Essay 1: Diagnostic Essay – “Claiming an Education” Purpose: This diagnostic essay will help the instructor assess your current writing and critical thinking skills at the start of the term. It will a

Rachel Anne Maverick

English 1302: Composition II, Dallas College

Fall 2025

Due Date: October 31

Essay 1: Diagnostic Essay – “Claiming an Education”

Purpose:
This diagnostic essay will help the instructor assess your current writing and critical thinking skills at the start of the term. It will also help you reflect on your own learning habits and goals as you begin English 1302.
Focus Reading:
Adrienne Rich, “Claiming an Education” (1977 Convocation Speech)
https://www.yorku.ca/cvandaal/files/ClaimingAnEducation.pdf
Assignment Overview:
After reading Adrienne Rich’s call to action in “Claiming an Education,” write a 2–3 page essay in which you analyze your own approach to learning. Rich challenges students to take responsibility for their education—to “claim” rather than “receive” it. Using her ideas as a framework, position yourself on the spectrum of active learning.
Guiding Questions:
• Are you an active or passive learner? Or a combination of both? Why?
• What specific experiences from English 1301 demonstrate how you “claimed” your education?
• If your previous experience could have been better, explain why. What barriers, attitudes, or habits may have held you back?
• How do Rich’s ideas connect to your own educational journey and learning style?
Your essay should go beyond personal reflection; it should show critical engagement with Rich’s ideas and your own experiences as evidence.
Conclusion:
The conclusion should offer new insights rather than simply restate your main points. Reflect on what you have learned about yourself as a student, and identify specific practices or attitudes that you intend to continue—or change—in English 1302. What do you hope to gain by the end of this course? How will you actively “claim” your education this term?
Formatting and Requirements:
• Length: 2–3 pages (not including the Works Cited Page)
• Format: MLA Style (8th or 9th edition)
• Font and spacing: 12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced, 1-inch margins
• Include a Works Cited Page that lists Adrienne Rich’s speech
• Write in standard edited American English appropriate for an academic audience
Submission and Evaluation:
This essay will be graded on a pass/fail basis.
To earn a passing grade, your essay must:
1. Meet the length, format, and documentation requirements.
2. Demonstrate clear organization with a logical thesis and supporting evidence.
3. Engage thoughtfully with Rich’s ideas and reflect meaningfully on your own learning experiences.
4. Use coherent, grammatical, and readable prose appropriate for college-level writing.
Failure to meet the basic requirements in form, content, or length will result in a “fail” mark.
Learning Objectives:
By completing this diagnostic essay, you will:
• Demonstrate your current writing and analytical abilities.
• Reflect critically on your learning habits and goals.
• Practice integrating a source text into your own writing.
• Revisit and apply lessons from English 1301 as a foundation for English 1302.