All of us can recall people who have made a significant impact on our lives. Perhaps it was a teacher who believed in us when we had trouble believing in ourselves. Perhaps it was a band director or coach that took extra time to help us out or just listen to our problems. Maybe it was a family member that supported us at a difficult moment in our lives. On the other hand, some people have had a negative impact on our lives. You may recall someone who lied to you, gave you false expectations, cheated you out of something you deserved, or hurt you in some other way. In this assignment you are asked to describe this person and the way he or she influenced your life. Step One Brainstorm a list of 5-7 people you would nominate for the ″Greatest Influence on My Life″ Award. Step Two Select one of the people from your list and begin to write about the following three areas: Physical appearance Actions toward yourself Actions toward others List everything you can recall about the person′s physical appearance: facial features, mannerisms, energy level, body build, way of walking, expressions, clothing, etc. Next, list the experiences you remember with this person. How did this person react to you? What did he or she say? Where did you go together? Finally, list those things you observed this person do, even though you may not have been personally involved. Try to be as specific as possible in making your list. For instance, ″constantly tapping on the ground″ and ″always moving something around on her desk″ is more desсrіptive than just writing ″nervous.″ Similarly, try to remember specific actions. ″We used to play catch in the backyard ″ is more vivid than ″we spent lots of time together.″ Step Three Select two or three events that would best illustrate the character of the person you have selected. Write a draft in which you describe the events you have selected. As always, write quickly without evaluating your work or stopping to check on spelling. Step Four After writing your first draft, answer these questions: Is my purpose in writing this paper made clear to the readers–either by statement or by implication? Does the person I have described seem like an individual or a type? What have I told about this person that is not common to all people of the same type (e.g., children, parents, friends, teachers, coaches, etc.)? What is surprising in this draft? In what ways is the person I have described unpredictable? How have I connected the different events I have chosen to include? Do they ultimately create a unified impression? Have I described the person′s appearance, voice, and mannerisms in sufficient detail? Have I included dialogue (if appropriate)? What else might I want to add to strengthen the impression? Is the introductory paragraph effective in creating interest? Does the paper conclude strongly? Have I chosen an effective title? Have I used language that is clear and vivid? Step Five Continue writing and revising in successive drafts. Before submitting your final paper, be sure to edit the paper carefully for mechanical errors. It is important to know your personal tendencies in this regard. Do you have difficulty with spelling? Then review all the words you might have misspelled and check them with a dictionary. Do you mix up homonyms (such as to and too or their and there)? Then be on the alert for these words in your writing. You may find it useful to keep a section in a notebook for recurring errors that appear in your writing. Knowing your weak areas is the first step toward improving them. For examples of how you may convey influential people to readers, you may consult Web resources such as Benjamin Franklin′s Autobiography. The final draft must be between 400 and 600 words long.
