1. C.J. Hill – ‘19 SP
EXERCISE 3 ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
on a person
At this point in our class, one subject has shown up alongside our other main subjects in every
single essay. Writing creative nonfiction while avoiding this particular detail is nearly impossible,
so it is time to focus on them at the forefront: the people of our lives and culture.
Over the course of this week, we will read examples of essays that focus most on a person or
persons close to or associated with the writer. Or, in the case of essays like Sullivan’s “Michael,”
essays can explore the lives of people we have never even met through a curious, investigative
lens.
Your assignment this week is to respond to this prompt: consider a person that interests you for
any particular reason. The person you choose can be as intimate to you as your own mother, or
as distant as a celebrity. Whichever angle you choose, you are to write 250-500 words exploring
the person as a topic.
Although description of the person is important in this assignment, focus also on feelings,
memories, and/or events/scandals associated with the them. This assignment should not just be
an encyclopedia entry of your chosen object, but a piece that allows your mazy mind to carry you
beyond the person themself.
Remember that the purpose of these first four short exercises is to get your feet wet in terms of
craft and subject. 250-500 words is not a lot of space and will more than likely not be enough for
you to obtain a fully realized arch like we see in our example readings. That is OKAY! These
short pieces may develop and find their way into some of the larger assignments given later on in
the class. Think of these assignments as snapshots or vignettes designed to get you thinking versus
full essay drafts.
THIS ASSIGNMENT REQUIRES:
• A clear, creative description of your chosen person
• Narrative elements as detailed in classroom discussion and gleaned from the example
essays
• Effort toward thinking and writing beyond the person themself
FORMAT:
• Write in standard edited English, but allow form to develop organically
ASSESSMENT:
• This assignment is worth 25 points and will be graded by adherence to the prompt and
these listed requirements, as well as attention and participation in our class discussions
EXERCISE 3 IS DUE IN CLASS ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH
