Bertelsmann's Scholarship Writing Activities

To Win the Bertelsmann's Scholarship

About Bertelsmann Scholarship:The program annually honors 46 New York City students with $100,000 in scholarships for exhibiting excellence in literary and musical competition...

Check out who won the rewards in 1999.

First, you can get the ideas from the newspaper headlines, for example:

1. Anguish in Wash. HTS.

2. A+ Fake teacher makes grade with students

3. As he slowly goes blind, A detective Gains Insight

4. Woman, Dancing in the street Is Struck and Killed by a Car

5. Man Charged with Murder after Firing on the Crowd

Select one of the headlines for any reason, and put it down in the box. Answer the questions related to the character:

Headline

Imagine a character from this headline. It could be the star of the headline, some supporting character, a seemingly insignificant passerby, or you. Answer the following questions about this character--if you don't know, make it up. Write quickly and in as few words as possible. Go with your gut.

1. What does this character look like?
2. How old is he or she?
3. What does this character do or not do) for a living?
4. What does the character always have on them?
5. What is his/her favorite thing to do?
6. Where does this character live, and with whom?
7. What would this character do after learning he or she had six months to live?
8. What is this character most afraid of?
9. What is his or her favorite time of year?
10. What does this character really love?
11. What does he or she really hate?
12. What is this character's name?

Now choose one of the genres to respond to one of the headlines:

Essay

Drama(monologue, scene)

Poem

Story

Give a title you just wrote.

How My Heart Remembers

The following writing could be realistic or imaginative.

	Close your eyes. If I ask you to tell a story about a place, where would it be? (The place could be where you experienced happiness or sadness or any other reason).
	Can you narrow down the place to be a specific area, or even a house or room?
	Imagine in your mind to walk closer to the area or the place, can you describe the color that somehow left a deep impression on you, or any specific smell, image, sound , an object that brings out your memories?
	Walk closer to the object, what does it remind you of?
	What is the object? Describe it.
	What feelings are surging in your heart as you think of or touch the object in your mind?
	Do you smile or cry ?
	I s there anyone else involved in the scene? A friend, a family member, a teacher, an animal?
	Is there any conflict involved?
	What happened between you and the person(s)?
	What feelings are caused?
	How did the conflict develop?
	Who won? How?
	What was the result?
	In what way does the memory still affect you? Does it make you a stronger person or help you set up the goal for your life?

Activity 3

Step 1: Choose one of the subjects to put on top of the paper. Write freely about the subject for 7-8 minutes-write down any related thoughts that come to your mind.

Tree	Gun	River/Lake	Smile	Hand
Tombstone	Apartment	School Cafeteria	Subway	Museum
Highway	Tears	Scar	Classroom	eyes

Step 2: Remember to Describe not to Tell.

	Read over your writing and choose one striking image or idea or feeling to be the focus.
	Choose a genre (personal essay, story, poem, one act play, etc.)
	Choose a voice.
	Describe and develop the idea, the feeling or the image.

Step 3: Give the writing a title.

Activity 4

Step 1