Food/ Restaurant Narrative Essay

Choice: Authentic Italian Pizzeria I’m from Northeastern Italy, Trieste
No Citation Personal Essay

In this essay, you will be combining narration with description. This essay will center on food, somehow, It does not all need to be about the food, but the experience or memory you write about needs to be related to food. Simply put, you will be telling a story while using descriptive detail. Remember, this is not a work of fiction, but rather a personal essay. Here are some specifics to keep in mind:
” This essay should be at least 2.5 full pages in length, typed, double spaced. Please follow MLA format as outlined in your Little Seagull book (sample essay on page 161; pay attention to the heading).
” I’m looking for a clear thesis. (Remember, this is the topic plus a comment about the topic (why it matters).
” Use clear topic sentences for each new paragraph in your essay.
” For the narrative element of this essay, please pay attention to transitions (see Little Seagull pages 26-27; transitions showing time are the most useful for this essay), consistent verb tense, and use ample, specific detail. Narrative order is important (chronological order is the most common). See pages 58-61 in Little Seagull for more information on writing narratives.
” For the descriptive element of this essay, please employ sensory details (use the five senses), figures of speech (similes and metaphors), etc. See the food essays on Blackboard for examples.
” Show rather than tell whenever possible. She was angry is “telling” the reader something. Her face turned lobster red and her body shook like an earthquake is “showing” the reader that she was angry. It’s more effective.
” You may choose to use dialogue in your essay; see the example essays in Blackboard for ideas and to ensure that you punctuate your dialogue properly.
” Proofread for grammar errors. Particularly watch out for comma splices, run-ons, and fragments (see pages 314-321 in Little Seagull).
” If you are stuck for topics, here are some starting points: Trying a new or unfamiliar food, feasts or celebrations, a meal or food that reminds you of home, a food ritual you have, a food you absolutely hate, a meal your mother or grandmother or father, etc used to make for you, a food obsession, a food or meal that has cultural or religious significance, etc.