Caption This

This week, I'm asking you to look at the picture below and create a story from what you see. What you write can either be dialogue, narration, or an exhaustive backstory. It is up to you. You have complete control. I expect a respectable length in regard to whichever way you choose to write.

Step Up to the Template

This week is about building a good thesis. What follows is a template for a good opening argument--an extended thesis. Discuss a topic (censorship, school policies, etc.) within this template. Use it to state your view and the opposing view. Publish the comment when all of the blanks have been appropriately filled.


In recent discussions of _________________________, a controversial issue has been whether _________________________. On the one hand, some argue that _________________________. From this perspective, _________________________. On the other hand, however, others argue that _________________________. According to this view, _________________________. In sum, then, the issue is whether ________________________ or ________________________.

Improvised Speech Drama

This week, create a short script in which conflict and confusion are caused by different kinds of pronunciation and speech patterns. Choose some characters who speak differently and come from different social classes and backgrounds--for example, your grandmother, an emo kid, a cheerleader, an honor student, a former boyfriend or girlfriend, a jock.
Choose a place and situation: for example, it's Thanksgiving dinner and your sister just started dating the emo kid and your grandmother disapproves.
Then, write a scene with dialogue for these characters.

Here is an example featuring a grandma, a rap star, and a cheerleader at dinner.

RAP STAR: Yo yo, G-ma, slip me some poes.
GRANDMA: Pardon?
CHEERLEADER: Duh, grandma. He's all like, "Pass the poes," and you, like, don't get it. he totally wants the potatoes.
GRANDMA: Then he should have asked that in the first place.


Your scene is expected to be much longer than this, with at least eight lines written for each character. A ending punchline would be nice.