How to Get Students to Write Their Story

[augusto pinto]

I am finding it difficult to get students to write their DST story. I tried Alito's prompt (I think) of 'The Day that Changed My Life'

They did start writing but the next class when I asked them for their story they typically just said that there was nothing that changed their life, or perhaps  they didn't want to share their story.

Does anyone have any some tips as to how to go about drawing their stories out?

Augusto

[Alito Siqueira]

I am not sure you got the context and the shastra behind it, When they said what they did I am inclined to think that latter interpretation is right. Why would all of them in one class as you seem to suggest not want to tell their story while some othe class would?
regards,
alito

[Shailaja Sardessai]

Hi Augusto

I feel you should do a little bit of Literature - make them read short stories related to an eventful day or period and ask them to visualize that as a movie.

Then gradually lead them on to their life story.  May be you can give a choice of themes like - The Funniest Day in my Life, or Scariest Day or the Day I enjoyed the Most etc even allowing fictional accounts. These are not cathartic but could be easier for starters.      

Best

Shailaja

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[kstadkod]

Hi all

I faced a similar issue when I first started out. And so perhaps it is a localized malaise restricted to our college. However, what I did was lay the collective onus on the students to come up with ONE story.

I started by asking one student to create the first sentence of a story. Each student was then asked to add his or her sentence to it, taking the story further. When the story reached the point of complication, I asked them to sleep over it and come with their OWN version of the climax and resolution to the story. Since I did the hand holding initially, they got the hang of the direction in which I wished them to go and how I required them to think [I think this is where most students get confused - they don't know how exactly they are expected to execute ] .

Over the weekend, I got some 30 different endings.. While one had a superhero and supervillain twins, another had two brothers falling in love and turning into ghosts to haunt the boyfriend of the girl they loved..

My students are working on the storyboard now, and some have quite a vivid imagination . Once they l earn get a hang the entire process of creating a story and movie [from story writing to moviemaker] , I shall give them a week or so to craft a story that will reflect their own take on life..

Let me know your feedback on this process. I hope this helps..  Please correct me if I am missing out on anything..

Regards
KT

[augusto pinto]

Dear Shailaja and Kedar

Thanks for that. It was very helpful.

BTW Kedar is my junior colleague in my colleague in my college but he never tells me anything. Bah! This younger generation!!... 

OK OK! Just joking Kedar. He was telling all this to me just this morning. Anyway thanks. Any other suggestions??

Augusto

[Shailaja Sardessai]

Dear Kedar

I don't think its "localized malaise".  I'm sure everyone has these issues except that Augusto and you are brave enough to admit it.

Yes you will need to do a lot of hand holding and get students into the "flow" of storytelling so to say.

I find students' thinking has become so "restricted"  that they find it hard to let go and think.

If I explain an algorithm having 10 lines and then give a similar exercise that needs 11 lines, students will ask if its OK to add that 11th line. :(

I don't know what to make of it...

So good luck to all of you!

[Sujata Noronha]

Good morning !

This thread interests and intrigues me and I have some wee bits of practice to share that may or may not be useful. 

That lays the context for this mail, so respected Professors, read if you will...

Story telling/ story writing or the act of storying cannot be accomplished in a few brief classes. We must agree that the craft of narratives is a field in itself and needs explicit instruction, shaping, motivation and experiences with story writing/ telling/ narratives etc

Sharing personal stories is personal. Can this be achieved in large classrooms ? Can we bring our students to reflect and express themselves in writing/ visuals easily ?

I think all of you have taken on such an enormous and yet wonderful exercise of discovery and frustration and the process must be documented so that in a few years you have a practical tried and tested approach for the diverse students you all work with. I say this because I think pedagogy must move beyond ' individuals'. It is wonderful to know that x can do what y cannot do in a class, but it is truly systemic when x and Y can do more or less the same and in educational practice I believe we can move there. 

With students in our Library program who do write and share stories on multiple levels ( experience, reflection , creative imagination, literary criticism and creative writing) the challenges exist on multiple fronts. I think we can use Kedar's word of 'malaise ' more broadly.. it is a systemic malaise. 

1. Students do not often have the free writing literacy skills to put ideas down on paper. 

2. Students do not feel free to express themselves visually and represent ideas due to systemic conditioning of good and weak representation

3. Students are engineered to perform for assessment ( referring to Shailaja' pertinent point) and therefore at an unconscious level do not know how to proceed

4. Relationships in classroom do not engender trust.. so how brave and strong I must be to tell 'my' story and take what comes from that. 

5. Students experience with narratives ( powerful personal narratives) is very, very limited. 

YET

Each and every one of us have multiple stories to tell. We need to figure out how we can unpack that.

 In our work I have found sensitive children who cannot talk about themselves do so powerfully through a metaphor or a motif. Recently one of my students used an 'ant' as his central character and we are getting somewhere. This idea of 'distancing' seems to work for some. 

Choosing a Non Fiction theme as the first base allows the writer to understand structure of texts/ story board as the content does not need  too much of manipulation and form can take precedence, while the student understands this. 

Reading/ listening/ talking about personal stories is a powerful way to create a sense of group and unlock some of the potential that might emerge if triggered.  

Augusto, if you can spare a day I would be honored to come to your class and read and share powerful personal narratives that are in Picture Books. These create store houses from which a writer can draw and if nothing else, these are good stories:-)

Telling your own stories seems to lay the bedrock for a shared experience which is essential in a group practice. If I want my students to trust me I need to trust them, so I start with myself. 

If you are reading this, you have been kind and generous with your time and me. Thank you .

One of the nicer animated personal narratives by my friend Nina Sabnani is here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6C9HWVsNd0

It is also timely for this month. 

Please let me know if I can support this aspect of your work in any way and if anyone would like to pop into Bookworm ( located in Taleigao) I am delighted to share the books with you. 

Warmly and have a good day,

Sujata

____________________________________________________________________

Address: C/17, 266, Santissmo Vaddo,

( Near St. Michael Church ), Taleigao. Goa - 403002

Tel: 9823222665

 

E-mail: ma...@bookwormgoa.in | Website: www.bookwormgoa.in

[Shailaja Sardessai]

Hello Sujata

Thanks for sharing your awesome insights into the challenges of story telling! 

I'm surely visiting you at Bookworm some time this week.

Regards

Shailaja

[Sujata Noronha]

Dear Alito and Shailaja

I look forward. An email letting me know the day and time will be best because I run around a lot and would not want to miss you !

Soon,

Sujata

____________________________________________________________________

Address: C/17, 266, Santissmo Vaddo,

( Near St. Michael Church ), Taleigao. Goa - 403002

Tel: 9823222665

 

E-mail: ma...@bookwormgoa.in | Website: www.bookwormgoa.in