Students will learn how the voices of the past changed our present, and how young voices can change the future. Students will explore the impacts of authors of the past by reading excerpts and essays from authors such as Maya Angelou, John Steinbeck, David Foster Wallace, and Margaret Atwood. During in-class exercises, students will also learn to write poetry, fiction, and essays. Class discussions will also look at how young activists have used literature, essays and blogs to focus needed attention on important causes. During the last week, students will put their in-class works together to create an anthology.
All times are in Pacific Time. There will be a one week break.
SYLLABUS:
Prerequisites: None
SYLLABUS:
Week 1: What Matters and Why?
Weeks 2-3: Poetry
Week 4: Poetry Writing
Weeks 5-8: Essays
Week 9: Essay and Memoir Writing
Weeks 10-11: Fiction
Week 12: Short Stories
Week 13: Fiction Writing
Week 14: Voices of Today’s Youth and Finding Your Voice
Week 15: Work on “Voices of Today,” Anthology
Assignments, required materials, and other relevant information
Teacher will supply the poetry, essays, short stories, and novel excerpts to students to read in class.
There will be three writing assignments: poetry, essay/memoir, and fiction if students need to be finishing the work that they began in class.
