PERSUASIVE NARRATIVES

With Terry back from California, my life has returned to a more familiar rhythm. Though I did manage fairly well as a bachelor, I found sharing evenings with Alex Trebek and Don Cherry a bit wearisome.

However, it did give me an opportunity to get a few home repairs done as well as work on some Christmas stories for my grandchildren. As they get older, the stories get longer and the plots more sophisticated.

I had hoped this year that Audrey and Noah, now aged 8 and 10, could follow my example and write a story for me as a Christmas gift.

"I don't think I can," exclaimed Noah.

"We don't write stories," said Audrey.
"What do you mean you don't write stories?" I replied. "Your gramma still has a drawer full of your dad's old stories."

"They mean they've never been asked to write a creative story," explained my teacher son Derek. "It's not part of the curriculum anymore."

I was dumbfounded. I realize that things like spelling tests and long division have been eliminated for kids but creative writing? What's next? Fractions and phys ed?

"They don't write stories?" I asked.

"No, these days, kids write what are called persuasive narratives," Derek continued. "They're considered a more sophisticated form of expression. Instead of just writing about the who, what, where and when of a situation, persuasive writing focuses on the why. Why shouldn't I eat junk food, why can't I stay up til 10 pm, why does Canada welcome refugees?"

"You mean like 'explain your answer in math'," I interjected.

""That's exactly what I mean," replied Derek.

"But, but...what about creativity? What about the simple joy of writing?"

"Hate to say it but these kids aren't expected to use their imaginations much anymore."

I was shocked and saddened all at the same time.

"So I guess I'm not getting a story for Christmas?" I asked Noah and Audrey.

"Probably not," Noah said. "But maybe we can get you something even better....like a tuque."

Hard to argue with that persuasive idea, I though to myself.

But then again, a person can always buy a tuque for himself but one can never put a price on a child's creativity.

















ersuaive narritives...more sophisticaed form of writing as they required explain the why of a situation...not jus the who, what where and when

not bad for acripple


5.6 million to build a rink...given the opportunity, I would have done for nothng...