Course Recap for Thursday, September 22, 2016

Theme/Thesis

What do you want to say to the world with your story? That is the thesis of your piece and should be your guide as you write.  Try and answer this question: If people do nothing else they should come away from my piece thinking/feeling/believing/wanting....what?

Stories can help us illuminate the things we find important in life.  We can increase the empathy people have for one another.  We can use that empathy to change minds and behaviors.  We can make others feel less alone.  I know that the narrative assignment can sometimes feel like a fluff piece for some, but being able to tell a story that teaches a lesson, or reveals an important part of your identity,  is an important skill to have.

In "Mother Tongue" Amy Tan aims to change the way we think about "broken" English and those who speak it.  There is so much importance placed on "proper" English that we fail to understand the things we can learn from other ways of speaking English.  She actually uses storytelling to start a conversation about a bigger issue.

Sherman Alexie does the same with his narrative.  He uses his life experiences to show how people stereotype him because he is Indian and the effects of those stereotypes.  He explores what it's like to be a member of both worlds, Indian and American, and how Indian life is American life, just an aspect of it that is rarely explored in literature and other forms of media.

What bigger issues do some of your life experiences speak to?  How have your experiences shaped the way you see the world? The way you see yourselves? The way your fictional characters see themselves?

As you write, please be mindful about stereotypes and assumptions.  Don't assume that everyone is going to see the world through the same lense that you see it.  Help them to understand where you and your characters are coming from.  BE SPECIFIC.  SHOW DON'T TELL.

Here is a video about the dangers of stereotyping and a "single story."

Make sure you don't depend on generalizations to carry your story.  All college students do this.  All girls do that.  Specificity is what makes our stories interesting.  

Homework

• Character/Setting Description Review via ELI Review (due Friday 9/23 at 11:45pm)
• Read one of the student essays between pages 64-88 in Readings for Writers.  Write down what you like about the essay and things you would improve. (due Tuesday 9/27 in class)
• First Drafts of Narratives (due Thursday 9/29 in class) Please review the Narrative Assignment Sheet for requirements.