Why This Class

As a parent, it’s exciting to see your student discover who they are and communicate with the world in more mature and meaningful ways. This course helps your student further explore who they are, what they value, and find their voice as a person and writer.

Students in this course read classic stories and write a personal narrative about the experiences that have shaped them into who they are today. They read feature articles to learn the techniques of informative writing. Students also interview and study their family members or ancestors, then compose their own feature articles to highlight meaningful aspects of their relatives’ lives. Finally, students shift their focus to the world at large, reading literature that inspires critical thinking about today’s society.

By the end of this course, students have a writing portfolio that demonstrates their growth throughout the semester. They can successfully form arguments in response to current events and write persuasive essays about the society in which they live.

Overarching Questions

What life experiences have shaped me?

Who do I come from?

What are my family values and narratives?

What is my role in society?

What does my community value?