Anthem or Nah? Culturally Relevant Writing Instruction and Community

This article examines the utilization, implementation, and impact of an original writing lesson—the anthem essay. The anthem essay lesson was designed to prepare preservice teachers to teach a structured writing lesson for middle level writers. This culturally relevant lesson prompted emerging writers to focus on and interrogate social issues at play in their personal lives and within their communities. Through dialogue, discussion, and collaboration, students were prepared to write community—that is, when writing is not only for the individual, but linked to how we belong with each other in the world. In other words, students write within and for community. The anthem essay invited and centered student ideas while interrupting traditional ways of teaching essay writing for young adolescent writers.