Have you ever imagined yourself in another historical era-a time and place in history other than now? When and where would that be? Given who you are, how would you handle, for example, being a victim of the Holocaust, or a citizen of Shakespearean England? How about pre-colonized Africa, Asia or America before the coming of Columbus? What if you had lived among the Ancients-the days of Greek mythology, the Roman Empire, or the Old Testament? Could you imagine living in the Stone Age?
Tell a truthful story about yourself, placing yourself in another historical setting. Create a picture of the time you are writing about. (This is your setting). Include details about the social climate, the fashions, the music, the literature, the technology, the vernacular, anything you can think of. (This will give your story a sense of realism). Try not to write a dry description of the period. Focus your essay by telling a story in one of the following possible ways: write about a typical day; relate a particular incident; or, link your story to a real historical event. Most important, make yourself a part of the setting, and give your story a realistic portrayal of the historical time in which it takes place.
Write the first draft in class. Then we will work in groups and as a class to evaluate for further revisions. You will have to do some research for historical authenticity.
Narrative Perspective: Feel free to write from either 1st person perspective or 3rd, but be consistent
Tense Agreement: Most stories are told in the past tense. Decide which tense you wish to use, and stick to it - do NOT arbitrarily switch from past to present!