playground tormenting another child W r i t i n g

 In a well-organized, focused essay, tell a story about a moment in your life when you encountered a monster or felt like a monster. Do not try to tell your entire life story; instead, narrow your topic to one single incident (consisting of mainly a single narrative), and completely describe it with some underlying purpose (thesis), which may be a lesson you learned or taught someone else. Do not let this essay merely become an accounting of a personal story. There should be a REASON that you are telling this particular story.

• Your narrative should focus on one of the following prompts:
  • Each of us has experienced moments of fear or terror in our lives. These moments are
    often instigated by another person or some entity that is beyond our control. We often
    consider these obstacles as “monsters” – from bullies on the playground, to the snarling
    dog down the street, to cancer or some other debilitating disease. An important part in
    the development of our identities is learning how to cope with these monsters. Briefly
    describe a monster that you encountered, and explore how you dealt with the fear that the
    monster evoked. How do you think the process of experiencing and dealing with your
    fear shaped who you are today?
• OR
  • Many of us have felt like a “freak” or an outsider at some point in our lives. Have you
    ever had the experience of not fitting in or being treated like a monster because you were
    different from everyone else in some way? Or, perhaps you felt out of control in a
    situation and acted like a “monster” to somebody else. Maybe you were the bully on the
    playground tormenting another child. Whether you were treated like a monster or acted
    like a monster, consider: how did the experience make you feel? How did you deal with
    it? How has the experience shaped your sense of self? Do you have any regrets?

An important aspect of a personal narrative is honesty; you don’t have to come across as all hero, all victim, or all villain in your story. People are complex. You just have to reveal what it means to be human. Remember to keep in mind your audience for this piece is an academic audience, and choose a topic you are comfortable writing about. An effective or engaging approach may be to start with the action of your story and put the thesis in your conclusion.