This part of the project focuses on point of view or perspective. When writers remember and record events, they speak from their own points of view. Your challenge will be to reconsider an event from another perspective. You will use your imagination to retell the story from a different point of view.
Choose ONE of the following two options:
a. Recreate one of the events Christopher Columbus records in “Letter of Discovery” from the perspective of one of the other explorers, or from the perspective of a Native American.
b. Recreate one of the events William Bradford records in “Of Plymouth Plantation” as one of the other Puritans or as one of the Native Americans.
First, you will select the reading, then the event, and, finally, the point of view. You will create your own account, writing as though you are the person. (Note who “you” are at the start of your description—make clear which work you are retelling.) As you create your description of the event, try to use vivid language—specific nouns, strong verbs, details, and words that appeal to the senses. Your answer for Part B should be about two pages (about 600 words).
As you prepare for this exercise, reread the work about which you are writing. Note events that you might like to write about. Once you have selected one, decide whose point of view you are going to write from and determine the exact part of the text you are going to cover. Before you begin writing, fully consider how this individual’s perspective differs from that of the author. How is your individual perspective affected by the events? Do not just copy the original story; be creative and retell it in a different version from your perspective.