Thematic Personal Response Paper

For this formal paper, you will thematically integrate the writing of an African American Literature author with your personal experiences. You should first select one literary text (poem, short story, speech etc.) from your textbook and reveal one theme from that piece. You should then discuss how that theme is revealed in the piece (in the introduction), give your personal experience with that same theme in the body paragraphs, and integrate the resolution of the theme from the piece and your experience in the conclusion. Your experience may be vastly different than the experience in the story, poem or speech; you are linking a similar theme (feelings, concepts), not literal experiences!

Organizational Structure

Introduction: In the introduction, you will introduce the piece you are using and its author. Put the title of a short story or poem in quotation marks; remember to identify the author. Discuss/analyze the theme you are using from the piece and how that theme is revealed in the piece. Do not write a long plot summary of the piece but instead focus on the theme that you are going to use as a springboard for your own personal experience.

Body Paragraphs: In these paragraphs, colorfully and voice-fully relay your personal experience regarding the theme you have chosen. Include significant, showing details that further this theme. Keep your paragraphs uniform in development (length), shifting paragraphs when time or action changes.

Conclusion: In the conclusion, discuss both the thematic resolution in your experience and the thematic resolution in the story; integrate/synthesize the two.

Major Requirements:
• 800-1000 words____
• Double spaced____
• Paragraph indention (5 spaces or 1 tab) _____
• MLA format _____
• Original, fresh title_____
• Citation of the Primary Text_____

Content Checklist:
• Thematic focus______
• Developed paragraphs_____
• Specific, colorful word choices ______
• Strong, specific action verbs _____
• Smooth transitions (no first, second, third) ____
• Third person point of view when writing about the essay_____
• First person point of view when relaying personal experience______
• No second person point of view (use of “you”) _____