Drawing the Line: Creative Writing Through the Visual and Performing Arts

What are the connections between composing with language and other forms of creative expression? Barry Gilmore's Drawing the Line provides a fascinating answer. Better than that, he provides simple, engaging ways to generate powerful student writing by describing how to engage secondary students 7-12 in various artistic mediums.

The arts provide a valuable and much-overlooked tool for helping young people to improve their writing. Through easy, inviting activities in the visual arts, music, and drama, Gilmore leads students to explore a host of creative approaches to composing. In the process, students will also develop a heightened sensitivity to the mediums they explore.

Each chapter focuses on one genre of art. Individual units offer discussion for the teacher, a simple artistic activity, creative writing exercises, and examples of students' written work. All chapters provide imaginative hands-on opportunities in the arts that have been tested with thousands of students. Nor does Drawing the Line assume or require that teachers have prior experience with any medium.

We haven't come across a richer, more enjoyable way to teach writing.