each action and time to the next

Reflection on or analysis of the events to share their significance with the reader

(Glenn, Guide, p. 113)

Crafting Your Message

What message are you trying to share with your readers?

What reaction do you want from them? Are you trying to move

someone to action? Make them reconsider a

preconceived notion? Make them reflect on your

own life?

Peer Review

What do you think the essay’s message is?

What reaction does it evoke from you as a reader?

Introduction Announces focal point and

establishes ethos:

Peer Review

Does the introductory paragraph do a good job of catching your interest?

If not, do you have a suggestion for how the author can improve it?

Is there another place in the essay that would make a stronger introduction?

Body Presents the main narrative

through dialogue, strong sensory details, and a well organized narrative arc Develops characters Reflects and analyzes

Body Presents the main narrative through

dialogue, strong sensory details, and a well organized narrative arc

Develops characters Reflects and analyzes

Contains strong transitions between paragraphs. Strong transitions: turn disconnected writing into a unified whole help readers understand how paragraphs work

together, reference one another, and build to a larger point

highlight connections between corresponding paragraphs. By referencing in one paragraph the relevant material from previous paragraphs, writers can develop important points for their readers.

It is a good idea to continue one paragraph where another leaves off. If this is especially challenging, perhaps the

paragraphs don't belong together at all

Transition Examples

Example: Overall, Management Systems International has logged increased sales in every sector, leading to a significant rise in third-quarter profits.Another important thing to note is that the corporation had expanded its international influence.

Revision: Overall, Management Systems International has logged increased sales in every sector, leading to a significant rise in third-quarter profits.These impressive profits are largely due to the corporation's expanded international influence.

Transition Examples

Example: Amy Tan became a famous author after her novel, The Joy Luck Club, skyrocketed up the bestseller list.There are other things to note about Tan as well. Amy Tan has enough of a sense of humor to participate in the satirical garage band the Rock Bottom Remainders with Stephen King and Dave Barry.

Revision: Amy Tan became a famous author after her novel, The Joy Luck Club, skyrocketed up the bestseller list.Though her fiction is well known, her work with the satirical garage band the Rock Bottom Remainders indicates a personality off the page as well as on it.

Peer Review

Are the narrative events clear and well organized?

Are there strong descriptions to keep your attention?

Do the paragraphs flow well from one to the next?

Are there any places where there is too little or too much information?

Is the significance of the events to the author clear?

Conclusion Reinforces memoir’s message

and leaves reader with an understanding of the story’s significance

Peer Review

Did the conclusion offer further reflection on the events and their significance? Or did it simply just present

what you already knew?

Do you have any other questions or suggestions for the author?

Peer Review: Complete Questions

What is the essay’s message? What reaction does it evoke from you as a reader?

Introduction Does the introductory paragraph do a good job of

catching your interest? How the author can improve it?

Is there another place in the essay that would make a stronger introduction?

Body Are the narrative events clear and well organized? Are there strong descriptions to keep your attention? Do the paragraphs flow well from one to the next? Are there any places where there is too little or too

much information? Is the significance of the events to the author clear?

Conclusion Did the conclusion offer further reflection on the events

and their significance? Or did it simply just present what you already knew?

Do you have any other questions or suggestions for the author?

Homework

Read TEW, Ch. 7, pp. 64-89

Comment on blog

Send the second draft of your memoir to me by noon on Thursday, 9/5