Fall 2012

Where I Come From

This first piece should help us understand “where you come from.” I don’t mean this literally—as in a geographical place—though that could be a fine way to ground your writing. I mean the context of your growing up in one way or another—family, friends, place, circumstance, incident. The key is to be as particular and grounded in real experience as possible.

 As always, you decide how you want to focus and shape this first autobiographical piece of writing. But here are some options and models:

 1. Tell the story of a period of your life, or an incident in your life, that helps us understand where you come from. (See: Annie Dillard: Excerpt from “An American Childhood.”Douglas Morales, “Chapter Four: Slavery in the US” (Angles, 2011). (Stellar/Material//Readings).Jeff Quinn, “The Great Undersea Search” (Angles, 2008).)

2. Chronicle a series of related vignettes (short sketches); that is, follow one particularly compelling thread that helps us understand “where you come from.” (See: Sherman Alexie, “Indian Education”; Lili Sun, “Math Class.”)

3. Tell a family story as you’ve heard it, one that gives us a sense of your origins, though you weren’t necessarily there for the action—a story that lets us get to know you indirectly as the narrator of someone else’s story. You’re the story-teller, passing down a story gleaned through oral tradition. This story allows you to think about voice, about you as story-teller, and allows you a bit of distance. (See Jaclyn Konopka, “The Gift of Education” (Angles, 2011).