Topics

Writing Topics

The following personal experience papers should be completed. Each paper should contain enough detail to be one page in length (double-spaced, font 12, Times New Roman). All of these compositions require at least two drafts. Typing is not mandatory until you are turning in the final draft.

Choose two of the following:

	Tell about an obstacle that you have overcome, something that was difficult for you that you have finally mastered. This can be from your childhood (learning to ride a bike) to something that has happened more recently (parallel parking).
	Tell about an experience that you have had with fear. What situation were you in? How did you feel as the incident evolved? Was the fear ever conquered?
	Has someone ever done something to you for which you vowed revenge? Write this paper on vengeance. Tell what happened to you ad what you did to get revenge. A good way to start this paper would be to tell the definition of vengeance.
	Tell about an incident where you were punished, but you were not guilty. This could have happened in school or at home. Be sure to include your feelings when you were accused, when you were actually receiving the punishment, and how you felt when the ordeal was over.

Each of the following topics must be completed:

A Lesson Learned

Name paper. Answer the following in your paper:

	How did you receive your name? (first and middle) Is there a story behind them?
	Do you know anything about your ancestry, your surname (last name) and its history?
	Who named you?
	What is the meaning of your name? Does the meaning fit your personality? (Use a baby name book to answer this.)
	Do you have any nicknames? How did you receive them?
	What would your name have been if you had been born the opposite sex?
	Would you like to change your name? If so, to what?

Friendship

	Write about the friendships that have been important to you either now or in the past.
	Of all the people you have known, who have been your closest friends? Tell something about each of these special people. What did you do together?
	Tell a favorite story about each friend and an adventure you had together. What happened?
	You might want to start your paper telling what is important to you in a friendship, the kinds of people you like to spend time with, and the types of people you like to avoid.

A Favorite Place You Have Visited

	Write a persuasive paper convincing someone to visit one of the places you have visited.
	Be sure to describe the place and tell all of the things that a person can do there.

The Future

What kind of job or career would you really like to have as an adult?

	What kind of setting would best fit you?
	What kind of training will you need for the kind of work you want to do?

What is your dream house?

	Tell where this house is located.
	Briefly tell about the style and rooms of the house.

What hopes and dreams do you have?

Other items to be included:

	Collage of your interests. Put on 8 1/2 by 11 paper.
	Map of the places where you have lived.