Name Mosaic Planning Worksheet
Craft & Prewriting Studio
The Architecture of My Name
Name:
Date:
Class Period:
“In English my name means hope. In Spanish it means too many letters. It means sadness, it means waiting. It is like the number nine. A muddy color. It is the Mexican records my father plays on Sunday mornings...” — Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street
1
Sensory Synesthesia: Mapping Your Name
Connect your name to concrete sensory experiences
Color & Hue (e.g., tarnished copper)
Sound & Rhythm (e.g., cello hum, sudden spark)
Texture & Substance (e.g., sanded pine, rough burlap)
Weather / Element / Number (e.g., autumn frost, nine)
2
Origins, Stories & Spoken Weight
Literal heritage vs. how your name lives
Literal Meaning & Origin Story
Who chose it? What does it translate to, or what family legacy does it hold?
Pronunciation & Emotional Weight
How does it feel on your tongue vs. when mispronounced by strangers?
3
Intentional Diction Bank (Word Harvest)
Curate strong words with distinct emotional tone
Atmospheric Adjectives e.g., jagged, muffled, sovereign
Kinetic Verbs e.g., unspools, rattles, anchors
Symbolic Nouns e.g., velvet, anvil, riverbed
4
Narrative Vignette Blueprint (2–3 Paragraphs)
Outline your focus for each section
¶ 1
Sensory First Impression (Literal & figurative meaning, color, sound, texture):
¶ 2
Heritage, Origin Story, or Spoken Reality (Who chose it, pronunciation, family roots):
¶ 3
Reclaiming, Renaming, or Future Horizon (An alternate name, nickname, or your legacy):
Cisneros Craft Note: Avoid generic adjectives like "nice" or "pretty." Seek unexpected, sensory nouns and metaphors!
Step 1 of 2: Prewriting
Name Mosaic Narrative Worksheet
Creative Writing Studio
My Name: A Personal Vignette
Name:
Date:
Class Period:
Writing Prompt
Draft a 2–3 paragraph creative narrative capturing the significance, rhythm, color, and story of your name. Like Sandra Cisneros in "My Name," weave together literal history, sensory synesthesia, and figurative language (metaphors, similes, personification) using deliberate, impactful diction.
Craft Goals:
2–3 Distinct ¶s 3+ Figurative Devices Sensory Imagery (Sight/Sound) Intentional Diction
Vignette Title:
Author's Craft Spotlight (Self-Reflection)
1. Diction Spotlight:
Quote 2 intentional words you selected and explain why they fit your mood:
2. Figurative Language Spotlight:
Quote your strongest metaphor, simile, or sensory image from your writing:
