1. **State the problem:** Evaluate the expression $-3^2 + 2(-3) + 1$. 2. **Recall order of operations:** Exponents are evaluated before multiplication and addition/subtraction. 3. **Evaluate the exponent:** $-3^2$ means the negative of $3^2$, so calculate $3^2 = 9$, then apply the negative sign: $-3^2 = -9$. 4. **Evaluate the multiplication:** $2(-3) = -6$. 5. **Substitute values back into the expression:** $$-9 + (-6) + 1$$ 6. **Simplify step-by-step:** $$-9 - 6 + 1$$ $$= (-9 - 6) + 1$$ $$= -15 + 1$$ 7. **Final result:** $$-14$$ Therefore, the value of the expression is $-14$.