Xerox and enlarge one copy of the list below for each of your classes. Cut a set of individual words for each class, folding each word to conceal it and placing the words in a large can. Ask students to draw one word out of the can and reflect on a time when she or he experienced this emotion.

          To ensure that students find an emotion they can relate to, allow them to draw a second and a third time. Finally, have students write a short paper describing a situation in which they or someone they know (friend, relative, neighbor, or the students themselves) experienced this emotion. Be sure to have them zoom in on specific details that support the impression given by the word they drew.

          (These are a few words from a much longer list by Karen Hess (1987) in her book Enhancing Writing Through Imagery.)

           Once students have selected an emotion and recalled an incident, you might want to get them started by reading either Russell Baker's character sketch of his Uncle Harold in Chapter 10 of Growing Up or Jay Leno’s description of his father in the first chapter of Leading with My Chin. Both models capture humorous emotions and characterize with excellent specific examples.