By: Jeannie Buchanan
Writing Week took place October 24th -28th; this exciting week was filled with different activities related in some way or another to writing.
Activities were created by Writing Lab staff to combine writing and fun!
The first and most popular event was Mole Day, which was a way to celebrate science by performing an array of science experiments. Two of the most popular experiments were the dry ice Boo bubbles and the film canister rocket experiments. The writing coaches incorporated writing by having students describe what was happening in each experiment using words of imagery and onomatopoeia. Student practiced using descriptive writing techniques to show vs. tell what was going on in the experiments. They were also able to experiment with their own experiments using the ingredients provided. These experiments allowed students to create and play in ways that extended beyond the typical essay.
Including in Writing Week was a new and exciting event called Vote Smart. Writing coaches brainstormed a way to involve politics without the pressure of the 2016 election; the result was Vote Smart. This mock debate took place between favorite Disney and Nickelodeon characters. Participants had the opportunity to represent one person and debate with their peers on mock topics. Students were to stay in character as they responded to the questions. The finalist was voted the “President.” Vote Smart was full of improv, humor, and critical thinking. In addition, writing coaches created handouts for students to learn how to to chose their future president similar to how the Nick character Spencer (from iCarly) was elected. Even though this time was meant to be fun, its aim was to get student thinking about the election and how to use critical thinking and unbiased sources to choose their president.
Next on the schedule was Blackout Poetry! This event grabbed the attention of students at the Perk to evolve their creativity skills. Writing coaches handed out a page from a book and students were to black out the words that did not fit their poem. Once completed, they read their piece, and judges chose the best piece. Writing Lab Coach Mason Crabtree states that it was “cool when people would finish a page and go back to get another page to make another poem because they enjoyed it so much.” Even though there was only one winner, every student that participated had a great time learning this new creative way of writing.
Wednesday night brought comedy, singing, poetry, and good conversations with the Open Mic Night event. MBU students who were involved showed their creativity in a variety of unique performances. Prices were given out to the most creative and best performance. Both audience members and participants enjoyed snacks provided by the Writing Lab staff.
To wrap up a fantastic week of writing, the Murder Mystery was a great success. The theme for the Murder Mystery was book heroes/heroines. Characters included Harry Potter, Tris, Bella, Edward, and more! Students came together during this time as heroic characters. Bella (from Twilight) unfortunately met her demise that evening. After her death, the characters had to search through evidence to figure out the culprit. As the event came to an end, the identity of the murder was revealed by the characters’ impressive detective skills. The entire night was filled with snacks, improv, and mystery. Participants would like to get involved again next year to watch another engaging storyline be uncovered.
All and all, Writing Week was time for students at MBU to relax, have fun, and enhance their writing skills. Many who partook in the events will be joining us next year for another week of new and returning activities involving writing.
The Writing Space 