WRITING 101

ESSAY 1: WRITING AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Due Date: Thursday, 9/30 @ 5 p.m. in class
Submission: Typed & Printed
Points: 100

ESSAY GUIDELINES
PROMPT
In this essay, you will reflect on your past writing history and experiences. Consider the following
questions while you write.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

How comfortable are you with writing?

What do you remember about learning to write?
What process do you go through when writing a paper?
When do you start?
How long does it usually take you?
What are your favorite types of papers to write?
What are your least favorite types of papers?

FORMAT
This essay needs to be typed, written in complete sentences, and organized logically. I expect there to
be at least 3 paragraphs (Introduction, Body, Conclusion), but more will likely be necessary. Follow
traditional grammar and style conventions to the best of your ability. I will be grading your grammar,
but for this first paper it will be a small portion of your grade.
This essay needs to be double-spaced in 12-point font (Arial or Times New Roman) with 1 margins. For
the heading, include your NAME, DATE, and the ASSIGNMENT TITLE. Make sure there is 1 staple in
the upper left-hand corner of the paper.

WRITING 101

ESSAY 2: Travel Essay

Due Date: Thursday, 10/21 @ 5 p.m. in class
Submission: Typed & Printed
Points: 100

ESSAY GUIDELINES
PROMPT
In this essay you will develop your descriptive language by writing a travel-writing piece. You
can do any of the following:

Describe a recent trip you took

Describe a favorite vacation destination
Choose a place in Tucson (or your hometown) and describe it in a way that makes
people want to vacation there.

Your goal is to describe your vacation/destination using vivid vocabulary that will allow the
reader to experience all aspects of your trip.
FORMAT
This essay needs to be typed, written in complete sentences, and organized logically. I expect
there to be at least 3 paragraphs (Introduction, Body, Conclusion), but more will likely be
necessary. Follow traditional grammar and style conventions to the best of your ability. I will
be grading your grammar, but specifically focusing on the topics we have covered in class so
far (fragments, run-ons, and comma splices).
This essay needs to be double-spaced in 12-point font (Arial or Times New Roman) with 1
margins. For the heading, please include your NAME, DATE, and the ASSIGNMENT TITLE.
Make sure there is 1 staple in the upper left-hand corner of the paper.

WRITING 101

ESSAY 3: Compare/Contrast
Due Date: Tuesday 11/09 @ 5 p.m. in class
Submission: Typed & Printed
Points: 100

ESSAY GUIDELINES
PROMPT
In this essay you will write an essay comparing and contrasting two subjects or concepts.
Though you may choose a subject you are already familiar with, this essay will require some
research. We will spend time in class going over research strategies.
The essay must have a specific focus (limited subject). You will choose two subjects, concepts,
etc. and organize your essay around it, so make sure it is clear before you begin. A few
examples of an appropriate focus are:
1. A policy at Pima and a similar policy (such as plagiarism) at another college
2. An employee guideline where you currently work, and a similar guidelines at a former
place of employment
3. A local law and a similar law in another state
FORMAT
This essay needs to be typed, written in complete sentences, and organized logically. I expect
there to be at least 5 paragraphs (Introduction, Body, Conclusion), but more will likely be
necessary. Follow traditional grammar and style conventions to the best of your ability. I will
be grading your grammar, but specifically focusing on the topics we have covered in class so
far (fragments, run-ons, and punctuation). This essay needs to be double-spaced in 12-point
font (Arial or Times New Roman) with 1 margins. For the heading, please include your NAME,
DATE, and the ASSIGNMENT TITLE. Make sure there is 1 staple in the upper left-hand corner
of the paper.

WRITING 101

ESSAY 4: Editorial
Due Date: Thursday, 12/09 in class @ 5 p.m. in class
Submission: Typed & Printed
Points: 100

ESSAY GUIDELINES
PROMPT
For this essay, you will choose a local issue on your college campus or in your community, or
choose a global issue that is in the news and that interests you. You will read as much
background information as you can on the topic, choose a position, and write an editorial.
Your goal is to persuade the reader and argue your position. Additionally, you must include
the following:
o At least 5 academic sources that you cite in your essay. One source must be from a
book, and at least three need to be from Pima Community College Library Databases.
o MLA citations (parenthetical references) and a Works Cited page.
o You must include a rough draft of the essay that has been reviewed by a peer or tutor
by the above deadline. Use the attached grading rubric and reviewing strategies we
learned in class for this.

FORMAT
This essay needs to be typed, written in complete sentences, and organized logically. I expect
there to be at least 5 paragraphs (Introduction, Body, Conclusion), but more will likely be
necessary. Follow traditional grammar and style conventions. I will be grading your grammar,
but specifically focusing on the topics we have covered in class so far (fragments, run-ons, and
punctuation). This essay needs to be double-spaced in 12-point font (Arial or Times New
Roman) with 1 margins. For the heading, include your NAME, DATE, and the ASSIGNMENT
TITLE. Make sure there is 1 staple in the upper left-hand corner of the paper.

WRITING 101

ESSAY 5: REFLECTIVE ESSAY

Due Date: Written in-class Thursday, 12/16
Submission: Typed & Printed
Points: 100

ESSAY GUIDELINES
PROMPT
In the reflective essay, you will reflect on your writing: discuss what you have learned this semester and
how your writing has changed from being in this class. In each body paragraph you need to use
examples from course readings, class discussions, class activities, and/or your writing to show what you
have learned. Provide an example and then comment on the example. You need to write at least three
body paragraphs. Possible topics include:
Rhetoric
o Pathos, logos, ethos: how these made you think about craft differently
o Audience, speaker, purpose, context, tone, style
Writing process
o Organizing before writing
o The importance of revision
o The importance of editing and proofreading
Organization skills
o Thesis statements: should be debatable, not simply a fact.
o Paragraphs controlled by one topic
Development techniques
o Importance of providing specific examples in support of your thesis
Sentence grammar/sentence construction
o Complete sentences: how to fix comma-splices, run-ons, and fragments
o The importance of precise word choice
Readings: Discuss one of the readings for the course
Discuss something you learned about the topic of the reading that you didnt
know, and why you find this new knowledge or point of view valuable
Discuss a writing technique you learned from the reading
Essay Assignment Topics
o Discuss what you found interesting and valuable about one of the course essay topics
Peer Review
o What you learned from reading other students essays that has helped you improve
your own writing.
o Suggestions youve received from others that youve found helpful
FORMAT
This essay needs to be typed, written in complete sentences, and organized logically. This essay needs
to be double-spaced in 12-point font (Arial or Times New Roman) with 1 margins. For the heading,
include your NAME, DATE, and the ASSIGNMENT TITLE.