Overview of Assignment
Words symbolize nothing until as members of society we make them significant through the imposition of an agreed-upon general meaning. However, the connotative meanings of words may vary slightly (or significantly) from individual to individual, based on lived experiences in the past, differing backgrounds and belief systems, etc.—in effect, the context that shapes an individual affects that individual’s interpretation of the world, and, as such the words that describe the world. For your first essay, I want you to choose a quote, (in effect, a group of symbols strung together to create meaning), that you believe represents you, (or perhaps haunts you), paying particular attention to the personal underlying meaning of those words. You will “close read” the words that comprise this quote, and then connect them back to your own life, and the values that you hold. The purpose of this essay, is to introduce yourself and the context that made you who you are today through the focus of a quote, whether from a family member or your favorite author, musician, poet, politician, philosopher, or sports player, etc.
Things to consider in your essay (not necessarily in this order):
- Introduce the quote—Who said it? When? Why?
- Why did you choose this quote? How does this quote represent values that you hold, and where did you get those values (i.e. school experience, a book your parents read to you, your religious upbringing, your ethnicity, gender, etc.)?
- An analysis of the actual words in the quote and what they mean in relation to your life.
- Be specific—cite particular episodes from your life; rather than just tell your reader that what you say is the truth about you, show, or prove with details (dialog, specific incidents, etc.), to make the connection between your life and the words you choose to represent you clear.
