American Writers Museum

After watching the videos from the "Building a Writing Identity" section, complete the following worksheet.

Independent Student Reflection

In 'Engaging in the Writing Process', you will spend time selecting a genre and planning an original piece, drafting and revising your work, and working with peers to edit your final composition.

Engaging in the Writing Process

Using the 'Power of the Pen' provides opportunities to think about the purpose and power of writing. As you learn from accomplished writers of various backgrounds, reflect on your own purposes for writing and begin to think about the process of using your unique identities and voices to inform what you’d like to communicate to an audience.


Start by listing your favorite movies, music, and/or shows. Once you have listed these items, you will choose one movie/song/show to discuss in small groups. You can discuss why you chose the movie/song/show and the impact it has made on you. You can also discuss the author's purpose for creating the movie/music/show. This will support you in thinking about the people who create your favorite media and WHY they create. What impact are these authors hoping to have on their audiences? What messages are they hoping to resonate with their audiences? Why do these authors create? What motivates them?

Using the Power of the Pen

In 'Building a Writing Identity', you will engage with materials primarily from the My America: Immigrant and Refugee Writers Today virtual exhibit. The purpose of Part 1: Building a Writing Identity is to explore the complex identities of writers to deepen understanding and development of your own writing identities.

Begin by watching the following videos. You may take notes as you watch, which may include connections, similarities, questions, ideas that resonate with you. Once you have watched the videos, reflect on what you gained from listening to the authors. Finally, you will select your own significant object to write about. You can begin by describing the object in detail, its significance, and then write a narrative story connected to that object.

Building a Writing Identity

My America: Immigrant & Refugee Writers Today gives students a deep and personal experience, bringing you face-to-face, through videos, with contemporary authors who are immigrants, refugees, and second-generation immigrants from all parts of the world. Explore the influence of modern immigrant and refugee writing in America on our culture, history, and daily lives. The exhibit is designed to evoke thoughtful dialogue on a wide array of issues with contemporary immigrant and refugee writers delving into questions about writing influences, the writing process, and what it means to be American.

My America: Immigrant & Refugee Writers Today

student materials