Adolescence is tough in any time period. The Eighties,
however, offered a unique set of circumstances for anyone passing through a
rite of passage (e.g. first jobs, proms, first cars, drugs, first kisses). With parents taking a
more hands-off approach than previous generations, school systems facing their
most severe funding cuts ever, and a society increasingly concerned with fulfilling
individual needs and whims, ‘80s adolescents came of age at a time when no one
was always “minding the store.” Though there were many downsides to this situation,
one upside was that ‘80s youth were allowed wide latitude to explore the ins
and outs of adolescence. And stories of youth from this time period often reflect that freedom.
For this final assignment, you will recount a coming
of age experience of a person who was an adolescent in the ‘80s. In a narrative
essay, you will tell his or her story: the settings, the emotions, the
circumstances, the people. It is your job to bring back to life your subject’s
youth.
Instructions:
- Interview someone who A) was a between 15-25 years old in the ‘80s and B) experienced some rite of passage during that decade—preferably in America
- Translate that interview into a 3-page magazine-style narrative essay that illustrates not only the pertinent information (time, place, etc.), but resurrects a particular moment in time
- Remember, you are retelling your subject's story, so strive to do be accurate, but also compelling
Keep in mind that though a narrative essay typically tells a
personal story from a first person perspective, it can be equally effective
when someone’s experience is recounted in the third person. For examples, look
below at stories from public radio’s This American Life:
- "109: Notes on Camp" (1998)
- "245: Allure of the Mean Friend" (2003)
- "449: Middle School" (2011)
- "541: Regrets, I've Had a Few" (2014)
Requirements:
- Approximately 3 pages in length
- MLA Style
Due: FR 12.16 (via email by 5 PM)
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