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Emma Darwin's avatar

This could be really interesting - although I would hope that the emphasis on finding shared things also highlights the differences even between people similar enough to have landed in the same writing class. I much more often struggle to get students to stretch beyond 'typical', off-the-peg, standard issue experiences and habits that they endow their characters with.

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Dr Lily Dunn's avatar

This is great. I too teach third year undergrads but I have a few mature students in there too. I’ll give it a go!

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Beverley Ward's avatar

I might try that. Thanks

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Francsart's avatar

I absolutely love the idea

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melissa nolas's avatar

Sociologist of childhood, youth, family and generations here: LOVE this exercise for potential to illustrate theory in practice / biography & history! Thank you for sharing!

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Buku Sarkar's avatar

I teach a course called Writing Trauma where we study Ernaux and learn how to write taking a step back, dispassionate in style but brimming in emotions in between silence and spaces.

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