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My P.O.V: Nothing But The Truth
A Study of Narrative Non-Fiction

College Essay
This I Believe
calendar
Color of Water
Scrapbook
 

One of my favorite authors, David Sedaris, once said, ""If I sit at my computer, determined to write a New Yorker story I won’t get beyond the first sentence. It’s better to put no pressure on it.”  Pressure.  That’s a word most people equate with 11th grade.  One of the pressures is writing a college essay, your chance to express who you are in a short piece. This may feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. The college essay is nothing more than a really well crafted piece of narrative non-fiction.  So, what is narrative non-fiction, anyway?

The genre we are studying goes by many names: Narrative Non Fiction, Creative Non Fiction, Literary Non-Fiction.  Whatever we name it, good writers use the qualities of good writing no matter the genre. Narrative non-fiction (the name we will use!) writers use the tools of what is traditionally called creative writing to tell true stories.  By using the tools of creative writing, these writers are able to pull us in to their world.  

For the next month or so, we will embark upon a new study of this genre.  More specifically, we are looking at personal, auto-biographical stories. Writing about yourself creatively can feel like quite a challenge. So, why reinvent the wheel? Good writers always look to those who have come before them for inspiration.  By first studying narrative non-fiction, we will come to our own decisions about what makes "good" narrative non-fiction. Then we will use these qualities in our own writing. 

Throughout this unit you will read and you will write, write, write...this is a chance to dig in and consider your personal philosophies, a chance to remember the indelible moments of your life, a chance to make sense of the moments that define who you are.

A (very brief) Overview

The Beginning: A study of narrative non-fiction and reading The Color of Water by James McBride

The Middle: Brainstorming and writing our stories, including a new "This I Believe", finishing The Color of Water.

The End: (Mid-May) Polishing our College Essays

Outcomes you will "see" at least once: Create, Discern, Communicate, Collaborate, Be Precise, Argue, Plan, Innovate

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  • Home
  • Students
    • My POV: Narrative Non Fiction and The College Essay >
      • Studying the genre: College Essay Ingredients and Models
      • Brainstorming College Essays
      • Drafting College Essays
      • Revising and Editing College Essays
      • Common App Prompts
      • Rubrics: MY POV Writing
      • P.O.V: Mentor Text Annotation
      • The Color of Water Assignment
    • Classics Book Club Unit >
      • Night
      • Fahrenheit 451
      • The Adventures of Huck Finn
      • Survey and Summaries
      • Of Mice and Men
      • The Great Gatsby
      • Jane Eyre
      • 1984
      • Lord of the Flies
      • Invisible Man
    • 11th ELA >
      • Agenda 11th ELA
      • Bluest Eye 2017 ELA
      • Contemporary Fiction
      • Exploding the Canon >
        • Socratic Resources- Exploding the Canon
      • This I Believe Fall 2016
      • New SAT Prep
      • Goodreads Work
      • Six Word Memoir
      • Resumé Advice
    • Regents Prep- Common Core
    • AP Lang & Comp >
      • AP AGENDA
      • AP: Rhetorical Analysis Portfolio
      • AP Calendar
      • AP For All and Test Info
    • 11th Grade Writing Center >
      • 11th Grade Citation Guide
    • 6th Grade >
      • Humanities 6 Agenda
      • Humanities Calendar
    • TYWLS Portfolios
    • Jumprope
  • Teachers
    • Teachers
    • Intensives
    • Advisory Camp TYWLS
    • How-To Videos
    • Outcomes & mastery based grading
  • About
  • Archive
    • World Themes
    • Student Publications >
      • Student Publications Home
      • This I Believe Publications
      • 6 Word Memoir
      • 7th grade FLMS
    • Books!
    • Photography >
      • Photo stories and Artist Statements
      • Photos from 2012
      • Links to Photo Galleries
      • Editing and Publishing Advice
    • Assignment during intensives
    • Tumblr Portfolio 2013- 2014
    • 6th >
      • Move your Body- Beyonce!
      • The Grapes of Wrath
      • Zumba
    • April 10-11 & Spring Break Goodreads
    • College Prep
    • 12th Grade >
      • 12th Grade Home
      • CHRISTY film adaptation unit
      • XENIA and YANA 12th Grade
      • Senior Committee >
        • Senior Hoody Choice
      • Critical Theory- Lenses
      • 12th - Calendar
    • Contemporary Fiction Project