Response Paper #1

Due: Wednesday, January 16

1. Read “Skid Road: An Informal Portrait of Seattle” by Murray Morgan in Reading Seattle (pages 65-72). As you read, take notes in the margin, note questions, underline ideas of interest, and look up unfamiliar words and references.

2. Jot down notes in response to the following questions (and be ready to discuss them in class):
· What elements of Seattle’s geography and history does Murray Morgan emphasize?
· Morgan describes businessmen in downtown Seattle—in a landscape that had formerly been full of Douglas fir and Western Red Cedar trees—gazing west upon the forests on the Olympic Peninsula. Does this description seem to fit? Why or why not?
· What is the origin of the name for Alki Point?
· What are the names of the ships that Morgan mentions? What makes these ships famous?
· What is Skid Road, and how is it important to Seattle’s history?

3. Consider the portrait of Seattle that Murray Morgan paints. How does it relate to your own experience of the city?

4. Imagine that you are writing a letter to a friend who has never been to Seattle before. How would you describe the city as you have experienced it?

5. Brainstorm a list of the people, landmarks, geographical elements, weather, activities, and events that reflect your experience of Seattle. Be as specific as possible. Include relevant street names, bus routes, restaurants, shops, friends, songs, sayings, sights, sounds, etc.

6. Freewrite your own portrait of Seattle. (Limit:15 minutes.)

7. Read what you’ve written and circle, underline, or otherwise mark the word choices you like, the images that are most compelling, the examples that are most vivid, etc.

8. Using your freewrite as the basis, write a brief (1 - 1½ pages) portrait of Seattle.

9. Read what you’ve written and evaluate:
· Does the portrait accurately depict your view of Seattle?
· Are your word choices strong? Are the images specific?
· Are your ideas clearly expressed?

10. Revise as needed.

11. Proofread your revised draft. (It may be helpful to exchange papers with a classmate.) Correct errors of spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

12. Save a copy of the paper on your computer, and print a copy to bring to class. (Your paper should be double-spaced, with one-inch margins. At the top of the page, please include your name, the date, “Seattle Arts Ecology,” and “Response Paper #1.”)