Suggested topics for writing assignments

• The person in Conley's Honky that you most admire or find most interesting: concentrate on one main reason for your choice, and support it with examples and details.
• What Conley's wish to "adopt" a black sister reveals about interracial relationships among children 
• One main difference between Conley's life in the projects and the lives of the others who live there
• For other topics on Honky, see the online reader's guide prepared by Dr. Joanna Pierce.
• The culture (not your own) that you would most like to experience
• Your favorite family heirloom or prized possession
• Your favorite family tradition or event (such as a family reunion)
• Description of a process in which you have some special skill and experience
• A moment in your life when your realized that you were no better or no worse than someone else in a social or cultural sense.
• A moment in your life when you realized that you were distinct from a brother or sister or when you realized how close you and a brother or sister had become.
• The most satisfying way in which the members of your family demonstrate love for one another.
• A moment in your life when you realized that someone had been generous to you even though he or she could hardly afford to do so. The generosity could be with time or attention, not just money.
• A time in your life when you most regret not having told the truth.
• Someone who has inspired you or been particularly helpful to you.
• Someone for whom you have (perhaps unexpectedly) gained new respect or admiration.
• The one greatest difficulty you have had to overcome in your life.
• The clearest evidence to an observer that you are serious about some activity: a sport, playing a musical instrument, a job, etc.
• Your own experience of moving to a new town, community, or school. Focus on one incident or one response, etc.
• The best or worst job you have ever had.
• The importance of family support or the problems caused by lack of family support.
• One reason you like a particular sport
• One reason you prefer a particular athletic team
• One reason for a particular athletic victory or defeat (by your own team or another)
• One reason why you prefer a particular restaurant
• One reason why you enjoyed a recent (or your favorite) movie
• The most important quality in a prospective spouse
• The most important quality in a successful parent
• One reason why you prefer a particular vacation spot
• One reason why you like your hometown
• The best feature of Mars Hill College (or a particular class or program, etc.)
• One area of college life that most needs improvement
• What you most desire in in the perfect job or career
• One reason you have chosen a particular major or prospective career
• One cause of an accident in which you were involved
• One way a particular accident could have been avoided
• One reason why smoking should be banned in public places
• One reason why smoking should not be banned in public places
• One way in which your high school education prepared you for college
• One way in which your high school education did not prepare you for college
• One reason you enjoy a particular hobby or pastime
• The main difference between "country" and "bluegrass" music
• The main difference between "rap" and "hip hop" music
• One important lesson you have learned in a particular class
• What you most admire about a family member
• What you most admire about a celebrity or political or historical figure
• What you most liked about a recent job (or what you like about a current job)
• What you least liked about a recent job (or what you dislike about a current job)
• One reason why you like having a roommate
• One reason why you prefer commuting to college
• What is most remarkable about one of your pets or someone else's pet
• One reason why you prefer a particular kind of automobile or truck
• One reason why you prefer a particular brand of clothing
• One reason why you prefer a particular mobile phone service
• The most important reason why college students should have mobile phones
• One reason why you like a particular "reality" television program
• One reason why you do not like a particular "reality" television program
• The most desirable quality in prospective boss
• The most desirable quality in a coach
• One reason why children should participate in team sports
• One reason why children should participate in individual sports
• One reason why tattooing or piercing is popular among young people
• One reason why young people should consider joining the military
• Your most embarrassing moment
• Your proudest moment
• Your most memorable encounter with someone from a culture other than your own

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