Unit 4: Infusing the Self—Blurring Art and Identity
Unit 4: Infusing the Self—Blurring Art and Identity
Every piece of writing is autobiographical, whether the writer realizes it or not. This unit challenges students to own their perspective, finding ways to let themselves bleed onto the page. Using Jamaica Kincaid’s Girl as a model, we experiment with fragmented storytelling, second-person narratives, and spoken word. We give presentations on random topics, write rants disguised as poetry, and explore how much of the self can fit into a single paragraph.
How does writing help us explore and express who we are?
What makes a piece of writing feel authentic and personal?
How can we use creative storytelling to share our experiences, emotions, and perspectives in a meaningful way?
What role does memory, place, and culture play in shaping our creative voice?
How can we balance individual expression with audience engagement—telling a deeply personal story while making it resonate with others?
How do we push past cliché and surface-level storytelling to find deeper, more personal truths in our writing?
What makes an artist’s work distinctly theirs, and how do we cultivate a sense of creative individuation?
Students will develop a writing style that feels personal, intentional, and distinctly their own.
Students will explore how their experiences, values, and emotions shape their creative work.
Students will reflect on what makes their storytelling unique and develop an awareness of their artistic identity.
Students will experiment with different forms, tones, and structures to best capture their individual voice.
Students will practice immersion techniques—using sensory details, pacing, and tone to create emotional impact.
Students will refine their ability to write with clarity, authenticity, and intention, avoiding cliché and surface-level writing.
Students will explore how to tell deeply personal stories while making them engaging and relatable to others.
Students will consider how form and genre shape self-expression and experiment with different approaches to storytelling.
Students will practice revision and reflection, considering how their creative work communicates meaning to an audience.
Students will develop a sense of freedom and confidence in creative risk-taking through self-directed prompts and assignments.
Students will explore different perspectives of self-expression—whether through poetry, narrative, or hybrid forms.
Students will reflect on how their writing changes over time and what that reveals about their growth as artists.