What child (or adult) has not
had trouble making up his or her mind?
Dr. Seuss in his posthumously published book What Pet Should I Get? delightfully captures this common dilemma in
trademark Seuss rhyme and illustrations. This picture book would be a perfect
read aloud and prompt for a personal narrative writing exercise.
· Can you describe a time when you had trouble making up
your mind?
· Did you ever end up with nothing because you couldn’t
choose just one thing?
· What factors made your decision difficult?
· Did you make your final decision alone or with the help
of someone else?
· How did you feel when you finally chose?
· Did you regret your decision later?
Students can brainstorm as a
class with the questions above before writing individual essays. Encourage
students to write about situations beyond choosing a pet. Make lists of all the
things people make decisions about on a daily basis. ie: clothes, food,
television shows. Discuss times when students have made a decision to
please someone else, like buying a gift or planning a party. Name important
decisions people make during their lives. ie: choosing a school, a house, a car, a job, a spouse. Decision
making is an integral part of our lives and something we do on a daily, even
hourly basis.
And trouble making up your
mind is an experience students from all backgrounds can relate to, making it a
slam dunk prompt for writing personal narratives.
Happy Writing!
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