revising an essay

Neitzke / English 101 Essay #2: Be Creative

Context: In class, we have discussed the importance of audience, purpose, sources, and context when writ- ing a paper. This may come as a shock to you, but this in- cludes creative writing. Creative writing, much like acad- emic writing, also requires an awareness of one’s voice and tone, which will be discussed in depth within the next few weeks. By developing your voice and tone, you will be able to persuade and influence those around you. For this essay, I will ask you to take on the persona of a specif- ic archetype of your choosing and develop your creative skills by simultaneously entertaining and challenging your audience of impressionable young adults. ! Prompt: For this essay you will select one archetype (be it the hero, the devil, anti-hero/trickster, side-kick, damsel in distress, etc.) and write a “heroic monologue.” In this speech, the persona you adopt will address the other characters in their story by inspiring them through impassioned words, revealing something that they have been hiding from their audience, or shar- ing a grievance they are now choosing to vent. Ultimately, you want your selected character to inspire some sort of change in your immediate audience, both fictional and actual. You must be sure to adopt the voice of the character you wish to impersonate, so consider what characteristics the archetype has and prove your knowledge about your chosen archetype through plot and characterization. Some questions to consider are: How does our society view these archetypes? What do these archetypes reflect about our cultures values, wants, needs, desires, or ethics? How are these archetypes typically featured in story- telling? Do these views on and presentations of these archetypes need to change? While the paper itself will be purely creative, you will need to attach a cover letter that analyzes why you chose this character, what change you were trying to inspire, why there was a need for this change, and why you felt this char- acter was the right choice to enact this. I’m sure this is a bit intimidating, but please don’t panic. I will walk you through how to write a creative paper in class and during conferences. ! Requirements: • Must be written in MLA format (12 pt font, Times New Roman, double spaced, 1 inch margins all

around, and appropriate heading). • For this essay, first person (I, me, we) must be used. You are appropriating the voice of a fictional char-

acter. • Avoid second person (you) at all costs, for all essays. • Do not use contractions (i.e. type “do not” instead of “don’t”). • The rough draft of monologue due _________ must be three full pages. • The final draft of monologue due _________ must be three full pages. • The cover letter due with your final draft must be one full page. ! **If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to ask me either in class or during my office hours. There is also a chance for 5 extra credit points if you decide to present your speech to the class.