Alternative Assignment 3 : Personal Historical Narrative

EngC 1011 University Writing and Critical Reading

Kevin L. Callahan

Writing Instructor

call0031@tc.umn.edu

(612) 623-7685

In light of recent events, instead of doing a movie, concert or film review you may choose to write as an alternative assignment, something about the recent terrorist attack upon the United States. This is obviously a very significant historical moment and those wishing to do so may want to process and record some of their thoughts and emotions about these events. Writing and discussing these events may also help to clarify what you are thinking and feeling and what, if any, appropriate action might be. As Mark Yudof has pointed out, "In the wake of a tragedy of this magnitude, it is likely that individuals will feel emotions ranging from grief, to helplessness, to fear, to anger."

It seems to me that some of the things that people will be thinking about during the next few weeks include:

1) What happened?

2) What adjectives or words would be appropriate to use to characterize it?

3) How you feel about it?

4) What your individual response, if any, should be to it?

5) What information we appear to have about who is responsible for the attacks? What options the United States government should consider? What are the range of options?

6) How you think these events will change your lives in the future?

7) How much of the 24 hour "wall-to-wall" media coverage is healthy to absorb?

8) Should these events be characterized as: a crime, a crime against humanity, terrorism, an "act of war," mass murder, a "tragedy," and what are the consequences of the characterization?

For example, whereas criminals are "brought to justice" and given due process rights, in a war the enemy is usually killed or captured without much concern for evidence gathering or "bringing them to justice." War crimes are prosecuted if there are crimes against humanity. Are we now in a war? Has there been a shift from viewing terrorists as criminals to enemies engaged in acts of war against the United States?

"Eyewitness to history" is a genre of writing and what you personally write about important events is often valued later by grandchildren and even historians.

At your option, this assignment can replace the film, concert, or restaurant review.

Prewriting Workshop

1) Explanation by the instructor of the writing assignment.

2) Pair up with a partner and discuss what happened on Tuesday - 15 minutes.

3) Freewrite for 20 minutes recording what happened and your response to these events.

Assigned: Thursday Sept.13, 2001

For EngC 1011 sec. 17 12:45-2:00 T,Th First Draft due: Thursday Sept. 20

Second Draft due: Tuesday Sept. 25

Final Draft due: Thursday Sept. 27