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Writers Retreat > Student Talk > Course Lessons > Assignment 3 > Having trouble with Assignment 3
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Al
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« on: December 08, 2009, 11:29:55 AM »
I'm having trouble understanding what assignment 3 is supposed to be all about.  I get that we are supposed to describe a childhood place but my instructor told me she wasnt looking for a story.  She was very vague in what she wanted from me.  So is it just supposed to be a description of the place with the 5 senses?  Are we supposed to tell what or where the place is or leave the audience wondering?  I'm not sure I can use 500 words for just a description.

Can anyone help me clarify what this is supposed to be about exactly?  I read some of the other questions in this writers retreat and am more confused then ever as my instructor did not say it was supposed to be told by myself as a young child.  So I am also confused on what age group I'm supposed to speaking in?

Any help on this will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks
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ctnyrene
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« Reply #1 on: December 08, 2009, 12:00:42 PM »
It truely is supposed to be a moment in time described with all your senses involved.  I think I still have my assignment 3 at home, if you want to see how I did mine, I can send it over.  Just pm me your email address. 

ctny
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« Reply #2 on: December 08, 2009, 12:17:57 PM »
The manual describes it as "a 500-word description of a specific place remembered from your childhood, targeted to a young reader." I think you're allowed to have things happening, and to put yourself in the scene as you describe it. And it can be a scene rather than pure description, not just a whole story.

Did you look at the sample in the manual, on pp. 73 and 74? The author is walking along, observing the creek; time passes; he or she does a few things.
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« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2009, 01:46:31 PM »
Yes, you don't need a plot at all. It's more of a scene...a specific moment in time. You make it as "real" as possible for the reader by using specific sensory detail so we feel like we're right in that spot with you. Now, for me, I tend to ask my students to write in the voice of "young them" since I like every Assignment to do two things so I look for (1) clear specific objective sensory detail of place and action AND (2) voice. But if your instructor didn't mention voice, I wouldn't worry about that part. But it's just a moment in time...created as fully and clearly as possible through the use of specific detail. We want to see how well you can embrace "show don't tell."
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« Reply #4 on: December 08, 2009, 03:43:00 PM »
I struggled a bit in how to "define" Assignment 3 as well. Like everyone said, it doesn't need to be a story. I took this to mean that there doesn't have to be a clear beginning, middle and end (plot), a conflict, or a change in the "characters". You're just describing a scene. There can be action in the story (mine had some "exploring the woods" action), but it just needs to add to the description.

-Emily
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bjb
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« Reply #5 on: December 08, 2009, 08:10:31 PM »
Quote from: Al on December 08, 2009, 11:29:55 AM
I'm having trouble understanding what assignment 3 is supposed to be all about.  I get that we are supposed to describe a childhood place but my instructor told me she wasnt looking for a story.  She was very vague in what she wanted from me.  So is it just supposed to be a description of the place with the 5 senses?  Are we supposed to tell what or where the place is or leave the audience wondering?  I'm not sure I can use 500 words for just a description.

Can anyone help me clarify what this is supposed to be about exactly?  I read some of the other questions in this writers retreat and am more confused then ever as my instructor did not say it was supposed to be told by myself as a young child.  So I am also confused on what age group I'm supposed to speaking in?

Any help on this will be greatly appreciated!!

I had a little trouble with assignment #3 and my tutor commented supportedly that I had missed the license I was granted to simply describe, describe, describe a situation or experience.  Mine ended up as a story of shared experience and understood what the assignment was about post; after I read the tutor's comments.  This was okay as my writing became better from it.

So take any situation and using the senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, show the reader the experience.  The beauty of this assignment is that I don't think it needs the POV or the 3 obstacles or the beginning, middle, end - just pure description - a writer's dream.  I would offer to share my assignment but as I didn't get it right the first time, I don't want to confuse the situation.  If it helps to see what NOT to do, my email is my PM and I can send it to you if you like.  All the best - bjb

Thanks
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Al
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« Reply #6 on: December 09, 2009, 11:31:17 AM »
Thanks everyone for your help and offer to share what you wrote.  I'm so thankful for this Writers Retreat, especially since we dont get an opportunity to really speak directly to our instructors, except for Jan, of course.

And Jan, you are a HUGE help to all of us!!  Thanks so much. 

Hope everyone has a great holiday. Grin

Allyn
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« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2009, 09:09:15 PM »
When I took the course, I wrote about the beach where I used to go when I was a kid. I described walking down the beach, everything I could hear, feel, smell, etc. It worked really well and my teacher loved it!
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« Reply #8 on: December 13, 2009, 10:10:15 PM »
I wrote about a beach, also. We live in Tahoe, only about five minutes from Lake Tahoe itself, so we go swimming almost every day in summer. I wrote about the experience of swimming, as well as the place of the beach. I wrote about how the lake felt when I was in it. I think it was the best assignment I did.
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« Reply #9 on: December 14, 2009, 08:03:24 AM »
Allyn, it looks like you've got help-a-plenty.  If you still would like another one to look at, I will gladly send you mine as well. 
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« Reply #10 on: December 14, 2009, 10:59:25 AM »
Ditto here.

VERY descriptive. I did a memory of my Grandma and me making biscuits. I loved doing it. It was a compostion I had wanted to write for a long time, and like Cat's, I think it's been my best so far. My teacher really liked it.  Shocked

Have fun!  Cheesy
You can tell us how it went if you like.
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