This document provides instructions for Assignment 1 of an English course. Students are asked to write a list-style personal essay of no more than 750 words imitating the example "The Insomniac's To-Do List". The essay should tell a true story about the student through a list format and have deeper meaning beyond just the items in the list. Suggested topics are provided but students can write on any topic. An excellent list essay will meet criteria like telling a personal story, being under 750 words, having a title and deeper significance, and being error-free.

1. ENGL 208 Personal & Exploratory Writing 1
Assignment 1:
Imitative “List”
Essay
Description of Assignment.
For this assignment, you are to imitate the style of Jody Mace’s “The Insomniac’s To Do
List” (posted on BbLearn) and write a list essay of your own. The essay should be in the
form of a list, and no longer than 750 words.
Tips for Writing the Essay
You were asked to read The Insomniac’s To Do List and pay attention to the situation and
the story of the list – in other words, both the things included in the list, as well as the
deeper meaning or significance of the essay. You might also think about the effect of the
unusual format, the strong voice, and the different length of sentences. To me, this essay
seems like a funny lens through which the author exposes some serious fears about
death and ageing, the health of her parents, anxieties about her children, past regrets,
and future concerns.
The topic for your list essay can be anything you choose. Here are some ideas based on
stories I have heard from former students: A List of Regrettable Meal Choices When Living
on Your Own (about the writer’s fears of becoming an adult); An Insider’s Guide to
Surviving the Dorms (about navigating social life at college); How to be a Good
“Greek”(about maintaining a sense of self in a community). Remember, these are merely
suggestions. You can write your essay on any topic, as long as it’s formatted like a list.
An excellent list essay will do the following:
1. Tell a true story about you.
2. Be no longer than 750 words.
3. Have any number of points (as long as the entire essay does not exceed 750 words).
4. Have a deeper meaning or significance that may not be obvious upon the first read –
in other words, your essay should have a point.
5. Have an engaging title.
6. Be free of grammatical, punctuation or spelling errors.

2. ENGL 208 Personal & Exploratory Writing 2
Learning Objectives. After completing this assignment, you should be able to:
• Tell a story about yourself that reveals a truth or insight that would be interesting or
relatable to others.
• Imitate the style of a personal essay, especially the syntax and complex sentences.