Stranger in the Village Essay
Assignment:
You are to prepare an essay (for either
written and oral presentation) that is similar to the essay you have been
studying in that it illustrates the concept of "stranger in the
village.” The central parts of this
assignment are to
1. Describe an incident or incidents, or a set
of circumstances, in which you or someone you know felt like a stranger, or was
perceived as strange by others
2. Analyze as best you can what elements
created the feeling or perception of strangeness or otherness
3. Discuss the significance of the incidents or
circumstances-how did the experience affect you? what did you learn from it?
1. If your
essay is to be written, write a draft. If your essay is to be presented orally,
the written essay you have studied will still be a model of how to combine the
telling of an experience with analysis of its general importance. You may make
an oral presentation from an outline or notes, or you may write the essay and
read it aloud. Either way, remember you
should include both description of the experience and commentary on it.
2. Use the
following questions as a guide while you think about and draft your essay (or
make notes about how you want to tell it). Then use the questions as you read
your draft critically, and make decisions about what changes you want to make
before you turn it in or present it orally.
a. Treating clearly the theme of "a stranger in the village"
b.
Is my description about encountering someone or being
someone who is a “stranger" and seen as "other,” someone who is
distanced from a group for some reason and who is affected by being distanced?
c.
Have I clearly
indicated the reasons for the separation between an individual and a group ( or
between individuals or between two groups)?
d.
Describing the
experience persuasively
e.
Does my
description include details that are valuable in making my point understandable
and memorable? Does it contain vivid imagery or particularly striking turns of
phrase?
f.
How might the
experience be organized? (e.g., By beginning with an important moment, then
backing up to prepare the moment? By chronological arrangement? By point of
view (perhaps switching from one vantage point to another)? Is there a focus on
a particular moment or is there a clear sequence of events?
g.
Have I used a tone
that seems right for the description? That is, does my attitude toward what
I'm describing, as conveyed through my choice of words and style of
presentation, seem appropriate for my subject?
3.
Discussing the significance of the experience
a.
Have I explained
or implied the importance of the event to myself? To others?
b.
Do my
reflections or conclusions make clear my views? Does the tone?
c.
Are my
reflections or conclusions clearly connected both to the experience and to my audience?
Does my discussion invite response from my readers or listeners, by making an
effort to connect my own personal experience to experiences others may have had
or may yet have?