Name: _____________

Now, Who are You?

Our name is more than simply a series of letters. They’re more than
dictionary definitions. Our names contain our families, pasts, feelings,
memories, and our dreams. Understanding our name can help us
understand ourselves.
In a personal essay, explore your name. Include facts, personal
experiences, fanciful explorations of your name, and an analysis of how
your name has affected you.
Here are some things to think about regarding your name. It helps if
you look at your name as its own identity. What does it sound like? How
does it make you feel? If it were a color, what color would it be? Why? Use
your imagination.
Make sure to hook your reader at the start. Say something bold or
unexpected or shockingly simple. Let your ideas flow by structuring your
sentences and paragraphs/lines, looping your progress as you bring in
repetitive themes/ideas. Explore your name’s history, link it to other people,
then bring your paper full circle—end with your own self-reflection.

Check your spelling, punctuation, and usage to make your work as error-
free as possible.

The best papers will move beyond a factual and/or personal

exploration of names to a fanciful and imaginative analysis of the
relationship between the author’s name and identity. They will engage the
reader with lively writing that employs figurative language.

Rough Draft Due:

Final Draft Due:
[Block of prose describing the history of your name. Why were you named your name?
Who chose your name? Does anyone else in your family have the same name? Do you
know any celebrities, famous people, important figures, or anyone else relevant that
shares your name with you?]

[Include your 3 epigrams]

[Epigram 1] (a brief, clever, and usually memorable statement; an inscription)

[Epigram 2]
[Epigram 3]

[Block of prose describing your opinion of your name. Describe how your name sounds.
Describe what it looks like. Think of it as its own object—your name not as your name,
but just as a name. Is it a long, skinny name? Is it fluid or cacophonous? Does it scare
you or make you happy? Be creative here.]

[Include 3 “(your name), who...” lines]

(Your name) who:
(Your name) who:
(Your name) who:

[End with your feelings about your name. Does it fit you? Is your name actually
descriptive of who you are as a person? Does your personality fit the shape of your
name? Are you happy about your name?]

*This is a rough outline. You do not need to answer all the questions. You do not even
have to follow the format (if you have a better format in mind). But, this should help
guide you to creative reflection and expression of your name.