This document provides instructions for the first assignment in a creative nonfiction class, which asks students to write a 250-500 word essay about an object from their personal world. Students are instructed to describe the object and discuss feelings and memories associated with it. The purpose is to get students practicing the genre by focusing on an object but allowing their writing to move beyond just description. The assignment will be graded based on following the prompt and requirements, which include a creative description, narrative elements, and thinking beyond just the object itself. Students are reminded these short initial essays do not need a fully realized narrative arc and are intended as an introduction to crafting in this genre.

1. C.J. Hill – 18 FA
EXERCISE 1 ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
on an object
At this point in our class, we have gotten an overview of what creative nonfiction is, its ethics, and
the growing number of forms and shapes the essay can take. Now it is time to dive in and start
creating your own attempts at the genre beginning with our first topic: objects.
Over the course of this week, we will read examples of object-focused essays that often start off in
description/meditation of a non-living piece of the authors’ worlds that then take shape into
something entirely different. We will also have a discussion on “thing theory” and how objects can
take on a life all their own outside of their socially assigned purposes.
So your first assignment is to respond to this prompt: consider an object in your personal world
that has existed with you for your entire life, but in the background. It may be a tool connected to
your livelihood like in Selzer’s “The Knife,” or it may be something seemingly trivial that holds a
great deal of meaning and purpose like items in Shonagan’s The Pillow Book. Whatever the object
may be, you are tasked with writing 250-500 words about it.
Although description of the object is important in this assignment, focus also on feelings and
memories associated with the object. 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 object 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 chosen object
• Narrative elements as detailed in classroom discussion and gleaned from the example
essays
• Effort toward thinking and writing beyond the object 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
EXERCISE 1 IS DUE IN CLASS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH