Kate Boyes, "Signed, Grateful"

Prewriting

For 5 minutes, write on one or more of the following:

1.) Boyes started college for the health insurance. But what else did she get out of college?

2.) How does Boyes change throughout the essay? Map the stages of her progress.

3.) How does Boyes's professor play a role in her progress? Describe the specific effects the professor has on her.

4.) How does the professor's teaching style transform as her student (Boyes) transforms? Map the stages of the professor's progress.

5.) Describe this professor's "teaching methods." What other "teaching methods" can you think of, based on your experiences in college? What "teaching methods" do you prefer? What "teaching methods" do you dislike?

6.) Does this essay present a "too-good-to-be-true" situation? Is it really possible for a professor to have this kind of an effect on her/his students? In what kinds of classes is this most likely to happen: General education or liberal arts classes? Classes for a specific major or minor or program? Required classes? Elective classes? Larger classes? Smaller classes? Academic classes? Technical classes? Other?

7.) Has this situation happened to you yet (since graduating from high school)? If so, who, what, where, when, why, and how? Give whatever details you can remember. If not, why not? (What is it about the classes and professors you've had so far that have not led to this situation?)