Exploration of Rhetoric + Reflection in Real Life =
“Essaying”“I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.” ― Oscar Wilde
Upon retirement in 1571, Michel de Montaigne spent his time in the French countryside reading and writing, where he claimed to be merely “essaying” – which in French means trying – a kind of exploratory, unresolved thinking on the page. Montaigne suggested that in writing about himself, he was also “undertaking a study, the subject of which is man.” Essays traffic in ideas, asking questions, and explaining thinking in order to help the reader become equally enthralled. This paper is a true essay in the classical sense that the writer should discover, articulate and express personal insights as they intersect with and circle around a specific topic or experience. Writing consultant Katherine Bomer in her publication “The Journey is Everything” states “The kind of writing I am arguing for in this book: prose pieces that are personal, lyrical, literary, descriptive, reflective, narrative, expository, philosophical, political, spiritual…all of the above.” Your goal? To craft an essay that has room for everything – essays linger, arouse, question, travel, contradict, reveal and expose the mind.Successful essays will: Be personal. Narrate your own story/experience in first person, cultivate voice Set up the text, context and approach in a way that allows you to enter the conversation Use at least one class/college/life idea or moment as a “touchstone” – a foundation for your inquiry Explore the larger contextual elements (moment in history, geography, age, situation…) Possess a controlling idea, but also be creative, organic, logical – not formulaic Be honest and accurate – identify and name your ideas, places, moments, setting Possess a thoughtful, creative conclusion – good essay have striking beginnings and endings Include quoted credible sources (writers, current voices, critics, peer). Use an epigraph to creatively contextualize your contribution to the conversation (see Wilde quote)Audience: Your intended audience is up to you; it could be other RWS305W students (current or incoming), your professor or any demographic you envision would benefit from your content. Purpose: To grow through the act of writing, to pour yourself onto the page and write an essay you are proud of, to tell a story, make connections, push ideas and play with words in a way that is engaging – to essay. Length: 5-6 pages long, MLA format & works cited page minimum of three outside credible (2 must be peer-reviewed) and varied sourcesTimeline: Topic Conferences is required. You MUST meet with me prior to writing your paper (April 12-30, see sign-up sheet for specifics). Module 4 Essaying due May 7 before 11:59PMTopic:The field is wide open! The foundation for your topic could be one dynamic idea from a journal writing experience, one beautiful line from a reading, one random insight from lecture, or the intersection of all of these in a drunken conversation with your roommate. You must follow your own curiosity and thinking while essaying; search your journal entries for inspired moments or use ideas from your college journey to jumpstart your inquiry. Consider how your observations and experiences connect with your interests/field, challenge your values, or expand your understanding. You might go big (and reflect on your entire college experience) or go small (and analyze your growth in a mere 10
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