Introductory Activities

The following activities are ice-breakers.  I use the one about what makes writing a positive or negative experience to help the students understand why I have set up the class in the way that I have.  Why I do not assign topics etc.

 Introductory Activity: Composition

 What makes writing a positive or negative experience?

Free write for five minutes on what makes writing a positive experience.  What is it easy?  When does it flow?  You may describe specific incidences or just write generally about the topic.

Stop.  Turn over your paper, or draw a line.  Now for the next five minutes, write about what makes writing a negative experience, when is it difficult?  When is it painful?

Share responses in small groups and prepare a list of common points. (Instructor should circulate, challenge groups to think more deeply about the meaning of what they have written,  try to help students to abstract principles from the specific instances--for example, if they find letter writing easier have them speculate on why that might be--known audience, focus on content, etc. ) Take mental notes as you circulate, so you can add points to the list on the board.

Discuss in large group.  List points on the board.  Discuss. Again, try to move from the concrete examples to abstract principles.

I use this exercise as a lead-in to why I set up the class the way I do.   Times for the free writes can be varied.