English 102

Assignment #1: A Memory Map

Please write a 2 page essay on the following topic (your map does not count as one of
your pages). This essay is due to me by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, January 31. Please
share your paper with me as a Google doc link. Late papers will not be accepted and will
result in a 0 for the assignment. Here are the guidelines for your paper:

a. Your essay should include at least four paragraphs. We’ll review the structure
for this paper together in class.
b. Please type and double-space your essay in Times-New Roman 12 point font
with 1-inch margins.
c. In the upper, left-hand corner of your paper, include your name and Eng.
102/Assignment #1.
d. Do not use any outside sources to write this paper. This is a narrative
assignment and does not require any quotations, just the use of your imagination
and of your memory. For this essay, also please do not use any AI Robots to assist
you!
e. Please include a Works Cited section. For more details on the Works Cited for
this paper, refer to the MLA reminder at the end of these directions.

Your Writing Prompt:

This is a memory map found in John Porcellino’s book Map of My Heart (Drawn &
Quarterly, 2009). You’ll see that it’s an image based on recollections of his childhood in
Hoffman Estates. In fact, this neighborhood is just a few miles away from Harper’s
campus!

For this paper, I would like you to create your own autobiographical map. While it does
not have to be as detailed as Porcellino’s, it should document a location that holds a great
deal of positive memories for you.
In your map, please include at least three places that you can write about in detail in
your paper. In your essay, write about why these three locations are important to you. In
the conclusion of your paper, briefly compare and contrast your map with Porcellino’s.

Please take a picture of your map and include that image at the end of your paper, after
the Works Cited.

If you have any questions or would like me to read a draft, please email me at
bcremins@harpercollege.edu. We’ll also start working on this first assignment in class
together!
________________________________________________________________________
MLA (Modern Language Association) Citation Format Reminder #1

 Please include the following Works Cited at the end of your paper, since we’re
using Porcellino’s map from his book Map of My Heart as an inspiration for this
essay. Here is the works cited info for the map. You can just cut & paste this at
the end of your paper!

Works Cited

Porcellino, John. Map of My Heart. Drawn & Quarterly, 2009.