Creative Writing English 12

Personal Essay Criteria

Due _____________________
A personal essay is a kind of a self-portrait. By telling a story, and also
sharing objective facts the author shows what kind of person he or she is,
and attempts to engage the reader in thinking about an event, issue, or thing
in a new way. By examining some aspect of the world that anyone might experience, but
showing that examination from a personal point of view, the author tries to help the reader
connect the idea being examined to the rest of the world. Also the author may reveal him or
herself to the reader – particularly in an college application personal essay.

A Personal Essay Should:

 Essay reveals something about the author
 Essay prompts the reader to think through asking questions;
challenging assumptions; and introducing and examining multiple
perspectives
 Essay grabs the reader’s interest
 Essay contains interesting language including imagery, vivid
descriptions, specific (rather than general) words; Essay employs the
elements of story telling
 Essay is passionate with evidence of author’s knowledge of the
subject
 Essay is presented in a careful, complete, and mechanically polished
way.
 Essay avoids repetition
Think about SOAPS + Claim when considering your essay. Your essay should have
a Subject, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Speaker, and a Claim.

Now the most pressing occasion might be that your teacher or college is making
you write, but if you can fabricate an occasion to make your piece more interesting, e.g. “I
had an extra $100 so I decided to test the proposition that more expensive food is better.”
You, of course, are going to be “the speaker.” You should introduce yourself in the
essay. You might say for example, that you have never eaten anywhere but McDonalds, for
the above essay. Or if you are going to try to eat only organic, or vegetarian food for a week,
you might say how much you love a good steak.
The purpose of your essay should be made clear. Essay comes from the French
word essai, which means to “try.” An essay should be your “try” at understanding an issue,
and your try at explaining what you have figured out to your audience.
Finally, your claim should be clear: “The world will be better when hamburgers
never weigh more than ¼ pound;” “Organic food is expensive, over-hyped, and extremely
tasty;” “A two-hundred dollar dinner is a ridiculous waste of money.”

Below is what Bailey White may have written about her essay “Family Values.”
My essay “Family Values” is quite good. Right off the bat I grab the readers attention with a
startling event, “My Aunt Eleanor was taking a shower the other day when the whole bathroom fell right
through the floor…” I use interesting language throughout the essay. For example I wrote “a story of a
spectacular plumbing disaster” rather than something plain like “a big problem with our tub.” I also use
words like “degenerated” and “frittered” which are colorful and specific. I use other specific words and
phrases like “crown molding.”
I encourage readers to think about other people’s perspectives through my choice of subject matter.
Most people would not think that how spectacular a disaster you have been evidence for how good your family
is.
I tell the story very concisely. In fact, some people might say that I don’t give enough detail, because
I don’t ever say my main point. However, I think that my point does get across.
In the published copy of “Family Values” my grammar and punctuation are perfect.
Zartler 2008