Over the next few weeks, we will do a series of informal writings. These writings have three purposes:
1) to give us all an opportunity to know more about each other;
2) to allow us to practice a range of writing skills;
3) to explore in our own lives the themes and issues of this semester’s readings.
Each writing should take 40-45 minutes to think, draft, and revise for class.
Try to develop one idea in each piece and write 300-500 words on each topic. Remember, these writings are not meant to be finished pieces. What is in the writings is that you try to develop your thinking on each topic.
These pieces are to be read aloud in class, so do not write something you would not be comfortable sharing with the group.
If you do each writing on time and have the completed piece prepared to to be read in class, your grade will be A. Miss one, the grade will be B+; two, B; three B-; four C+ and so on
1. Theme Song: Everyone has to have a theme song. What is a theme song? A theme song is a song that no matter how awful you feel or no matter how hard a day you have had makes you feel good! You only get to choose ONE! So, think over all the songs you know and select one that is your theme song. Write about why the song is your theme song. See my piece on my theme song as a model. Then bring in the song so we can hear it!
2. The Object: Choose an object (one that you can bring to class) that best represents what you can bring to the class. Write about how the object represents that personal quality/characteristic/element.
3. One world we share is the world of reading. Choose a world you have explored in your reading before the age of ten. You could write about childhood books you loved or a series of books you read in middle school or books you love now. You need to write at least one paragraph about the world the books offer you and then another paragraph on why you love them so much. If you have not yet come to love books, then write about your best reading experience or your feelings about reading.
4. Another world we share is the world of AFS. Choose an aspect of this world you like and write about why you like it. Then, select an aspect of this world you would like to change and write about why you would like to change it. Remember to do both parts of the question (at least two paragraphs).
5.In class, we developed a list of different “worlds” which people live in, know, and experience. Select one “world” you feel very much a part of and comfortable in and write about it. The world could be the world of your grandfather’s workshop or the world of camp. However you define it, you need to write about both what the world is made of and why you feel so comfortable in it (at least two paragraphs).
6. Select one “world” you live in and yet do not feel comfortable in and write about it. The world could be the world of a school you attended or any other place where you had to spend time. However you define it, you need to write about both what the world is made of and why you feel so uncomfortable in it (at least two paragraphs).
7. Write about a new “world” you have recently begun to know or explore. Explain both what drew you into the world and what your experience is so far (at least two paragraphs.
8. Write about a world you would like to be a part of or know. Explain both what it is that interests you about this world and how you hope to be a part of it (at least two paragraphs).
9. Write about a world you have “lost” or are no longer a part of. It may be a part of your childhood or may be an activity you are no longer able to do or are no longer interested in. The world should be a loss which makes you feel some regret at the change. Explain both what it is that you have lost and why you feel regret (at least two paragraphs).
10.Write about a time you experienced a conflict between your world and another world. Answer in three parts: What the conflict was, how it developed, and how it was resolved or not (at least two paragraphs).
11. Without going into detail about the act itself, write about a time when you did something you knew to be wrong. Write about: How did you decide to do it? How did you feel afterwards?
(at least two paragraphs)
12. Every family has qualities or ideas which it thinks are important. Sometimes these values are explicit in a family; sometimes these values are implied or unspoken. Whatever the value is, a family expresses or shows that value by what it does or says and by what it does not do or does not say. As a young person grows up, s/he may come into conflict with the values of her/his parents. First, write about one value important to your family and explain how and why your family expresses it. Second, explain whether you accept or reject that value, why you accept or reject it, and how you express your feeling. (at least three paragraphs)
13. Agree or disagree with this quote: “There is no such thing as acting out of character. Each of us has within the germ of our most exceptional action.”