Preface
With the Common Core State Standards in mind, I developed a project for 11th grade English students, in which the culminating project is a cultural vignette specific to each individual. I wish for students to gain not only a better understanding of interesting and useful writing tricks and tips, (i.e. the brush strokes, writing with intent, understanding personal writing, etcetera), but also to consequently gain a better understanding of their importance in telling their story. I would like for students, through this project, to become comfortable explaining their background with others, and working with their peers to strengthen the writing talents of classroom participants as a whole. Richard Mayer explains that teachers can aid in cognitive processes of students by the way they lay out their assignments, so, considerately, I tried to give room for students to think and rethink their ideas in every aspect of this project. I wanted to allow students to "write in abundance" per Donald Murray, in hopes that imagination and creativity will take- hold and sweep students into a writing world of wonder from which they cannot escape.