Narrative Paper Assignment Sheet What is the topic? For this paper, you will have a choice of topics. Select one of the topics below: 2. In “My Dell Hid My Privilege and My Mac Hid My Financial Need” we read about how privilege can take on different forms, such as financial or educational backgrounds. Share a story to show a time(s) when you realized your own privilege and the lack of privilege of others. What did you learn from the experience(s) Who is theaudience? Imagine you are writing to an audience of faculty, staff, administrators and fellow students at our college. As the writer, what’s important for me to keep in mind? For this narrative, your job is to make sure your story is clear for your reader. In other words, you will use language to show the experience to your readers. Here are some general guides for you as the writer on this assignment. ● Show the reader the lesson (main point/thesis). This can come at the start of the paper and/or you can put it in the conclusion. ● Consider useful background (especially cultural background) your reader may need to follow the story. ● Help the reader follow the events and see connections by using logical organization and effective transitions. ● Help show the experience (and not just tell them) by including narrative elements (word choice, quoted speech, sensory details, inner thoughts, similes (Her strong arm was like a large tree branch) ● Make sure you are not slipping away from the specific focus in your paper. (a good plan can help) ● Edit you language use (especially verb tense). ● Format your paper for MLA or APA What is the genre (form) for this We will write a personal narrative essay. You can organize it in any logical way, but here are two possible ways to plan your paper.
assignment?
One Long StoryI. IntroductionA. Interesting hookB. Background the readerneeds before the start ofthe story.C. Thesis (here or at end)II. BodyA. First part of storyB. Second part ofstoryC. Third part of storyIII. ConclusionA. End of storyB. Thesis or Point to StoryC. Final thought (advice,prediction, opinion)I. Introduction Several Smaller Stories A. Interesting hookB. BackgroundC. ThesisII. BodyA. First example storyB. Second example storyC. Third example storyIII. ConclusionA. Tell thesis (point of story)B. Final though (advice,prediction, opinion)What are theconstraints?(limitations)Word count: 1,125 wordsMLA formatting
MyDellHidMyPrivilegeandMy MacHidMyFinancialNeedByZöeSottileThemostexcitingpartwasthelaptop.
MymomgrabbedthethickenvelopeoutofmyhandsandreadofftheamenitiesassociatedwiththeTangScholarshiptoPhillipsAcademy:fulltuitionforallfouryears,afreesummertrip,$20aweekformetospendonalltheCheetosandnailpolishmyheartdesired,andfinally,afreelaptop.
Ihadneverhadacomputerofmyownbefore,andtometheprospectsymbolizedaworldofnewpossibilities.IwastheonlystudentfrommypublicmiddleschoolIknewtoevergotoaneliteboardingschool,anditfeltlikebeinginvitedintoaselectiveclub.MyfirstweekatAndover,dazedbyitsglamourandnewness,Ifoughtmywaytothefinancialaidofficetopickupthelaptop;Isentmymomaphotoofmegrinningandclutchingthecardboardbox.Backinmydormroom,Ipulledoutmyprize,aheavybutfunctionalDell,andmarveledatitssleekedges,itsastonishingspeed.
Butthelovestoryofmylaptopcameclamoringtoahalt.Inthelibrary,asIstumbledtonegotiateaspacetofitin,IwatchedmyfriendseachpulloutaMacBook.Eachwaspaper-thinandseeminglyweightless.Andmine,heavyenoughtohurtmybackandconstantlysighinglikeatireddog,wasdistinctlyoutofplace.Mylaptop,whichIhadthoughtwasmytickettotheeliteworldofAndover,actuallygavemeawayastheoutsiderIwas.
Foralongtime,thiswasthecruxofmyAndoverexperience:alwaysanoutsider.WhenIhungoutwithwealthierfriends,Iwasdisorientedbyhowdifferenttheirliveswerefrommine.WhiletheyspentsummersinPragueorParis,IspentmineminingtheconstellationofthriftstoresaroundNewHaven.Thegapbetweenfull-scholarshipandfull-payfeltinsurmountable.
ButIalsofeltlikeanoutsidergoingtomeetingsforthefull-scholarshipaffinitygroup.MyparentsattendedcollegeandgrewupwealthierthanIdid,
givingmeculturalcapitalmanyofmyfull-scholarshipfriendsneverhadaccessto.Moreover,I’mwhiteandcouldaffordoccasionalconcertticketsor
sparklyearrings.Thelaptop,carriedbyallfull-scholarshipstudentsandcodedwithhiddenmeanings,pivotedmyfriends’understandingsofme.Athome,Igrewupmiddleclass,thenbecametheprivilegedprepschoolgirl.ButatAndover,suddenly,Iwaspoor.Tryingtoreconciletheseconflictingidentities,Irealizedhowcomplexandmutableclassis.Myclassisconnectedtomyparents’income,butit’salsorootedinculturalknowledgeandobjectsthatarechargedwithgreatermeaning.
Whichbringsmebacktothelaptop:inthemiddleofmyseniorfall,myexhaustedDellbrokeandIcouldn’taffordanother.WhenImanagedtoborrowaslimMacfrommyschool,Ifeltthewallsaroundmereorient.IhopedthatnowIwouldn’thavetothinkabouttheelectricwebofprivilegeandpowereverytimeIsentanemail.Instead,Ifeltanewanxiety:IworriedwhenIsatinthemagnificentdininghallwithmybeautifulcomputerthatIhadlostanimportantpartofmyidentity.
visitwww.facinghistory.org1
MyDellHidMyPrivilegeandMyMacHidMyFinancialNeed(continued)
WhenIstartedatAndover,theseconstantduelingtensionsfeltlikeatrap:likeIwouldneverbecomfortableanywhere.(Theschoolsensedittoo,andallfull-financialaidstudentsnowreceiveMacBooks.)Butmaybeit’stheoppositeofatrap.MaybeI’mculturallyambidextrous,ascomfortableintroducingaspeakeron
thestageofAndover’scentury-oldchapelasgettingmynosepiercedinatattooparlorinNewHaven.Myhyper-awarenessofhowmyDellhidmyprivilegeandhowmyMachidmyfinancialneedpushedmetobeawareofwhatcomplicatedstorieswerehidingbehindmyclassmates’seeminglysimplefacades.Iamafull-scholarshipstudentwhobenefitsfromcultural,
socioeconomicandracialprivilege:mystoryisn’teasy,butit’sstillmine.1