A. Herrington

The first unit and first essay is to focus on something of your choice about you as a writer: experiences, influences, self-perceptions. For it, I want you to work from your memories of actual experiences and your perceptions.

I've chosen this focus because an important subject of this course will be your learning about yourself as a writer. It will also help me get to know you to work with you in this class.

The work I will ask you to do for this essay will also introduce you to the full composing process from exploratory writing, through a mid-process draft(s), to a final draft.

Here's the schedule:

Thursday, Sept, 9: We'll get started in class today with some exploratory writing to get some material down on paper so you can work with it. I'll ask you to do more for next Tuesday. This is to be informal writing, just getting stuff down. Anything you say will be correct. You are not trying to compose an essay now.

Truth and Lies: Write 2 or 3 truths about yourself as a writer. Now write 2 or 3 lies.

Self-portrait: Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a particular place writing, a place where you often write. What's around you? Now, focus in on yourself. How do you look? How are you sitting? What are you doing? How does your face look? Sketch a verbal portrait. What does that portrait say about you as a writer?

Memories: List any memories you have of experiences writing. It could be specific writings you recall, classes in which you've written, other situations in which you've written. Think back and try to bring to mind your earliest memory of writing and make your list from there.

Read through your list and select one of them that stands out to you now for whatever reason and make some more notes about it, anything you recall: details, feelings, any thoughts that come to mind.

Now, tell the story of that experience in words. What was the experience and why does it stand out to you now?

Tuesday, Sept, 14: More exploratory thinking and writing I would like you to spend some more time thinking and writing to recall and reflect on past experiences and people. Exploratory writing due.

Thursday, Sept. 16: Mid-process draft due. Be sure to bring your style book also.

Tuesday, Sept. 21: Final, copy-edited draft due.