This assignment consists of TWO parts: you will write about three significant life moments, and you will also present one of those moments to the class. The written part can be about 500 words in total, and the oral presentation should be about 3-4 minutes long. Below are the details.
It is important to reflect regularly. This helps us understand better who we are as people--where we come from and where we want to go. In many ways, we are what we remember and the collection of experiences that we consider important. The aim of the present task is to use your memory to find those events of your life that were deeply significant to you.
Take some time to sit with yourself in a quiet place and reflect on your life. What in your opinion are some key events and experiences of your life?
Make a list of 5-10 significant experiences of your life.
Give each event/experience a name for that event.
It is very important that you choose events and experiences that you were directly involved in and experiences that left a deep impression on you.
Choose 3 from your list (1 of which you feel comfortable sharing with the class and all 3 of which you should be comfortable sharing with me)
Provide a brief image-focused description of each event. The description should be brief -- around 150 words for each event. As much as is possible, do not explain or interpret the event. Just provide a description which is based on the experience itself. Try to reimagine and relive each of these events in your imagination. As much as is possible try to describe the sights, sounds, smells and your feelings during this experience.
In 1-2 sentences at the end of each description, explain what about this experience was so significant for you, what this moment tells you about yourself and your identity, and how it can inform who you want to be and how you want to be the change.
See sample of some significant moments from my life if you find it helpful, but please note, there is no one way to do this assignment. Everyone will remember different things and may write about them differently.
For your oral presentation to the class, choose ONE of the three moments you wrote about. Rather than reading them directly from your paper, try to bring them to life. Think about what makes a story engaging in terms of content and delivery, and plan your presentation accordingly. You will probably add a few more details and animation to the story, for example. Note: What you say does not need to match exactly what you wrote, but should cover one of the same stories. Your presentation should be between 3-4 minutes.
Note: If you are not comfortable presenting to the class, please discuss options with me. For example, you can record it as a video and share with me on google drive -- which can then be presented to the class on your day.
Adapted from an assignment developed by Dr. David Hanauer.