Analysis and Write-Alike of a Story of Self
"Perfect Together" by Mira Jacob
Story of Self: "Perfect Together" by Mira Jacob
What is this? A chapter from Jacob’s graphic memoir, Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations (2018)
Text:
Part 1: Analysis
Read through the story of self above and then answer the questions below.
Example: If you’re having trouble, here’s an example of how to analyze a story of self:
Your turn:
- What aspect of selfhood is this writer focusing on?
- What are the moments or events they focus on in relation to that aspect of selfhood?
- What is the tone of this piece? Or, how does this writer feel about the aspect of selfhood they are writing about?
- What details and images do they use to communicate that tone/feeling?
- What are three words you would use to describe this writer, based on this piece of writing? What can you tell about their personality, values, or passions?
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SAMPLE
Part 2: Write-alike
A write-alike is an exercise in which you take inspiration from the format, structure, and themes of a piece of writing, but replace the original content with your own.
The Original: “Perfect Together” is a personal essay in graphic or comic-book format about the assumptions the author made about Black classmates.
Questions to think about for your Write-alike:
When have you caught yourself, or been caught by someone else, making a problematic assumption about someone you were close to? What happened, and how did you respond?
What’s a subconscious belief you didn’t know you had that you realized was wrong? How did you realize that you held this belief, and how did you respond to finding out?
Starters for your Write-alike:
You might start by imitating Jacob’s depiction of the gap between what she knew about J (the person she made a problematic assumption about) and “Things [She] Had Heard about Young Black Men.”
You could begin by making two lists: “Things I Actually Knew about ____________” and “Things I Had Heard about _____________.” Replace the blanks with the topic, person or group of people, or idea you are focusing on.
Then continue your visual and written story in a comic-strip style. If you don’t usually express yourself through drawing, try it! It might bring up new ways of thinking about things and/or expressing them for you.
Your turn:
Set a timer for 15 minutes and go!
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