Literacy Narrative Assignment

This project begins with a short personal narrative, which students will later adapt into a different medium, such as a podcast, video, or comic, to explore how genre, audience, and medium influence rhetorical choices.

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Students should select a medium and genre that best fit their story and be able to justify their rhetorical choices. They may draw on their familiarity with digital platforms to strengthen their multimodal work. Afterward, they will write a reflection analyzing their revisions, strategies, and audience awareness. In the First-Year Composition curriculum at Northern Illinois University (NIU), reflection makes up 50% of each major project grade.

Literacy Narrative Learning Objectives

• Recognize and analyze audience expectations in personal storytelling
• Practice reflective metacognition regarding literacy development
• Integrate linguistic and cultural perspectives into narrative construction

This project is connected to the Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) through:

• Writing Goals and Processes
• Contextual Connections and Transfer
• Genre and Style Awareness

Genres & Formats

• Written narrative
• Multimedia version

Rubric

• Literacy Narrative

Grading Criteria: Literacy Narrative

Grading Criteria	Exceptional	Met	Not Met
Adaptation of Narrative	You have adapted your narrative to a new genre and have included new things or removed pieces of narrative to fit that genre.	You have adapted your narrative to a new genre.	The narrative is not adapted, or the adaptation includes only text.
Meeting Genre Goals	Your narrative fits well within the conventions of the genre as laid out in your reflection. The genre is recognizable.	Your narrative resembles the conventions of the genre as laid out in your reflection.	The narrative does not resemble the conventions of the genre as laid out in the reflection.
Use of Media	More than one non-written text mode is used in your narrative. Modes enhance the narrative.	At least one non-written text mode is used in your narrative. It helps to explain the narrative.	The narrative is written text alone or modes are included in ways that do not support the narrative.
Adapting to Your Audience	Your narrative is suitable and appealing for your chosen audience. Content has been adapted specifically to appeal to that audience.	Your narrative is suitable for your chosen audience.	The narrative does not suit the audience explained in the reflection.
Responding to Feedback	You have revised your narrative substantially and/or thoughtfully based on both your peers’ and your instructor’s feedback.	You have revised your narrative based on both your peers’ and your instructor’s feedback.	No revisions to the narrative have been made or only minor changes have been made that do not adequately respond to feedback.
Meeting Requirements	You have met or exceeded all the requirements for the narrative.	You have met all the requirements for the narrative.	One or more of the requirements for the narrative has not been met.

A copy of the Literacy Narrative rubric:File:Literacy Narrative Grading Criteria.pdf

• Reflection Piece

Grading Criteria: Literacy Narrative Reflection

Grading Criteria	Exceptional	Met	Not Met
Reflecting on Your Genre Choices	You have clearly identified choices in your reflection that you made in your narrative that fit the genre you have chosen.	You have mentioned choices in your reflection related to genre conventions.	Genre conventions are not mentioned in the reflection.
Reflecting on Your Design Choices	You have clearly identified choices in your reflection that you made in your narrative that explain why you designed your project as you did.	You have mentioned choices in your reflection related to design choices.	Design conventions are not mentioned in the reflection.
Reflecting on Appealing to Your Audience	You have identified specific things in your reflection that you have done in your narrative to appeal to your audience or help them understand better.	You have mentioned things in your reflection that you have done in your remediation project to help your audience.	Audience appeal or adaptation is not mentioned in the reflection.
Reflecting on Your Rhetorical Purpose	You clearly explain your goal in making the narrative and explain how you met that goal.	You explain your goal in making your narrative.	The goal of the narrative is not mentioned in the reflection.
Responding to Feedback	You have revised your reflection substantially and/or thoughtfully based on both your peers’ and your instructor’s feedback.	You have revised your reflection based on both your peers’ and your instructor’s feedback.	No revisions to the reflection have been made or only minor changes have been made that do not adequately respond to feedback.
Meeting Requirements	You have met or exceeded all the requirements for the reflection.	You have met all the requirements for the reflection.	One or more of the requirements for the reflection has not been met.

A copy of the Literacy Narrative Reflection rubric:File:Reflection Grading Criteria.pdf

Assignment Focus

This section outlines various tasks an instructor may assign, each designed to build specific skills and insights that contribute to the development of the overall Literacy Narrative project.

• Narrative Draft

Students may describe a “newcomer” experience—moving to a new city, joining a new team, learning an unfamiliar cultural or digital practice, etc.

• Audience/Medium Selection

Students choose a target audience (e.g., future students, peers, family, professionals) and a medium (podcast, comic, video, etc.).

• Multimodal Remediation

Students recreate the narrative in a new form, making rhetorical decisions based on mode, purpose, and audience.

• Reflection Piece

Students reflect on the changes made and how those changes shape meaning.

• Students' Project Samples

File:First Literacy Narrative sample.pdf

• Students' Sample Reflection Essays

Click to download:

• File:Literacy Narrative Reflection 1.pdf

• File:Literacy Narrative Reflection 2.pdf