Important Event

Rough draft due in class on _____

    The official assignment is on page 51 of Discovering Ideas.  It's number three under "Suggestions for Writing."  Like your last essay, this one is also to be a story -- a narrative.  As such, it will begin with a character who wants something, it will have a climax, and it will show some sort of significant change.  Unlike the last one, which focused on a person, this assignment asks that you recall an event from which you learned something.

       To begin, make a list of events you might like to write about.  Here are some suggestions:

• A "first," such as when you first realized you had a special skill, ambition, or problem; or when you first felt needed or rejected.
• A difficult situation, such as when you had to make a tough choice; or when someone you admired let you down, or when you let someone else down; or when you struggled to understand something.
• An occasion when things did not turn out as expected, such as when you expected to be praised but were criticized or ignored, or when you were certain you would fail but succeeded instead.
• Any incident charged with strong emotions, such as love, fear, anger, embarrassment, guilt, frustration, hurt, pride, happiness, joy...

Make a choice.  Choose one you'd like to develop into a full story.

List scenes.  Make a list of all the places where the event occurred.

Describe key scenes.  Remember to use details, words that appeal to the senses.

List People.  

Describe the ones who were important to the event you've chosen.

Re-create conversations.

Finally, sketch out your story.  Remember, begin with that character who wants something.

Again, come with a rough draft on _____.   See you then.