In my Teaching Creative Writing course, a senior seminar, we spend the first few weeks talking and reading about the history of higher education and the history of writing and creative writing with that landscape. It’s a lot of history, a lot of names, dates and places to remember so before we move on, I have them get into groups to create a poster that provides a visual representation of that history. I borrowed the idea from a grad school teacher of mine (thank you, Dr. Ann Dobie) and find that the mental leaps required to put something in visual form really helps cement that learning.
It is also great fun to see what they come up with. They are incredibly creative. In years past, I’ve had creative writing history portrayed as the “evolution of man,” as the solar system, you name it. I’m sharing with you some of my favorites from this year. First, the Creative Writing History World Tour T-Shirt:
Next, some of the text from the “comic book history of Creative Writing in Education.”
I’d say they get it, wouldn’t you?
Coming soon, a look inside a grant review session and San Francisco sunsets.
Bye y’all.
SV
What interesting ideas they came up with. I am not a writer, but have always loved my English, short stories, Literature and Writing classes! My two sons are very gifted at writing. Thanks for sharing your students’ perspectives…..Cindi
No wonder your sons are gifted at writing, clearly their mother loves words. Keep encouraging them!
SV
What interesting ideas! They surely beat the cruddy little poster I made when I took that class.
Grant writing is tough stuff. I’m working with the creative writing mag here on an NEA grant and I think I’d rather have a root canal. But, once it’s done, I can add to my vita that I’m familiar with grant writing, and I bet that will look really good down the road somewhere.