4TH-QUARTER, WRITING ASSIGNMENT #1
2nd-QUARTER, WRITING ASSIGNMENT #1:
RESPONSE ESSAY
Target length: 500 words
You have just finished reading passages from the writings of two of America’s greatest prose writers, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. I would like you to write an essay in which you reflect on one of the statements from their writings which means something to you, which you find interesting in some way. Here are several to choose from:
“Nature is a setting that fits equally well a comic or a mourning piece.” – Emerson, “Nature”
“In the woods a man casts off his years, as the snake his slough, and at what period soever of life is always a child.” – Emerson, “Nature”
“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” – Emerson, “Nature”
“We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represents.” – Emerson, “Self-Reliance”
“A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace.” – Emerson, “Self-Reliance”
“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.” – Emerson, “Self-Reliance”
“Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members.” – Emerson, “Self-Reliance”
“Whoso would be a man must be a non-conformist.” – Emerson, “Self-Reliance”
“Absolve yourself to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world.” – Emerson, “Self-Reliance”
“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” – Emerson, “Self-Reliance”
“To be great is to be misunderstood.” – Emerson, “Self-Reliance”
“However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not so bad as you are.” – Thoreau, Walden
“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.” – Thoreau, Walden
“The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the almshouse as brightly as from the rich man’s abode; the snow melts before its door as early in the spring.” – Thoreau, Walden
“We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us.” – Thoreau, Walden
Your assignment is to choose one of these quotes and write an essay in which you respond to it in some way. Your response may take any number of forms. You could, for instance, write an explanatory or interpretive essay in which you speculate on the possible meaning or meanings of your chosen statement. Alternatively, you could write an argumentative essay in which you either agree or disagree with the statement (keep in mind that, in general, you must first explain the statement you have chosen before you express agreement or disagreement with it). Another possibility would be to write a narrative or personal essay in which you describe some event or experience which makes your chosen statement meaningful to you. Finally, you could write a descriptive essay in which you describe the situations or environments in which your chosen statement would make sense, or in which it would “come to life”. The possibilities are almost endless!
Keep in mind that Emerson and Thoreau did not always observe the sort of essay requirements that you have learned in school. Similarly, you don’t need to observe standard essay form (introduction, body and conclusion; thesis statement followed by topics and subtopics, etc.), although you may do so if you wish. My suggestion is to do as Emerson and Thoreau did and find the form that best fits your thoughts.
Please:
____ begin your essay with your chosen quote,
____ double-space (you may type or write),
____ use standard punctuation and capitalization,
____ divide your essay into paragraphs, and
____ take care to make as few mechanical errors as possible (spelling, basic grammar, etc.).
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