Unit 3 Essay: Hermit Crabs and the Forbidden
Assignment Sheet and Calendar
For this assignment, you will explore a topic that you feel is “forbidden.” By compiling
a list of the topics/issues in your life that you have felt you are forbidden to speak
about, the things you could never write about, you will begin to consider the topics that
you have previously avoided thinking about.
After you have selected one topic, you will want to consider questions such as:
 Why is this topic/issue forbidden to you?
 What makes it a forbidden topic/topic?
 Who/what does this topic/issue involve?
 Who/what is affected by this topic/issue?
Once you have collected your thoughts through short writing activities, you will then
begin to write about your topic/issue in a hermit crab form.
Often, when we write about issues we don’t want to discuss outright, we find ways
around approaching them directly (such as Seaton’s “How to Work a Locker Room”).
This tactic is absolutely acceptable and can produce fantastic work, but sometimes it is
also more effective to approach the topic head-on. Before you begin writing, think
about how you want to approach this topic and why it is the best topic for you to
discuss with your audience.
Guidelines:
 Minimum Word Count: 750-1,000
 Audience: classmates and professor who are unfamiliar with your chosen topic
Unit Grade Breakdown:
 Free Writing:
 Blog:
 Reading Responses:
 Peer Review 1/Rough Draft:
 Peer Review 2/Rough Draft:
 Final Paper:
5%
15%
10%
10%
10%
50%
1
S
Week 12
27-Oct
Blog:
List the ideas you think are off limits for you to write about. Come
up with at least 4. Briefly explain why each of these ideas are
“forbidden” topics for you. [This will be done in class on Oct. 28]
M
28-Oct
Read:
Chapter 9; Duncan, "The Mickey Mantle Koan" (BB); Winterson,
"The Semiotics of Sex" (BB)
Reading Response
Write:
T
29-Oct
Blog:
Write about a time you were uncomfortable being around
someone. What caused this situation to happen, and what could
have been done to avoid it or make it less uncomfortable? (All blog
entries are due by 11:59 PM and comments on group member’s blogs are
due within 48 hours of that deadline.)
W
30-Oct
Read:
Chapter 9; Duncan, "The Mickey Mantle Koan" (BB); Winterson,
"The Semiotics of Sex" (BB)
Reading Response
Write:
S
Week 13
3-Nov
Blog:
Using the previous entry as a starting point: write about how that
person viewed you. What are the differences between the two
points of view and why? (All blog entries are due by 11:59 PM and
comments on group member’s blogs are due within 48 hours of that
deadline.)
M
4-Nov
Read:
Chapter 12; Atwood, "Nine Beginnings" (BB); Hampl, "Memory
and Imagination" (BB)
Reading Response
Write:
T
5-Nov
Blog:
“Write (an entry) in the form of a how-to guide using the secondperson voice. You can turn anything into a how-to” (125). (All blog
entries are due by 11:59 PM and comments on group member’s blogs are
due within 48 hours of that deadline.)
W
6-Nov
Read:
Chapter 12; Atwood, "Nine Beginnings" (BB); Hampl, "Memory
and Imagination" (BB)
Reading Response
Write:
1
S
Week 14
10-Nov
Blog:
M
11-Nov
Read:
What are your biggest fears? Write about how these came into
being and how these reflect on who you are. (All blog entries are
due by 11:59 PM and comments on group member’s blogs are due within
48 hours of that deadline.)
Chapter 5; Weschler, "An L.A. High School Youth: Robert Irwin"
(BB); Rekdal, "The Night My Mother Met Bruce Lee" (BB)
Write:
Reading Response
T
12-Nov
Blog:
Post a music video from Youtube and write about what you think
about it while you are watching it. (All blog entries are due by 11:59
PM and comments on group member’s blogs are due within 48 hours of
that deadline.)
W
13-Nov
Read:
Chapter 6; Sin Far, "Leaves From The Mental Portfolio Of An
Eurasian" (BB)
Reading Response
Write:
S
Week 15
17-Nov
Blog:
Write:
Write about your field of expertise. What do you do better than
most people?
Answers to Peer Review Questions
(All work is due by 11:59 PM and comments on group member’s blogs
are due within 48 hours of that deadline.)
M
18-Nov
In Class:
Peer Review
T
19-Nov
Blog:
Write an advice note you yourself five years ago. (All blog entries
are due by 11:59 PM and comments on group member’s blogs are due
within 48 hours of that deadline.)
W
20-Nov
Read:
Write:
Chapter 7; Seaton, "How to Work a Locker Room" (BB)
Reading Response
S
Week 16
24-Nov
Blog:
Who makes a better leader: someone who is loved, or someone
who is feared? Take a position and explain your answer. (All blog
entries are due by 11:59 PM and comments on group member’s blogs are
due within 48 hours of that deadline.)
M
25-Nov
Student Holiday/No Class
2
T
26-Nov
Blog:
W
27-Nov
S
Week 17
1-Dec
Blog:
End of the semester blog entry. See Connect for directions. (All blog
entries are due by 11:59 PM and comments on group member’s blogs are
due within 48 hours of that deadline.)
M
2-Dec
Write:
Unit 3 Final Draft
Due by 11:59 PM.
Write a note to yourself five years in the future asking for advice
about what decisions you should make. (All blog entries are due by
11:59 PM and comments on group member’s blogs are due within 48
hours of that deadline.)
Student Holiday/No Class
3