Epiphany/Stream of Consciousness Paper  (ESC)

 

This is a tricky assignment to do and a tricky assignment to describe.  Essentially, the assignment is this:

 

Write a developed, workshopped personal essay in a stream of consciousness style that deals with a significant personal epiphany and life events which helped it to form.

 

OK…

 

Let’s break that down:

 

  1. Developed: 
    1. This piece is not going to be short.  I thumbed through some of my old ones, and I find that the average length over time has been a little more than 5 pages, though some have been well over 10.  I found a few over 15.  The median is probably 7 pages.

 

  1. Workshopped: Boy, if you don’t know what this means by now, we’re in more trouble than I imagined possible.  J 
    1. In this case, you are not required (though you are encouraged) to have conferences with classmates and/or others; however, you are required to have multiple conferences with me.  How many? That will vary a lot from paper to paper.  Some have finished in four drafts or so; others have needed 20.
    2. How will you know you’re finished? We will determine that together.  When we both are satisfied that the paper is ready to be finalized, you’re done.  Ideally, I’ve seen the paper so much by then that you and I will both know the grade before I even read the last draft.

 

  1. Personal:
    1. This is not fictional.  You are not writing a short story.  It is a personal essay, a reflection.  Of course you may fictionalize to some extent—adding details that you don’t recall in order to flesh out a scene, etc.—but the incidents should be real.  Otherwise, it’s a very different kind of exercise.

 

  1. Stream of Consciousness:  Well, you ought to know this one by now too.  J  
    1. I suggest that you use as a template the soccer game in part one of Portrait.  Select a short scene at the onset of epiphany as your through-line (TL), and the flashback/digress to events and scenes that led up to it.  Transition into the digressions smoothly, but returning may be abrupt: if you use strong clear details in the description of the TL, such as a rain storm’s sounds, smells, and sights, we’ll know we’re back in that moment the second you reference them again.
    2. Of course, you might use another template: maybe your specific topic would be stronger if you patterned it after “Lost in the Funhouse.”  Whatever you choose, take the time—and the drafts—to do it well.
    3. Watch your organization and transitions to make sure that flashbacks connect in some logical way to the TL.  Transitions that are too obvious, such as “and then I remembered,” are not effective.
    4. Note about the TL: Do not rush away from it!  Establish your TL with lots of clear physical detail at the start (maybe a page or even two before you ever flash back) and, when you return to it, linger awhile.  The whole point of the TL is to help us to see the epiphany; use it.

 

  1. Significant Epiphany:
    1. Your topic must be significant, though there is no requirement that it be life-altering­, as few teens have had truly life-altering epiphanies; however, it must be the result of a sequence of events occurring over time rather than one single catalyzing moment.  If you do choose something life-altering, that’s fine.  Some of the ideas listed below—from older papers—are rather traumatic.  But I am not looking for, nor am I asking for, a “confessional” here.  Many, if not most, of the essays over the years have been on far more benign topics.
    2. “Epiphany” is sort of an “Aha!” moment, when a series of previous events/memories suddenly rush together into a fully formed realization.  Some students find that it enhances their papers to begin the piece immediately before the “aha!” moment, stop short of the epiphany, and then slip back to the start of the TL and proceed as normal from there.

 

  1. Life Events:
    1. Select the flashback scenes carefully to show how the past influences the present. 

 

Due date for this paper will be determined, but please recognize that process is very important in this project.  Also please understand that, as this is the last WW project, when you finish it, there will be nothing assigned to replace it in Writing Workshop and, just like those who finish portfolios early, you’ll have more free time. 

 

 

Often, the most difficult part of this paper is the selection of topic.  Sometimes it is so obvious it requires no thought whatsoever.  Other times you may find it takes forever.  Here are some examples of topics from the past:

 

  • dealing with a sibling moving to college
  • anorexia or bulimia
  • the aging or death of a parent or grandparent
  • the fact that you can’t think of an epiphany (don’t do this one, but in fairness I thought I’d mention it)
  • the decision to be an actor/singer/doctor/dancer/mechanic/ichthyologist/teacher/entomologist/percussionist/writer/etc.
  • being abused as a child
  • handling a the suicide of a friend/sibling/parent
  • relationship with parents/siblings/friends/lovers
  • significant personal injury/illness
  • athletics/performances
  • dealing with drugs or alcohol
  • personal ethical crisis (criminal, sexual, religious, etc.)
  • the role of religion in your life
  • dealing with handicapped/homeless/old/diseased people
  • saying goodbye/moving
  • end of a relationship
  • the wonder of nature
  • dealing with a deaf sibling
  • dealing with divorce
  • work trip epiphanies
  • accepting responsibilities (like Teen Court)
  • growing up (or refusing to)
  • choosing a college
  • learning to enjoy being alive
  • worrying about school/grades
  • 9/11
  • losing a pet
  • procrastination
  • dealing with boys/girls
  • kairos epiphanies
  • being asian/jewish/black/latino in LF
  • YOUR EPIPHANY HERE

 

  * See above

 

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