English Composition Writing about Personal Experience

Match the following according to your experience. 1.a car accidentIt was frustrating. 2. a trip abroadIt was embarrassing. 3.a job interviewIt was shocking. 4.a school event/festivalIt was amazing. 5.a time you succeededIt was exciting. It was frightening. It was exhausting. It was depressing. Discuss an experience you have had. How did you feel?

ExperienceWhenFeelings Won an AwardLast yearReally excited, nervous Did something that you regretted Lost something important Had good luck

What experience was? What happened? How did you feel? Describe your feelings. My Memorable Experience: When and where I had the experience? How I felt after experience? What I learned from the experience? A question to introduce the topic

Time Expressions: Beginning At first, In the beginning, One day Time Expressions: Middle After a while, Later, Then Time Expressions: End In the end, Finally

Beginning Your Composition Your introduction should … get the reader’s interest make a general comment guide the reader You can use the following: Your senses: The plane was making strange noises. A question: Have you traveled abroad? Direct speech: Art is exhausting work.

Complete the Outline Title: I.Introduction A. Question to Introduce _______________________________________________________________________ B. The Experience ______________________________________________________________________ C. Description of the experience and feelings ______________________________________________________________________ II. Body A. When and where I had the experience ______________________________________________________________________ B. What happened Beginning:______________________________________________________________ Middle: ________________________________________________________________ End: ___________________________________________________________________ III. Conclusion A. How I felt and what I learned_________________________________________________________________________

Giving Details: Place question marks where you need more information When I was young, I had my first experience trying to earn money. During my vacation, my friend and I decided to open a store. We asked our parents to lend us some money to get started, and then we took the money to buy supplies. Then, we made sign to advertise our new store. Kids from our neighborhood came to the store. We began selling things. At the end of the vacation, we closed the store, and I used my money to buy something for myself.

Ideal Example Did you ever have a part time job when you were young? When I was nine, I had my first experience earning money on my own during my summer vacation. My best friend and I decided to open a candy store, so we asked our parents to lend us money to get started. We were really excited. At the local market, we bought the cheapest candy that we could find. Then, we went home and put a table outside with sign, advertising our candy store. At first, no one came, but after a while, kids started coming from all over the neighborhood. We sold a lot of candy. By the end of the summer, we made a lot of money. With the money, I bought a new bike. I felt really proud of myself. Looking back, opening the candy store was a great experience.

Peer Feedback Introduction: (interesting) (ok)(boring) The Body: I understand the main idea. (Yes/No) The time expression helped me understand the story (Yes / No) Essay’s Strong Points: _______________________________________________________ _________________________________ Suggestions for Improvement: _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________