Anne Lamott’s Shitty first draft

Essay Question(s)/Assignment:

For this essay (at least 1000 words), you will choose one of the texts from this unit and answer the following questions. Your thesis statement will be your direct answers to these questions, so your thesis statement will be 2-3 sentences long. Half of your essay will be devoted to question 1, and the second half of your essay will be devoted to question 2. You can have as many paragraphs as you want.

What is the author’s theory about learning, education, and/or writing?
How does this theory relate to your own educational experiences in the past?

For the first question, your task is to summarize the author. Practice “they say.” What is the author’s overall point? For example, if you choose to write on Cox’s article, what is her point about the student fear factor? Break the text down into the author’s main arguments and supporting arguments. However, you don’t have to summarize everything they say (some of the articles and arguments are quite long!). Instead, summarize what you think are the most important points/sections.

For the second question, your task is to think about your own past experiences in relation to the article. Practice “I say.” Have you ever tried to change who you are as a learner? What motivates you to face challenges? Have you ever experienced educational roadblocks? For example, if you are writing on Dweck’s article, you might reflect on times when you have had a fixed and/or growth mindset. This part of your essay is reflections, and you are required to use personal examples, so don’t be afraid to use “I” in your paper.