Native Soil: Discovering Place with Appalachian Writers
Professional Development Providers:
• Tasha A. Thomas, Director, Spartanburg Writing Project, USC Upstate
tthomas@uscupstate.edu; 864-503-5653
• Dawn J. Mitchell, Partnership Coordinator, Spartanburg Writing Project
Workshop Description:
Eudora Welty once said: "One place understood helps us understand all places better." Having studied and used the works of Ron Rash for nearly ten years, instructors with the Spartanburg Writing Project have come to know and understand his passion for place, especially the foothills of Western North and South Carolina. In crafting his vision of the South he creates for all readers a sense of what it means to hail from this magical place. Featuring selections from his poetry, One Foot in Eden and Serena, this session will explore techniques Appalachian authors employ to capture an authentic sense of place in their writing. Because the idea of home and what it represents is such a prevalent theme among many Appalachian writers, presenters will also draw examples from works by Rick Bragg, Silas House and Lee Smith. Participants will be introduced to Katie Wood Ray’s craft study/close study methods in order to notice how various Southern writers weave geographical, cultural, and social elements to create such vivid representations of place. Working in small groups, participants will practice “reading like writers” and before the close of the session will have the opportunity to “write under the influence” of one of the featured authors, crafting their own visions of place and home using tried and true techniques gleaned from masters like Ron Rash.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes:
• Participants will understand the importance of home and place as recurring themes in the works of Southern and Appalachian writers
• Participants will draw conclusions regarding the impact of writer’s craft on the reader
• Participants will understand and apply Katie Wood Ray’s “close study” method and “reading like a writer” in order to explore the various choices writers make
• Participants will “write under the influence” by creating original place-based writing inspired by a variety of Southern authors, applying techniques explored through “close study”
• Participants will discuss classroom applications for “close study” of mentor texts
Intended Audience:
• Methods and mentor texts (literary selections) appropriate for all teachers and students in grades 6-university level
• Methods and strategies appropriate for all teachers and students kindergarten through university level (workshop can be modified for various audiences by varying the mentor texts provided, but the process and best practice theory remains the same)
Workshop Agenda:
• 3:30-4:00pm--Overview: Discussion of “place” and “home as themes in Southern writing; exploration of Ray’s “close study” and “reading like a writer” methods using Ron Rash work as anchor text
• 4:00-4:45pm--Group Work: Participants work in small groups to apply close study and “noticing” strategies using mentor texts from Ron Rash, Lee Smith, Silas House and Rick Bragg
• 4:45-5:15pm-- Group share: Compilation of “noticings” related to craft and theme in mentor texts; discussion of specific classroom application for the shared mentor texts and the close study methods
• 5:15-5:30pm-- Break
• 5:30-6:00pm--Writing Time: Participants will spend time crafting their own original pieces as inspired by the Appalachian authors
• 6:00-6:30pm--Writing Share/ Final Questions/Classroom Applications
