Writing Mentorship

I. Briefly review the project form. Discuss the project theme, outline and time line; review the project and curriculum objectives.

Through this project, Grade 9 English students work with mentors who are professional journalists to create well thought-out and written texts. They learn how to communicate with a journalist by e-mail, develop an online working relationship, meet deadlines, and send stories and photos as attachments. Students learn the realities of the writing process, both because of what they must do to polish their writing, but also in discussions with their mentor about his/her writing techniques. Students learn about the responsibilities of publishing on the net, story ideas, appropriateness, and immediacy. Students learn the effect of layout on their article, to choose their words carefully for the desired effect and what pre-writing and draft writing techniques worked for them.

II. Show the audience the outcome of the project proposal.

The students researched and wrote stories and published them on the Writing Mentorship page.

Results and a tour of the project can be seen at: http://www.ijs.k12.nf.ca/~mentors/default.htm

III. Briefly comment on any successes or problems that were encountered throughout the life of the project.

The students learned a lot from their mentors about the practice of journalism and the development of writing skills. Some of the students say they now intend to pursue a career in journalism while others were pleased to get professional advice on their writing. In the past, students who've participated in the mentorship process have had their work published in other forums, including a Canadian textbook and the local daily newspaper. I anticipate that students from this group will get similar opportunities.

IV. Comment on any aspects of the project that you would do differently.

Next time, I would try to have students write more than one article with their mentors, but I believe one article was the limit for most mentors. Also, I would like the process to be more two-way. Perhaps the mentors would consider submitting their work to the students for their opinions!

V. Comment on if and how the project can be expanded next year.

Depending on the availability of the mentors, the project could be expanded to allow students to work with the journalists for a longer period of time. This would let them work on more than one story and further develop their writing skills.

VI. If you are presenting a project other than your own, provide brief anecdotes of the project leader's experiences.

In addition to publishing the completed articles on Writing Mentorship web page, many of the stories were also featured in issues of the SchoolNet News Network (www.stemnet.nf.ca/snn). The students were pleased and proud to have their work published in a national online publication and to receive input from outside the classroom.