9-1 Composition Assignments
Composition #1
Write a true story in first-person point of view about a memorable childhood
experience, perhaps one that relates to school.
Include at least one other “character” that you bring to life, in scene, through vivid
details and dialogue. Include at least one small paragraph (3-5 consecutive sentences)
of exposition, or background information (this could be about yourself, the setting,
another person/character, the event, etc.).
Be sure to have a “plot.” Put simply, this means that you have/had a goal and that, in
your pursuit of this goal, you faced obstacles—you struggled. It is this “conflict” that
drives the story. Perhaps the story builds to a “climax” (in which you had to act or make
a choice) that determined the outcome once and for all. Finally, perhaps you learned a
lesson, whether you achieved your goal or not.
Grammar exercise: in the first five sentences, bold the subject and underline the verb.
This story must be at least one page, double-spaced, in 12-point font, but no more
than two pages.
Composition #2
See Periodical Criticism assignment. Annotate “Pro-Life or Pro-Choice? Yes!” by
George Church, from Time magazine. Then, find 2-3 opinion / editorial essays from
periodicals. Select one and annotate it, i.e., outline your analysis, by quoting, describing
and/or explaining the thesis and supporting arguments. Finally, complete the Periodical
Criticism assignment for your selected essay: double-spaced, 12-point font, polished,
printed.
Composition #3
Persuasive essay. After careful consideration of several persuasive (opinion / editorial)
essays from periodicals, write your own persuasive essay. Begin by brainstorming,
writing your thesis and supporting arguments. See accompanying materials, regarding
crucial elements of the essay, structure, etc. See also Atticus’s closing argument in “To
Kill a Mockingbird,” noting how he appeals to his audience, gently gaining sympathy,
transitioning smoothly, building toward his central argument, the defense of his client,
and higher ideals.
Composition #4
To Kill A Mockingbird essay. See prompts. Write a five-paragraph essay, with thesis and
supporting “topics,” referring to the novel and supplying examples and text to support
your points.
Composition #5
A Visual Experience. Or better yet: A Sensory Experience. Take a photograph and use
it as inspiration for this composition, which in 1-2 pages reflects the “story” and/or
experience of the image and/or the mood captured in the image. You may write a poem
instead of a narrative, but it must be at least twenty lines and demonstrate careful
attention to poetic qualities, such as imagery, metaphor, personification—and even
narrative qualities, such as theme and narrative arc (i.e. with a beginning, middle, and
end; or even a “plot”); stanzas, rhyme and meter are optional—but you might consider
these qualities. You might also consider another poem, or style of poem, as inspiration,
in a direct or ironic way, borrowing a form, or a line or idea, and/or altering it in some
interesting way.
Victor
Wait,
For now
You are perfectly positioned
On the floor there with plastic spatula
And saucepan
Calling out
Apple, and, this week,
Apple Tee
Without the “r”
Which makes no difference
At least to me.
Your big brother, Nikitas,
Or Tita, to you,
Watches, as I do,
Seeing how you’re somehow different from him
And from Daddy,
Yet the same,
Like the eggs you make,
Stirring the yolks,
Into one invisible color.
You offer us a taste
Then move across the room
Our hearts shrinking and swelling
As you climb up,
Reach for your guitar,
And sing to us.
Composition #6
Periodical Criticism on a review of a movie you’ve seen. See Periodical criticism
assignment. You may consider reviews of the films To Kill A Mockingbird and Romeo &
Juliet, which we’ve watched in class. You must select an essay from a reputable critic
and source, such as Peter Travers from Rolling Stone, the late Roger Ebert (or the critics
who now write for his web site), A.O. Scott from the New York Times, David Denby or
Anthony Lane from The New Yorker, or another critic from some such reputable
periodical or web site.
Composition #7
Romeo & Juliet play analysis essay. See assignment.
Composition #8
Independent reading, creative/critical project. See assignment. (Write an alternative
ending, missing chapter, etc.)
Composition #9
Night and Schindler’s List Close Reading/Watching. Consider the following themes and
concepts from both Night and Schindler’s List: indifference, choiceless choices, identity &
dehumanization, and bearing witness (others?). Choose one. Select three distinct passages from
the book that best represent this theme, spanning the book from beginning to end, i.e., one from
the beginning, middle, and end, to show a progression, if possible. In a concise paragraph for
each passage, first present the passage, then describe and explain how it represents the theme. Do
the same for three well-selected scenes from the movie. You may work with a partner. The final
paper should run about two pages, a total of six distinct paragraphs. No need to “unify” this
paper as in the typical essay; instead, title the paper by the selected theme and the titles of the two
works, e.g., “Indifference in Night and Schindler’s List”—or some such title.
Composition #10
Write two 55-word stories. See samples and tips.
Composition #11
Write a “short-short story” or “flash fiction” in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd- person point of view.
Consider the “classic” story elements: protagonist/character(s), setting, conflict…crisis/climax,
resolution. The story must be no longer than two pages double-spaced. For the first draft, write
this as a “timed writing,” giving yourself 30-45 minutes (max!), as if in a typical class period.
This will help you to be spontaneous and to have fun. You can always revise later. Choose one
of the sets of ten words below, A or B. Use and underline/bold all ten words/phrases in your
story:
(A) rain, glass, pheasants, gravel roads, steam, blindfolded, Bang!, barbed-wire fence, coats,
house.
(B) woman, ledge, barefoot, high-heeled shoes, bikini, wedding band, towel, great food, row
houses, space.
Composition #12
Complete “Gryphon” by Charles Baxter. Write two distinct scenes, a climax scene and a
resolution scene. In the climax scene be sure to show Tommy, the narrator, facing his conflict
once and for all. In the resolution scene strive to capture a sense of closure, even as you point
toward life going on in the future. 1-2 pages double-spaced.
Composition #13
Write an original short story. You may start from scratch or use the material from your flash
fiction assignment or 55-word stories. Otherwise, you may not use previously written material.
This story should be 4-6 double-spaced pages. Consider the classic story elements:
protagonist… conflict… crisis/climax… resolution. Consider the balance between “narration”
(exposition, summary, reflection) and “scene” (dialogue, action). Strive for a dramatic “overall
arc” (significant emotional and physical change) in the plot and main character. Strive for a sense
of closure, even as you point toward life going on in the future.
Consider the stories we’ve read for inspiration. A humorous, ironic story featuring a character
whose interior life starkly contrasts with his actual (exterior, physical) life (“Walter Mitty”). A
philosophical story, driven by a profound question, which is established and then played out in a
scenario that tests the hypothesis and results in profound change in the character(s) (“The Bet”).
A suspenseful story in which the well-meaning characters fail to achieve their “conscious” goal
but, instead, achieve a “deeper” (unconscious) goal, thus revealing a clear moral, with the quality
of a fable (“Gift of the Magi”). Or, in contrast, a suspenseful story driven by a misguided desire,
seemingly achieved in the climax, only to turn ironically disastrous, thus revealing a moral in
spite of the suffering protagonist (“The Necklace”). A story in which a stranger comes to town
(To Kill A Mockingbird), or to dinner (“For Esme With Love and Squalor”), or to the workplace
(“A&P”), or to the classroom (“Gryphon”) and upsets the protagonist’s sense of order in his life
and thus forcing him to act in a way that restores order and yet alters his life forever. A story in
which the protagonist instantly faces some profound loss and must restore balance in his life by
the end (The Catcher in the Rye).
Composition #14
Five-paragraph critical essay on The Catcher in the Rye. See assignment.
Composition #15
Periodical Criticism. See the original assignment document for the Periodical Criticism.
You may use Walter Kirn’s “The Danger of Suppressing Sadness” from Time magazine,
or you may use another opinion/editorial essay that relates (thematically or otherwise) to
any of the readings you’ve done in the third marking period, i.e., relating to J.D. Salinger,
your SSR book or its author, or even books or current events relating to work you’ve
done in your Social Studies class).
Composition #16
“Chapter in My Life” assignment, as follow-up to Catcher, or Creative Project for SSR
book for the third marking period.
Composition #17
Periodical Criticism on an editorial/opinion essay related to The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn and/or satire.
Composition #18
Five-paragraph critical essay on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Choose one
subject—such as slavery, racism, greed, religion—and analyze how Mark Twain makes
this an object of his satire. Be sure to consider the definition of satire that we discussed
prior to reading the novel: the satirist uses satire to “attack the vices and follies he sees in
human behavior. His satire usually states or implies some standard for ideal human
behavior. And he hopes that, because of his satire, people will look at themselves in a
new light and change their foolish ways.” Be sure to address how Twain’s treatment of
your selected subject demonstrates the elements of this definition.
The best essays will include a thesis that identifies three distinct topics (for example:
characters, settings, themes) that provide a narrow lens through which to view the
subject. These “topics” will serve as the topics for your body paragraphs. (For example,
if the “subject” is greed, then one “topic” might be “the king and the duke”; in this body
paragraph you would analyze and describe how greed is satirized in “the king and the
duke” sections of the novel.) As always, the best essays will include numerous wellselected examples and properly cited textual references to demonstrate your excellent
points (the “A” essay typically includes 2-3 such specific references per body paragraph).