I think that politics are often an area where students feel they have no voice--they cannot vote, they are often accused of taking their parents' perspectives, and they are often told they do not understand the "real world" well enough to be able to form their own, valid opinion. As Kendrick discussed, what a way to show our students that we care, that we validate their opinions, and that we want to know what they think by inviting them to express themselves through their writings.
As touchy of a subject as politics is, I think this is one writing assignment that would either have to stay between the individual student and the teacher, or one that the teacher would have to ensure discussion versus arguments. I think that one of the quickest ways to get our students to sink back down into their shell is to have a peer chastise them for their beliefs in front of the class. For a writing assignment of this nature, we would have to ensure a loving community in the classroom, not a debate. I am not quite sure how we could validate such solidarity and compassion amidst high schoolers, but if we could figure it out, I think a classroom discussion about writings would be a powerful way to bring the classroom into students' interests and excitements. Do we not all like to feel heard and understood?
If I were to give a writing prompt to foster such discussion in my classroom, I think this is along the lines of what I would want to do:
The past election was one of the most hostile that we have seen. Think about the platforms that both candidates ran on, and choose the one issue that meant the most to you. What does the debate of this issue mean for you? How do you wish the issue was handled differently in the media and among society?
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