Final Draft of Essay

First Draft due in class Monday, January 28, 2008 -- 10 points
Second Draft due in class Thursday, January 31, 2008 -- 20 points
Peer Edit (available Th., 1/31) -- 20 points
Final Draft (with first and second drafts and Peer Edit attached) due in class Monday, February 4, 2008 -- 80 points

OFFICIAL REMINDERS
1. Topic: What event or person in African-American history has most influenced or inspired you or modern society? Why? (slightly changed, but basically what we expected)
2. Typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font
3. Do not use bold or italic font.
4. Word limit: 600-700 words.
5. Title centered at top of first page. Do not underline title or use quotation marks.
6. Do not type your name on your essay. Attach an entry identification form (available in class Feb. 4). Do not staple your essay together; instead, use a paper clip.
7. Essays will be judged on "originality and creativity, cultural knowledge and research, organized structure and clarity, as well as spelling and grammar."

STROM'S HINTS FOR SUCCESS
1. Be original. Check your essay for sentences that could appear in anyone's essay.
2. Don't be afraid to write about a non-famous person.
3. Focus on one or two key aspects (traits, ideas, accomplishments) of the person or event you choose. Don't give the person's entire biography.
4. Connect to your life. Your essay's power will come from the way you show how the person or event has affected you. Don't just say it affected you; show it. This part should be at least a full paragraph.
5. Your essay should contain some imagery (words that help the reader to create images in his/her mind, to visualize).
6. Avoid cliches, especially in your beginning and end. (Examples of opening-sentence cliches: "The person who has most influenced me is..." or "This essay is going to be about..." or "Rosa Parks was born in 1913..." or "Oprah has made a huge contribution to our society..."

See Strom's first draft.