Keep a diary of your dreams for two weeks, then write an essay exploring some of the common elements of the dreams. What, if anything, does this tell you about your waking life?

Both Margaret and Mary are visited by men who bring them news about their husbands' fate. What if they learned this news in another way? Put yourself in 1730 and write a story for the local newspaper conveying the information the women learn about their husbands. Feel free to embellish where appropriate.

Imagine how your friends and family would respond if they learned that you had died. Write a description of the scene. Is this different than how you would like them to respond?

Research the average life expectancy of early eighteenth-century Americans. At what age did they marry? What was the most common cause of death for men? For...