Essay # 2: Case History of You as a Writer

A case study describes an individual’s experience with a particular activity, place, event, activity, etc. For this assignment, you’ll write a brief case history of yourself as a writer.

Assignment: Write a short narrative essay that tells the reader about your experience with and relationship to writing. Consider one or more of the following:

• How do you write? (By hand? On computer?) Where do you write? (In a coffee shop? In a favorite chair?) When do you write, and what kind of surroundings do you prefer

• Tell us about your first memory of writing. Provide lots of detail for the reader.

• What do you consider to be good writing? What makes good writing? Do you have any favorite writers?

• What have you learned about writing? What’s your favorite kind of writing? (Letters? Essays? Stories? Email?)

• Do you have any favorite writers? Explain.

• Do you have any humorous or poignant anecdotes to relate that deal with writing?

• How have your school experiences influenced your writing ability, for better or worse? (Do you have a Mr. Fleagle in your past?)

• Do you have any writing treasures? Old family scrapbooks or recipe books? Letter collections? Do you keep a diary or journal?

• What do you know about writing? What do you still want to learn?

Structure: Create a fun, catchy title. Use an introduction, three or more body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You may follow the five-paragraph model, or you may wish to write a longer piece.

Follow the class style guide in formatting the paper.

Length: Two or more pages.

Audience: Your groupmates and your teacher. Be sure to use lots of description.

Writer: You may use first or third person. Since this is a personal narrative, first person will probably work best.

Due dates:

Rough draft due: Thursday, Jan 31 (Bring copies for teacher and groupmates; attach invention work to teacher's copy)

Workshop: Tuesday, Feb. 5 (MANDATORY-- don't miss class!

Revision due: Tuesday, Feb. 12 (Staple together graded rough draft, invention work, and revision, with revision on top)