Assignment Requirements
Word Count
800 to 1200 Words (which is about 3-4 typed pages)
Why is this a poorly written paragraph?
The girl was Elinor. Her sister was Marianne. They lived at Norland Park. Their father died. They had to move out after he died.
Short, choppy sentences that each start "Subject + Verb"
Which is an acceptable memoir title?
A. Jane Austen and Me
B. EN 101 Paper
C. Memoir
A. Jane Austen and Me
Find the error:
In the end, the girls, had a lot of fun.
No comma after girls (No need to divide the subject from its verb)
The correct font and size for this assignment
12 point font Times New Roman
the POV used in a memoir
First Person POV ("I", "we", etc)
What is wrong with this sentence?
Because he doesn't remember it.
It is a fragment, not a sentence. Only includes a dependent clause.
How to fix: Either add an independent clause to it (He had to ask her for her name because he doesn't remember it), or drop the conjunction "because" as it makes it a dependent clause.
The last step you take in writing should be?
a. edit for organization
b. proofread for grammar
c. brainstorm ideas
d. write a first draft
B. proofread for grammar and spelling
Find the error:
It's time to eat James!
It's time to eat, James!
Set off a direct address by a comma. Without the comma, it seems as if the speaker is planning to eat James rather than inviting him to come eat with you.
(James, it's time to eat!)
Lines will be _______ spaced
Double
Your memoir should:
a. cover a wide range of topics
b. tell a specific story about a theme and time
c. tell the whole story of your life
B - tell a specific story about a theme and time
I have too close the door.
I have to close the door.
Check common homonyms. (two/too/to, they're/their/there)
True or false:
A memoir I write with the title "Bridge Over Troubled Water: Elvis and My Nanny" will focus mostly on Elvis's life.
FALSE. Memoirs should focus on your own experiences. You are telling you own story that no one else can tell.
Double Jeopardy!
Place all the appropriate commas:
The book although it was long flew by as she read.
The book, although it was long, flew by as she read.
If you quote someone or something other than your own thoughts, what would need to be included to avoid academic misconduct?
Works Cited Page
Follow MLA format guidelines available through Purdue OWL's page linked on BBL
What might qualify as "vivid detail or scenes"?
a. character dialogue
b. adjectives
c. metaphors, similes, etc.
d. all of the above and more
D. all of the above and more
Find the error:
I like to talk to my sister Rachel about her boyfriend Grayson and Maggie does too because we all approve of him.
Run-on sentence. Independent clauses need to be separated by a comma and a conjunction.
I like to talk to my sister Rachel about her boyfriend, and Maggie does too because we all approve of him.
True or False:
All sentences should follow the same structural pattern.
False.
Vary sentence structure (simple, compound, complex), sentence openers (Subject + Verb, prepositional phrase, dependent clause, adverbs, participles, etc), and sentence length.
What is wrong with this sentence? How can the error be corrected?
Beowulf proved to be a benevolent and wise king, he ruled for 50 years.
Comma Splice (a comma linking two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction)
"Beowulf proved to be a benevolent and wise king, and he ruled for 50 years." OR "king; he ruled for 50 years." OR "king. He ruled for 50 years."
The location of page numbers which are preceded by what?
Top Right hand corner preceded by your last name (I.e. Reid 1, Reid 2, etc)
The main insight into your life that a memoir seeks to convey is called the ____.
Significance: the "so what", or the main message of the piece
Should be more sophisticated than "I went ice skating and it was fun"
Find the error:
Restless and homesick, home felt like 2000 miles away.
Dangling modifier. Make sure a phrase like "restless and homesick" is followed by the noun it describes OR reword.
Restless and homesick, I felt like home was 2000 miles away.
When should you start a new paragraph?
When your topic has shifted slightly/ new aspects of the story are being focused on.
Start each paragraph with a topic sentence.
Place all the correct commas:
When Lily James Remus and Sirius were young they lived at Hogwarts a magical school in Scotland.
When Lily, James, Remus, and Sirius were young, they lived at Hogwarts, a magical school in Scotland.
(Please review the commas usage guide on BBL as you edit your papers.)
Elements included in a proper MLA heading
Your Name
Prof. Name
EN 101
Date (I.e. 22 Sept. 2023)