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The Young American Writers Project created by Stony Brook Southampton's MFA in Writing and Literature Program, is dedicated to mentoring middle and high school students in the development of creative expression and critical thinking through writing.
"In naming our program YAWP," said MFA director Robert Reeves, "we hope to summon the spirit of Walt Whitman, that Long Island teacher, journalist, poet — and restless seeker of the quintessential American voice — who first sounded his 'barbaric yawp' a century and a half ago."
The YAWP curriculum sends professional writers and writing teachers into Long Island schools with a variety of innovative, inter-disciplinary writing workshops, including:
Playwriting
Screenwriting
Poetry
Personal Essay
Fiction
… all of which conclude with special projects and presentations, as well as potential vodcasts, blogs and/or publication in the YAWP Ezine.
The goals of YAWP include:
• To enhance critical thinking, collaboration and communications skills.
• To help each student find and develop his or her unique voice and point of view.
• To use creative expression as a way to solve problems and promote global awareness.
• To advance 21st century skills while supporting ELA requirements.
• To expose students to the unique creative programs and resources of Stony Brook Southampton, including the annual Southampton Writer’s Conference.
YAWP Programs are offered throughout the school year, and can be custom designed to fit the needs of an individual school. They can be offered in "push-in" format, as enrichment to Creative Writing, English, Theatre or other academic classes, as extra-curricular programs or in retreat format. YAWP programs can be particularly effective for at-risk students, or for those who find writing and communications skills challenging in the traditional academic environment.
Please contact us to discuss how the YAWP programs can best serve your individual school!
| Emma Walton Hamilton | Will Chandler |
| Executive Director | Program Director |