Writing in response to diverse mentor texts

Writing assignment and project ideas:

• Use diverse mentor texts to act as a spring board for student writing projects.

• Project idea: ask students to create their own "utopia" in groups. What rules exist? When they share out, have students pose questions like, "who/what does that rule protect and which part of society are you leaving out?" and "Have we seen this idea play out in history? In novels? Did it succeed or fail?"

• Read the first chapter of In the Wake by Sharpe.

  • Write your own fiction/personal narrative and select one word that offers multiple definitions that fit your story.

    • • Example: Current events coupled with the course "How to Change the World" has given me the strength to push back against the more traditional books taught in my classroom. rise, verb: find the strength or ability to respond adequately to (a challenging situation).