Dates: 14th – 18th June
Timings: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Ages: 8 -13
Fee: $150 per participant, for the 5-day program

Program Overview

In this 5-day writing workshop, participants will learn to leverage the power of story to create positive change in their communities. By learning to encourage the critical thought of readers, participants will learn to tackle social and environmental issues through narrative and persuasive writing techniques.

Participants will learn how to:

• Write stories, articles, and letters that inspire readers to take action
• Engage readers through the power of story
• Use narrative and persuasive writing in fiction and nonfiction pieces

Program Goals

• Participants understand how to write a story based on a narrative story arch
• Participants understand what is and how to practise narrative writing
• Participants understand what is and how to practice persuasive writing 
• Participants understand how to utilize their writing skills to inspire action
• Participants gain confidence in sharing their writing with others

Objectives

• Participants receive external perspective on where they can improve their writing
• Participants explore how to inspire action through storytelling
• Participants explore how the news we read shapes our opinions

Logistics

Workshop inclusions:

• Five hours of facilitated activities, group sharing, and writing exercises
• Workbook and writing resources to support participants in enhancing their writing skills
• Personal facilitator feedback

Program Overview

In this 5-day writing workshop, participants will learn to leverage the power of story to create positive change in their communities. By learning to encourage the critical thought of readers, participants will learn to tackle social and environmental issues through narrative and persuasive writing techniques.

Program Details

Day One: The Power of Story and Narrative Writing (1 hour)

• Introduction and review of group guidelines (10 minutes)
• Defining “story” (10 minutes)
• Analyzing the science of stories (30 minutes)
• Participants fill in a story outline using a narrative story arc (10 minutes)

Assignment (overnight): Participants write their fictional story based on the story outline (up to 1000 words) and submit on day two.

Day Two: Non-Fiction Narrative Writing (1 hour)

• Reflections and sharing (20 minutes)
• Defining non-fiction (10 minutes)
• Analyzing biographical and non-fiction pieces about young changemakers (25 minutes) 
• Introduction to day two writing activity (5 minutes)

Assignment (overnight): Participants write a nonfiction story (up to 1000 words) about themselves doing something good in their community, or someone who they admire that has made a positive impact on a local or global scale.

Participants receive feedback on their day one stories.

Day 3: Persuasive Writing (1 hour)

• Reflections and sharing (20 minutes)
• Introduction to persuasive writing (15 minutes)
• Analysing persuasive articles (20 minutes)
• Introduction to day three activity (5 minutes)

Assignment (overnight): 

• Participants compare narrative and persuasive writing
• Participants choose a social or environmental justice issue that is important to them. They are asked to research how the issue is being addressed at a local, state, and national level. After completing their research, they are to come up with a list of three new opportunities to address the issue. Participants are inspired to think out of the box and dive into how their community can come together to address a specific issue, regardless of barriers.

Participants receive feedback on their day two stories.

Day 4: Letters for Change (1 hour)

• Reflections and sharing (15 minutes)
• How to practice persuasive writing (15 minutes)
• Analyzing 2 effective and 2 non-effective persuasive pieces (15 minutes)
• Introduction to day four activity (5 minutes)
• Participants work with facilitator to outline their persuasive letter (10 minutes)

Assignment (overnight): Using the research and assignment components from day three, participants are asked to write a letter to their local representative or a local leader asking them to support them in taking action.

Participants also receive feedback on their day two stories.

Day 5: Sharing (1 hour)

• Participants share their letter with the group (50 minutes)
• Workshop wrap-up (10 minutes)

After the workshop is completed, participants receive written and video feedback from the facilitator with an analysis of their writing throughout the workshop.

This workshop will be facilitated by Jazzmine Raine. 

Fill out the form below to book your place in this workshop.