Essay 1: Option 1z: Describe and evaluate workshops / draft exchanges.

Bryan McDonald

 . . . I aimed to find a method in which workshops could be oriented into a high school classroom. Yet I am still wary of the fact high schools are going to be less open criticism. But encouraging writing in young adults is critical. Perhaps workshops could remain anonymous. Teacher selection of a few student submissions, or even excerpts from each student could prove to be applicable methods. The pressures of high school may hinder a student’s willingness to have their work evaluated by the critical eyes of their peers, but being anonymous may inspire children to write without pressure.

            Another method in which the workshop style might be integrated would be through small groups before entering the large group discussions. A group of 4-5 students can look over an anonymous piece by another class member. Their discussion and notes could serve as a pseudo-discussion leader for the large groups.

            Moreover, it may be a good lead in exercise to have students critique a piece prior to doing any writing of their own. Such textual lessons as those conducted in our course can be entwined into the critic. Perhaps after being a critic themselves, students may prove to be more open and conscious of other opinions, and thus be just that much more successful in the creative writing process.

            I think that through careful planning workshops could be implemented successfully into the high school setting. Hopefully, students could benefit and develop from the interactions of a workshop. This method proved to be very successful in both teaching and practicing those very literary devices and suggestions that Minot had presented in our reading. Surely it could prove applicable in other various school settings. So often writing is limited to essays and summaries. But real writing, the kind that makes lasting impressions on young minds, is most often that which we covered in this course. It is writing that students can make connections with. Not merely essays on their current reading assignment, or a Shakespearean interpretation. Such writing as fiction and poetry should be encouraged. The creative process is difficult for many people but implementing workshops could be a vital tool in aiding this process, and writing more than just essays.