DICKENS DAY OF WRITING
A writing retreat for high school students
Date: February 7, 2025 (Charles Dickens’s 213th birthday)
Hosted by the University of California, Santa Cruz
About the Event
Although different models exist, across all Dickens Day of Writing events high school students come together for a communal writing experience where they all write a critical or creative essay about Charles Dickens’s short essay “Night Walks.” Mentors help the students revise and prepare their essays for publication, and the students have the joy of seeing their final edited essays in print in our annual anthology. Financial support will be provided to teachers to host the event.
Our Text
During the Dickens Day of Writing, students will study and write about Charles Dickens’s “Night Walks,” a short piece of investigative journalism that explores urban houselessness in Victorian London. The retreat seeks to cultivate the students’ awareness of current social justice issues, including homelessness, in the local community.
An annotated edition of “Night Walks,” in English and Spanish, is available for download and as a printed booklet.
Program Goals
The program is designed for high school juniors and seniors, to help them prepare for both high school graduation and higer education. Students will reinforce skills learned in the classroom, such as critical reading, analytical reasoning, argumentative writing, creative production, and cultural history to prepare them for life beyond high school.
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