Writing to Make an Impact: Expanding the Vision of Writing in the Secondary Classroom

Through ideas and practices straight from the classrooms of outstanding teachers, this lively resource illustrates writing that makes an impact on a reader, a writer, or a cause—writing that everyone wants to read. The book is rich with student work that shows how writing can make things happen in the world. The authors provide ready-to-use lessons that include a full range of writing, including poetry, narrative, petitions, proposals, emails, self-reflections, long-term projects, and critical analyses. Book Features: Incorporates the voices and practices of many talented writing teachers. Employs an upbeat style with a clear, easy-to-follow framework. Encourages writing that changes minds, tells stories, calls for action, creates awareness or empathy, touches emotions, or promotes new thinking. Provides accessible teaching ideas, short exercises, and student models. Builds on students’ experiences with social media and their interest in social issues.

Table of Contents:
Contents (Tentative) Acknowledgments xi 1. Writing to Make an Impact 1 Writing That Matters 2 Writing That Goes Places 3 Impact in the Here and Now  4 Writing in the “Real World” 6 Expanding the Vision of Writing in School 7 Classroom Closeups 8 Teaching Playbook 10 Student Writing 11 2. Getting Your Mojo 12 About This Chapter: Building Confidence and Know-How for Writing That Makes an Impact 12 Mojo Builder #1: Understanding the Context for Writing 12 Classroom Closeup: Helping Writers Connect with Context 13 Student Writing 15 Mojo Builder #2: Helping Writers Come Up With Content 16 Classroom Closeup: Building and Shaping Content 17 Teaching Playbook 24 3. Writing Your Narrative 29 About This Chapter: Doing Justice to Narrative 30 Classroom Closeup: Letting Stories Do the Work 31 Classroom Closeup: Making Narrative Sing 34 Teaching Playbook 42 4. Writing for Poetic Effect 47 About This Chapter: What Comes from Writing Poems 48 Classroom Closeup: Language and Identity 49 Poetry and Narrative 51 Poetry or Prose or What? 53 The Takeaways 54 Teaching Playbook 55 5. Writing to Take Action 60 About This Chapter: Educating for Democracy with Civic Engagement 62 Classroom Closeup: Teaching Students How to Take Action 63 The Role of an Advocate 63 Teaching Civic Engagement Tactics 64 Putting Civic Engagement Projects in Perspective 68 Student Reflections 69 Highs and Lows of Civic Engagement Projects 70 Motivating Students to Take Action 73 Teaching Playbook 76 6. Writing to Figure Things Out 81 About This Chapter: Reflective Writing to Enhance Learning 82 Classroom Closeup: Making Economics Personally Meaningful  83 Figuring Things Out Through Writing in the Disciplines 87 Classroom Closeup: Using Reflections to Stop and Take Stock  89 Teaching Playbook  92 7. Writing to Think Critically 95 About This Chapter: Capitalizing on Curiosity 95 Classroom Closeup: The Proteus Project 97 Classroom Closeup: “I Wish I’d Been There” 109 Writing History 114 Teaching Playbook 117 8. Conclusion 126 Expanding Writing Tasks and Experiences 127 Getting Started 129 Play the Name Game 131 Last but Not Least  References 133 Index 139 About the Authors