1. C.J. Hill – ’19 SP
EXERCISE 4 ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
on an activity, idea, or event
As we’ve discussed at length by this point, the term “essay” means “to attempt” or “to try.”
Through the act of essaying, we are attempting to make sense of something or someone. These
tops range from ourselves, our family, and our homes. But as we’ll see in our readings for this
week, sometimes the topic of the essay can be a little more abstract—death, politics, and ranges
of different emotions.
Your assignment this week is to respond to this prompt: think of a subject that aligns with one of
the week’s topics—an activity, idea, or event. Ideally, what you choose should be something you
have thought a lot about or questioned. Write 250-500 words in which you “attempt” to make
sense of this more abstract topic.
Although description of your topic is important in this assignment, focus also on feelings,
memories, questions, and/or quarrels. This assignment should not just be an encyclopedia entry
of your chosen topic, but a piece that allows your mazy mind to carry you beyond the topic itself.
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 topic
• Narrative elements as detailed in classroom discussion and gleaned from the example
essays
• Effort toward thinking and writing beyond the activity, idea, or event itself
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
this week
EXERCISE 4 IS DUE IN CLASS ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH
