Phil Druker/Department of English/ University of Idaho

TRAVEL WRITING.

ASSIGNMENT 1: Guidebook description of a place.

Goal:
To give us a warm-up and to write a short guidebook description of a place in Moscow. Take us somewhere by writing a very short (400-700 word) description of a place for someone who has never been to the place but may (or may not) want to go there after reading your description. 

Ideas: bars, cafes, coffeehouses, places to meet, second-hand stores, Moscow Food Coop, Bookpeople, high-end restaurants (Nectar, Red Door, West of Paris), mid-range restaurants (Sangria, Tai restaurant in Moscow Hotel, Chinese restaurants, Mexican restaurants, ….), climbing wall, ….

The Assignment:

To make your description work, consider these points:

a.       Make your description purposeful/informative.

--develop a straightforward, informative tone

--focus on an angle

--react to the place (a little)

b.  Provide details.

·         Opening, closing times; phone number; address; general costs

c.  Use the senses (as appropriate)*

d.  Consider point of view.

f.  Consider organization:

--space

--topic

--time (chronology) *

--personal perspective (don’t use much of this) *

2.      Hints:

a.       Consider your audience.

b.      Your description needs to have a clear purpose, so do not merely describe for the sake of describing.   In other works, you need to make a point.  

c.       Avoid sanitizing, sentimentalizing, or exaggerating.

d.      Use metaphor and imagery very sparingly.

e.       Avoid clichés.

f.       Remember to SHOW rather than Tell.

g. Give facts.

h.  Do not write advertising copy.

* Limit this. Make this a guidebook description, not an essay

Due dates:

Query: 1/29
Rough draft for workshop (bring 4 copies): 2/3
Workshop: 2/5
Final draft: 2/7

Assignment 1 Criteria:

Content:

Useful information/purpose clear
Clear details
Accurate details
Appropriate use of sensory details
Showing (not telling)
Avoid sanitizing, sentimentalizing, advertizing copy…
 

Organization

Space, topic, (maybe time)
Paragraphs work

Sentence Style

Clear
Concise
Correct
Correct punctuation