Description
ISBN: 978-0-6488843-8-5 About Personal Journeys
This 80-page workbook evaluates the theme of personal journeys in relation to the four mentor texts. It covers biographical explorations of stories and perspectives (Chimamanda Ngozu Adichie, “The Danger of a Single Story”) who, like Maya Hodge (“bidngen:) challenge the damaging nature of stereotypes that reduce individuals and their experiences and lifestyles to a “single story”. The nature of storytelling, and ownership, and appropriation are also key considerations of individuals who negotiate the depth of their experience.
Exploring personal and public milestones is critical to an individual’s re-evaluation of their journey and its significance (Amy Duong, “The Red Plastic Chair”) and as the metaphorical layers of meaning multiply, so too do the insights and epiphanies leading to reckonings with the past, regrets, shame, change and celebration (Matthew Lopez, “Walter’s speech end of Part 1 from The Inheritance”).
This workbook consists of five typical “student” pieces spanning a variety of text types: a personal reflective text; oral histories-monologue; a key note address at a rally; an opinion-style reflective article.
The sample reflective commentaries alternate between journal excerpts and a “supervised classroom” style.
In both scenarios, students must systematically evaluate the links between their piece and the mentor text. They must detail their literary journey including structure, and literary and linguistic features. In their respective commentary, students will explain: the choice of mode, audience and context; key language features, style, tone and register and their purpose.
A detailed categorisation of the features as well as checklists will help students craft both their piece and their commentary.
