Informal Writing Unit

Every writer I know has trouble writing. ~Joseph Heller Over the next few weeks, we will do a series of informal writings. These writings have three purposes:

1) to give us an opportunity to know more about each other;

2) to allow us to practice our writing skills, particularly command of the paragraph;

3) to explore in our own lives the themes and issues of this semester’s readings.

Remember, these writings are not meant to be finished pieces. What is important in the writings is that you try to develop your thinking on each topic.

Try to develop one idea in each piece and write 150-300 words on each topic. (If you write less, you have not fulfilled the assignment.) At the end of each piece, type the number of words you have written.

These pieces are to be read aloud in class, so do not write something you would not be comfortable sharing with the group.

Please do not "write ahead." Each assignment will be discussed in class. You need to do the assignment on the nightly schedule.

Please format each piece with the following heading:

Name

English 10 Level 1 or 5

Number and name of each writing

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 because the song expresses an idea essential to you. 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. We will listen to the songs in class. If we do not hear everyone’s theme in the first day, we will listen to one theme song each day to begin class.

2. The Object: Choose an object (one that you can bring to class) that best represents the most significant quality/characteristic/element that you bring to class. Write about how the object represents that personal quality/characteristic/element.

3. The world of reading: 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. 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.

Now, practically even better news than that of short assign­ments is the idea of shitty first drafts. All good writers write them. This is how they end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts. People tend to look at successful writers, writers who are getting their books published and maybe even doing well financially, and think that they sit down at their desks every morning feeling like a million dollars, feeling great about who they are and how much talent they have and what a great story they have to tell; that they take in a few deep breaths, push back their sleeves, roll their necks a few times to get all the cricks out, and dive in, typing fully formed passages as fast as a court reporter. But this is just the fantasy of the uninitiated. (Anne LaMott)

4. 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).

5. World of discomfort: 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).

6. A New World: 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 has been so far (at least two paragraphs)

In the most basic way, writers are defined not by the stories they tell, or their politics, or their gender, or their race, but by the words they use. Writing begins with language, and it is in that initial choosing, as one sifts through the wayward lushness of our wonderful mongrel English, that choice of vocabulary and grammar and tone, the selection on the palette, that determines who's sitting at that desk. Language creates the writer's attitude toward the particular story he's decided to tell.

(Donald E. Westlake)

8. World to be a part of: 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. Lost World: 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.Conflict between worlds: 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. Family Value: Every family has qualities or ideas that 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)

12. Person of Influence: Write about a person who has influenced you. This person could be someone in your family, community or neighborhood. The person should be someone you know personally, not a rock star or athlete. Write about this person’s influence on you in detail, explain how this person influenced you and what you do that shows that influence.