Below is a sample writing assignment that asks students to research and write about their family history.
Some of the most powerful stories of all are the ones we grew up with, stories that our parents and other family members told us. Most of these were everyday stories too, but some might have stood out in your mind: like stories of family trips or holidays or celebrations (births, weddings).
This weekend, I want you to collect a family story. But before you write up the story, you have to first talk to a family member about the story. Get them to describe the story from their point of view. This might be a story you’ve heard before, like a favorite family incident, or it might be a story you’ve never heard before. Especially good stories that you might not have heard include how your parents met or your sibling’s first jobs or first dates. If your grandparents are still alive, this is a great chance to get them to tell you a story, like how they fell in love or moved to America or bought their first home. Any family member will do for someone to interview, and that includes extended family members (cousins, aunts, even pets if you can get them to talk!).
Ask the person to describe the story with as much detail as possible. Get them to tell you things like what they might have been wearing, what the place where the story took place was like, what things they could smell at the time, and why the story mattered to them.
Then write a 1-2 page draft of your story. You might have to make up a few details to flesh out the person’s memory. That’s fine. Tell the story so that we feel like we are there with the person living the experience through their eyes. Do the best you can. We’ll revise these stories later.