J. Peterman Writing Assignment

Picnic.
Hazy summer winds.
Tender grass under bare feet. Lemonade. Outdoor Jazz. Gazebo.
Abandon your desk.
Discard all electronic communication.
You’re a daydreamer once more. 

No, this is not a poem... it's a snippet from the J. Peterman catalog advertising the Sensational Dress (No. 3592).  Well, I do have to say it is poetic and that's why I'm sharing this awesome activity.  For those of you that loved watching Seinfeld,  you probably already know that J. Peterman (portrayed by actor John O'Hurly) was an actual person and was the actual creator of a real clothing line—J. Peterman.  His eloquent writing creates mental images of distant countries and romantic getaways... and oh, yea—he sells clothes!

The J. Peterman writing activity is a fun way to encourage students to practice writing with tone,  precise word choice, and imagery.  Here's how to get started.

1.  Have students bring in a favorite article of clothing or attire: hat, sweater, necklace, purse, Star Wars backpack, etc.

2.  Ask students, "Could you sell what you wear?"

3.  Show the You Tube video from Seinfeld when Elaine meets J. Peterman for the first time. (optional)

4.  Show students some examples from the J. Peterman catalog and explain that they will practice modeling their own writing based on the selected catalog descriptions.  Opener: What’s so good about this [fill in the blank]  is what it is not. 

Actual catalog description:
What’s so good about this shirt is what it is not.
It’s not this week’s fashion statement.
It’s the real thing: the actual cotton workshirt actually worn by the actual mountain people of Otavalo, Ecuador. For about the past four centuries.
The tiny wrinkles and creases in the fabric guarantee that you will look neither starched nor disheveled. You will look merely at ease.
You will also look just a tiny bit interesting; a little more so for every mile more distant from Otavalo you happen to find yourself.
(A dozen pleats on either side of the four-button front placket, gathers at the back yoke and cuffs. Faintly swashbuckling.)
Men will look broad-shouldered, brave, and secretly kind. Their female friends will encourage them to go without shaving for a few days.
Women will look narrow-waisted, innocent (but with a hint of wildness) when wearing it with trousers. Worn with a soft skirt and a wide belt? That’s another matter entirely. I don’t want to spoil the surprise.

 Actual catalog description:
Choose between two friends who won’t attend if the other one is invited.
Make boarding arrangements for Junior, your 200-pound Irish Wolfhound, so he won’t eat the smoked salmon tartine appetizer.
Whatever possessed you to have a dinner party for 25 of your closest friends in your house? Well, perhaps having the perfect outfit might give you the motivation to go through with it.

You can use other magazines or advertisements too.  Some more examples are LL Bean, Sears, and even the new MiO water ads.

MiO's Ad: Water's great and all, but sometimes it's like a yawn in a glass. Ready to change that? Squirt some MiO Energy in your drink, shake things up, and enjoy an amazing charge wherever you go. MiO Energy will ride in your pockets. It's ninja-fast and bacon-delicious. It might even inspire you to learn kung fu or experiment with time travel. Boom.

If you really want to get tech savvy, then have students "tweet" their descriptions with the hashtag (#JPeterman).  A great way to teach precise word choice in 140 characters or less. :)

Note: J. Peterman hard copy catalogs can be ordered via the website.  The J. Peterman catalog is best suited for secondary level students, grades 8 and up.   

Have fun!