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› Short Story Analysis Plus

Learning to read fiction texts carefully is an important skill as students read more complex texts across all subjects. In this short holiday version of our Fiction Analysis Plus workshop, students will read and discuss a short story, learning to identify a writer’s purpose and tone and analysing the techniques and strategies that a writer employs to achieve his or her purpose. Students will be asked to consider these techniques as both readers and writers: they will explain their short story analysis in structured essays and try their hand at applying some of these techniques and strategies to a writing piece of their own.     

› Poetry: Tale of Two Verses (Ages 12-14)

What do Dr. Seuss and Chaucer have in common? They are both masters of narrative verse! In this Easter poetry writing and publishing workshop, students will face the challenge of narrating a story—in rhyme! Students will read examples of classic and modern-day narrative poems and then plot, rhyme and rearrange as they craft narrative poems of their own.

› Issues in Fiction (Ages 12-14)

While fictional texts are often written to engage and entertain readers, many also raise important questions and issues facing our society today. Reading fiction then offers an opportunity to begin discussions with students about important issues and relate the stories to what they know or can learn about in the real world. In this workshop, students will  read and discuss excerpts from works of fiction as a springboard to explore various contemporary issues. As they discuss and analyse, they will learn how to write about these issues, explaining what they know, asking questions they'd like answered, and sharing experiences and opinions of their own. During the summer, different texts will be studied each week, so students can sign up for multiple weeks without repeating material.

› Fiction Analysis Plus (Ages 11-13)

Learning to read fiction texts carefully is an important skill as students read more complex texts across all subjects. In this introduction to textual analysis, students learn to identify a writer’s purpose and tone and analysing the techniques and strategies that a writer employs to achieve his or her purpose. In this "Intro to Fiction Analysis Plus " workshop, students will consider these techniques as both readers and writers. They will explain their analysis in structured paragraphs responses and essays and try their hand at applying some of these techniques and strategies to writing pieces of their own.     

› Skill-building workshops: May-June

The skill-building writing workshops for all ages from May to June will offer students an opportunity to keep up with their regular writing practice and focus in on specific skills. This year's focus will be on point of view and perspective, with students writing a variety of pieces to explore and practise this skill, while also independently applying the brainstorming, planning and drafting strategies that they’ve learned and practised in our creative writing and publishing workshops.

› Independent Creative Writing Workshop (Ages 14+)

Writers worldwide meet and provide feedback to each other about how to improve their individual projects. In this independent creative writing workshop, students should come with an idea or partially-written story that they want to revise and further develop with support from their teacher and classmates. Since much of class time will be devoted to workshopping each other's drafts and providing feedback, students will also be expected to work on their stories outside of class.

› Last of the Great (Ages 10-13)

Fantasy stories from Lord of the Rings to The Chronicles of Narnia have captured readers’ imaginations for years, and people have long had a fascination with finding and observing amazing creatures in the wild. In this creative writing and publishing workshop, students will create characters who embark on a journey to a faraway place, in search of the last of a great and remarkable species. Will they fulfill their dreams and what might they encounter along the way?

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Book published from this workshop

› What's He Building in There?

A picturesque neighbourhood: white picket fences, pies cooling on window sills, children scribbling in chalk on the sidewalk. All is idyllic. Except for one house. The neighbours whisper and gossip about it; the children dare each other to see who can get the closest before running back in fear. The question on everybody’s lips is, “What’s he building in there?” Inspired by Tom Waits’ song of the same name, students in this creative writing and performance poetry workshop will develop writing as well as drama and public speaking skills as they speculate about a mystery house, create their own spoken word pieces, and then practise and record them.

› Intro to Analysis: Pop Songs (Ages 11+)

Learning to read texts carefully is an important skill as students read more complex texts across all subjects. In this workshop, students will be introduced to textual analysis—through pop songs! They will analyse the lyrics of some popular songs, looking at the structure and literary techniques that the songwriters employ to express their feelings and ideas. As they listen, read and analyse, they will also learn to write clear and well-organised essays explaining how the songwriter's choices as a writer make their lyrics compelling. 

› Literary Analysis: Short Stories & Plays

In advanced literature classes, students are expected to read and annotate texts—noticing patterns, identifying literary devices and features, and considering themes. Our summer analysis and essay writing workshops will help students develop and refine these skills and learn how to present their analysis with well-explained quotations and precise language. While some weeks will focus on analysing short stories and others on plays, each week will be different so students can sign up for one week or more over the summer without repeating texts.

› Fan Fiction (Ages 11+)

Can’t get enough of Hogwarts or Diagon Alley? Don’t think Katniss made the right decision in The Hunger Games? In this summer fan fiction writing workshop, students get a chance to make their favourite characters do things their way or write a new story in the same fictional world! They can alter plots, reincarnate characters and do plenty more. There’s only one rule: it needs to be convincing. Note: Students must bring at least one book from their chosen series to refer to during class.

› Independent Writing or Self-Publishing Project

We have had the pleasure of working with a number of dedicated young authors on their independent writing projects and even supporting some to self-publish their books with Green Elephant Books. These writers work one-on-one with an ECP teacher who serves as their first reader and editor to guide them through the process of revising and editing their manuscripts. While the focus may be on refining and completing a particular project, the primary objective is to support aspiring authors to develop the skills, perspective and mindset for a lifelong writing journey.