Y11 English

Writing Assignment #1: A Snapshot Moment

Due Wednesday, Sept. 5

For this assignment you will need to write a personal narrative. This will be in the form of a

“snapshot moment” from your life.

Think back on the story of your life. What moments have stayed with you over the years?

What moments can you remember with vivid detail?

“Every vivid memory holds some essential truth about your

vision of the world.” -- Kim Stafford

The kind of moment you want to choose for this assignment is one that you’d make in slow

motion if you were making a movie about your life. A big moment. A moment too important

to let slip by with just a sentence or two.

With this assignment you’ll need to pull the reader into a place, a time, and an event. You’ll

need to describe the moment with details that are as rich, deep, and concrete as possible.

You can write your snapshot moment from a first-person point of view (from your own

perspective – I), or from a third-person point of view (he, she). I have found, from my own

experience, that emotional events are sometimes easier to write about in third person.

There is no required number for words or pages for this assignment; the length will be

whatever you need it to be in order to describe your moment well.

Please type the assignment and put it in your Y11 English Homework Folder in Google Docs.

Make sure to include your name in both the file name and on the document itself. Please do

not send a pdf.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. The grading rubric is on the back.

Grading Rubric:

Competences Grade 2 Grade 5 Grade 6

Express himself/herself

in writing and orally

with some precision,

fluency and coherence

Write texts that narrate,

describe, argue or give

messages, with the

appropriate basic

structure and adequate

paragraphing

The writing has

been edited to

correct most

spelling/

grammatical errors.

The student has

described an

interesting moment.

The writing

contains some

details.

Information is

limited or unclear.

The writing has been

edited to correct most

spelling/grammatical

errors.

The student has shared

a significant moment

from his or her life.

The student has

attempted to write

using vivid details.

The reader is left with

very few questions.

The writing has been

edited to correct

spelling/grammatical

errors.

The student has shared a

significant moment from

his or her life.

The student has used vivid

details, engaging the

senses.

The writing is honest,

personal, and engaging.

The reader’s questions are

anticipated and answered.