1. [Childhood Event]
Choose a vivid time from your childhood. Narrate the events related to the
childhood memory that you've chosen so that your readers will understand why the
event was important and memorable.
2. [Lightbulb Moment] Think of an experience when you realized that you
suddenly understood an idea, a skill, or a concept you had been struggling with.
Write a narrative that tells the story of your movement toward understanding.
Your paper should help readers understand how you felt to struggle with the idea
or skill and then to understand.
3. [Being Unprepared] Because you have been sick, out of town, or working
on other homework, you didn't have as much time to study for an important test
as you needed. Think of a specific test that you took that you felt unprepared
for and narrate the events. Your paper should help readers understand what it
felt like to be unprepared.
4. [Achieving a Goal] Think of a time when you achieved a personal goal.
Tell your readers about the story of how you met your goal. Be sure that your
readers understand why the goal is important to you.
5. [The Good and the Bad] Think about an event in your life that seemed
bad but turned out to be good. Tell the story of the event that you experienced
and help your readers understand how an event that seemed negative turned out to
have valuable consequences.
6. [Being a Teacher] Teaching someone else how to do something can be
rewarding. Think of a skill that you've taught someone else how to do. Think
about the events that made up the process of teaching the skill, and narrate the
story for your readers.
7. [Changing Places] Think of a change to a place that you know well, and
narrate the events that occurred. Readers should know the details of the change,
and they should know how you feel about the changes that occurred.
8. [Personal Rituals] Describe a personal ritual that you, your friends,
or your family have. Narrate the events that take place when you complete your
ritual so that your readers understand the steps that the ritual includes and
why you complete them.
9. [Standing Up] Choose a time when you did something that took a lot of
nerve, a time when you didn't follow the crowd or a time when you stood up for
your beliefs. Think about the details of the event and write a story that tells
about what happened. Your narrative should show your readers why you decided to
make a stand or try something that took nerve, give specifics on the events, and
share how you felt after the event.
10. [Disagreeing] Think of a time when you disagreed with a decision that
had been made and did something about it. Write a paper that narrates the events
that occurred -- from the decision that was made to your response. Be sure that
your paper gives enough details that your readers understand why you disagreed
with the decision and why you felt that your response was appropriate.