This document provides instructions for Exercise 4, which asks students to write a 250-500 word essay responding to a prompt. Students are asked to think of an abstract topic that aligns with one of the week's topics - an activity, idea, or event. They should choose something they have thought about or questioned a lot. The essay should allow their mind to explore the topic beyond just a description, and include feelings, memories, questions or other perspectives. This is meant to get students started with crafting essays, and does not need to be a fully realized piece. The assignment requires a clear description of the topic, narrative elements, and thinking beyond just the topic itself. It is due by September 28th at 11:59

1. 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 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 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28th
at 11:59 PM