Something to Say

After having experienced two class periods teaching both sections of my 110 classes I have given the memoir assignment. In order to stir my students' minds to consider what they may write about I am giving many example essays and we are reading some short stories which possess memoir-like qualities. According to Young's article in 1978, the crisis in composition classrooms is that students have nothing to write about. Thus, my hope is that by giving them examples their own thoughts will be triggered to consider what they may write about.
However, I also take up issue with the idea that students have nothing to write about. Yet, I take a different position than Hairston, who, of course, also disagrees. Of course there are composition teachers who are not well-trained. But, in regards to a memoir I do not think that a person needs a Ph.D. professor in order to learn how to write about his or her own experiences. In fact, although I am providing ample readings and examples as food for thought I really do not believe that students need to see others work in order to have something to say.
Students simply need to realize that their own experiences are valid and worthwhile. I am trying to stress to my students that they have unique experiences worth writing about, even if they are not life-altering experiences. I am trying to empower my students to believe in themselves rather than relying on prompts or a phenomenal professor in order to have something to write about.