Last few speeches; advice; baseline non-fiction

After hearing our last few speeches, let's look at a few sample non-fiction reflective essays.

21 Tips and Tricks of the Trade -- How to Write Better Non-Fiction (and Fiction)

• Often the most powerful stories are about your family and the childhood moments that shaped your life.
• You don’t need to build up tension and waste the reader's time by padding or delaying the subject matter of your story. Instead, surprise the reader by telling it like it is. Be truthful as you see it. 
• Don't try to impress. Try to tell a story.
• You can use real documents and quotes from your family and friends. It makes it so much more personal and relatable. But if you can't remember the exact wording or what happened, make up the detail--but aim for the truth.
• Reflect and make a point about the human condition. You can start off with this theme in mind and then go away from it. At the end of the essay, you may come back to the first theme to close the circuit.
• Using poetic language is totally acceptable, as long as it improves the story.
• Style comes from your unique personality and the perception of the world. It takes time to develop it.
• Never try to tell it all. “All” can never be put into language. Take a part of it and tell it the best you possibly can.
• Avoid cliché. Try to infuse new life into your writing. Cliches are old hats. Don't wear them.
• Write about you. Paint a picture of your former self. What did that person believe in? In what kind of world did he or she live in? Write about you before you became you now.
• “The day that turned your life around” is a good theme you may use in a story. Memories of a special day are filled with emotions. Strong emotions often create strong writing.
• Use cultural references, slang if necessary, and allusions to create a context for your story.
• Create brilliant, yet short descriptions of characters.
• Don’t be afraid to share your intimate experiences. Write boldly. The reader wants a bold writer.
• Intertwine a personal journey with philosophical musings. Reflect on your subject. Write about beliefs and meaning, not just recorded events. 
• By voicing your anxieties, you can heal the anxieties of the reader. In that way, you say: “I’m just like you.”
• Admit your flaws to make your persona more relatable.
• Don’t worry about what people might think. The more you expose, the more powerful the writing. 
• You come from a rich cultural heritage. You can share it with people who never heard about it. You are more exciting and interesting than you think you are. 
• Never forget about your identity. It is precious. It is a part of who you are. 
• Show rather than tell. Paint the scene/picture with words. Don't forget to establish your setting. Describe.

Then please use the rest of the time today in class to work silently/alone on your baseline personal essay. Find the instructions to this assignment in our Google classroom. Personal essay DRAFTS are due by next class.

Write your draft. Consider the tips/advice you learned to help motivate you to write! Avoid distracting your neighbor! Now is the time to write.

When you complete your personal essay draft, load your Google doc into the Google form and submit it for credit. Directions for the assignment are on the Google form in Google classrooms.

HOMEWORK: Complete your baseline draft. Submit it for credit by Friday.