After discussing Jamaica Kincaid's essay, students will craft their own first-person essays about reading. Review the Academic Content Standards related to this lesson. Write drafts of their own first-person essays about some aspect of reading. Exchange these essays anonymously for peer response. Make a list.
Students then share their answers in pairs, small groups, or with the class as a whole.
Tell students they will be writing anonymous drafts of their own first-person essays about some aspect, positive or negative, of their experiences with reading. They should then choose a topic about which they both feel strongly and are comfortable writing honestly. Give students 15 or 20 minutes to craft these first drafts. Ask students to read and comment constructively on the pieces they receive by praising aspects they like, asking questions, sharing their own similar experiences, or making suggestions. When students are finished, recollect the papers and leave them spread out on a table so that the author of each can collect it.