For the purpose of this exercise, pretend that you are applying to get into this course, and write a brief essay that touches upon your background, aptitudes, goals, etc. in regards to reading, writing, and the history of the book.

You might consider the following:

General overview
Who are you? What should I know about you?
What languages do you speak or understand?
Has your background influenced your relationship with reading/writing?

Your Past
Examine your childhood relationship with the book. Were you read to? Did someone tell you stories? When did you learn to read and write?
What role did the book play during your years of schooling?
Did you visit the library? When? How often?

Your Present
How do you feel about books today?
Do you read for pleasure?
Do you use the library at York University?
What are your goals for this course?
What topic would you like for your seminar? Please present a cogent argument as to why you should be given your chosen topic. (Someone else might asked for it too, so I will have to decide who should get it.)

Your Future
What do you hope to do when you graduate?
What kind of work are you hoping to find?

Please print a thumbnail picture of you in the corner so that I put your name and face together.

Critical reflection
This assignment will be commented and evaluated, yet you can see that there are few stated requirements (no stated length, for example). I have tried to give broad parameters to the task in order to allow you to create a text that suits your content and personality.

The questions are divided in chronological sections, focusing on different aspects of your experience with, and interest in, books and academia. Should you keep them separate and answer them in order?I would like to encourage you to let the content dictate the blending or order of the answers, as well as the paragraphing of your text. It should also dictate the tone and style.

Of course, first drafts do not need to be in any order at all: explore and write down all your ideas in “happy chaos,” until you are satisfied with the intellectual content of your text, then organize them according to the logic of the text in your final draft.

Do ask yourself why I’m assigning this piece of writing. I am not asking these questions out of idle curiosity, but because I am trying to put together a class profile in order to shape this course in a way that will interest the greatest possible number of students. And yes, of course, I’m using this assignment as a baseline writing assessment.

This assignment is due next week, September 20.