Paragraph of Introduction
Our first formal writing assignment of the school year will be both brief and simple. Following MLA format, I would like you to write a well-organized paragraph introducing yourself. Grading will be based on format, structure, and clarity (including grammatical correctness, syntax, and meaning). The following guidelines will help you to be successful with our first writing assignment:
- In order to adhere to the prompt, introduce yourself by providing information that is detailed and interesting. Consider including information that sets you apart from other students.
- Review the PowerPoint handout, and then organize your paragraph so that it has a functional topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding sentence.
- Your paragraph must be a minimum of eight sentences in length. Be sure to vary your sentence structure
- Your paper must follow general MLA format, including:
- Double-space (or use 1.5)and use a legible font like Times New Roman or Courier. The font size should be 12 pt.
- Set the margins of your document to one inch on all sides. Indent the first line of the paragraph one half-inch (five spaces or press Tab once) from the left margin.
- In the upper left-hand corner of the page, list your name (first and last), your instructor's name (Mr. Falk), the course (English 12), and the date.
- Double space (hit Enter or Return once) again and center the title. Donot underline your title or put it in quotation marks. Compose a creative title; something more original than “Paragraph of Introduction.”
- Double space (hit Enter or Return once) between the title and the first line of the text.
- Since the library and computer labs are not yet operational, you may handwrite this assignment in black ink. Be sure to fix any errors prior to submitting a final draft. Remember to still adhere to MLA format.
- Since this assignment is so brief and you have two nights to complete it, your paragraph should be nearly error-free. Please take the time to draft your work.
- The paragraph will be worth 15 points, with 5 points being assigned to each of the criterion (format, structure, and clarity).
Student Name
Mr. Falk
English12
August 24, 2015
Mr. Falk: An Extremely Brief History of Me
The past influences who we are today, and I am no exception to that rule. I was born in 1969, just before the first man set foot on the Moon, and have been a California native my entire life. During my years at DanaHillsHigh School, I enjoyed English and social science, but math caused me many problems. In those days, I really liked music and had the opportunity to see bands like U2, The Cure, REM, The Violent Femmes, and The Pixies live in concert. I also enjoyed reading for leisure and hanging out with my friends. Eventually I moved out of my parents’ house and earned a degree in English (and minor in Spanish) from Cal Poly Pomona. After earning a teaching credential, I did my student teaching at RHS and Rincon (now Telesis) and then was offered a job. During my time here, I’ve taught every English class (except sophomore honors) and advised clubs such as National Honor Society and Creative Writing. Besides working, I found the time to get married and have two children. My daughter, Hailey, is 15, and my son, Jacob, is 13. We enjoy partaking in family activities such as swimming, boating, hiking, and traveling. Overall, I am a product of the past experiences in my life, and I look forward to building new memories with the class of 2017.