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A Moment in Time I’ll Never Forget

School: High Tech High Media Arts

City/State: San Diego, CA

Grade(s): 11

Format(s): Essay

Subject(s): English Language Arts

Type(s): Narrative

Writing Assignment Description

This writing piece is a second draft of a personal narrative, with peer/teacher feedback. It tells the story of the author’s experience being incarcerated in a juvenile detention center as an angry 14-year-old girl with a difficult home situation. It is a powerful story of transformation through structure and support while detained.

To see another work by this author, click here.

How This Writing Can Be Useful

  • Searing, honest language and voice in owning her emotions and actions
  • Attention to details creates vivid settings
  • Moving personal transformation told without the need to be overly sentimental in language; the issues have intrinsic power
  • A story that would be very powerful to read with teenage students

Relevant Resources

Eyeliner, Lipstick and Blush

Common Core State Standards

Standard Long Term Learning Target
W.11-12.3
  • I can write narrative texts about real or imagined experiences using well-chosen details and effective event sequences.
W.11-12.4
  • I can produce clear and coherent writing appropriate to task, purpose and audience.
W.11-12.5
  • I can use the writing process to focus on what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
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