Personal Essay

Hi Nicole,

I'll look forward to our visit Thursday. I've even picked up a book that I think you will like better than anything else I've brought you so far. In the meantime, I'd like to get you to try writing a personal essay.

Here are some characteristics of personal essays:

-Written in paragraphs (4-5 sentences/paragraph, minimum)
-Written from a 1st person point of view
-Fairly relaxed in tone
-they persuade the reader to a specific point of view
-they use facts and experiences to be persuasive
-1st paragraph (the introduction) contains an opinion statement (your main idea about the topic) AND two or three sentences that support your opinion statment.
-the paragraphs that follow are body paragraphs
-each body paragraph should focus on one fact or experience that supports your opinion statement
-your final paragraph, the conclusion, should briefly restate your main ideas from the whole essay.

See this sample on Why Dogs Make Better Pets Than Cats

Now, I'd like you to try to write a personal essay on the topic: Should boys and girls go to separate high schools?

Good luck, post comments if you have any questions,

CP