Lauren Sturrus

In Writing Workshop, students will grow as writers by engaging in the full writing process—brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing—throughout the year. We’ll explore a variety of writing styles and purposes, from personal narratives to persuasive essays to creative fiction, always considering audience and voice. Students will have a great deal of choice in the exact topics they write about, allowing them to develop confidence and joy in their writing. Peer feedback and group discussions will be a regular part of class, helping students learn from one another and refine their work. As a Christian community, we believe that since God is writing a big, redemptive story—and we are all part of it—the stories we read and write matter. Each piece of writing becomes an opportunity to reflect the truth that God made a good world, that it is broken, and that we are invited to help make it better.

Advanced Writing Workshop is designed for older or more experienced writers who are ready to take their craft to the next level. Like our foundational Writing Workshop, this course emphasizes the full writing process—brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing—while exploring a range of genres and writing styles. Students will leave Advanced Writing Workshop having the foundational skills they need to succeed in Kristen Scranton’s writing courses and beyond. Students will be challenged to think deeply about audience, purpose, and voice, and will be held to a higher standard of excellence in their work. They’ll have significant freedom to choose their own topics within each assignment, encouraging creativity and personal expression. Discussion, collaboration, and peer review will be central to our classroom community. Grounded in a Christian worldview, this course affirms that our words matter because they are part of God’s larger story—a story of creation, fall, and redemption. Through writing, students will explore and express how we can participate in making the world a better place.