This document provides instructions for an assignment asking students to write and present a 3-5 minute story about the origins and meaning of their own name. It outlines the requirements that the presentation must include a visual aid, the submission of a written name story, and notes made while researching the name using family sources or artwork. A sample name story is given explaining some possible origins and meanings that could be explored such as cultural or family history influences on naming traditions.

1. In preparation for your Name Story
In the anthology Leaving Home, the characters develop
a sense of self and community through interactions
with others.
One of the most useful and powerful things we can do
is examine and celebrate our names.
Write about one story you associate with your name.
The format for the story is up to you; name stories
have been written in a variety of ways, and you can
be as creative as you would like.
How will you tell the story of your name?

2. Requirements (Note: this would be the type
of assignment you would find in GSR 102)
• Presentation must be at least 3-5 minutes long
(including the sharing and explanation)
• Visual Aid (some type of picture or visual representation)
• You must turn in an actual “name story”
• For this assignment, you need to find a piece of
artwork and make notes for your name story
(you might need to talk to your parents or
whomever named you!)

3. Name Story Sample
Things that I want to mention about my name:
– The name is Polish
• Grandparents came from Poland from a small,
southwestern village, bordering Germany,called
Spruceslava (Pope John Paul II)
• grandparents died before my birth
• They were Catholic
– Paj = Land of Spiders
– Ka= Child of
PAJKA= Child of the Land of Spiders???