Counter-Storytelling

Essay

Did you know that LA

County has the largest
population in the United
States?

Prof. J. Mitchell-Wagner

Your business tag line here.

Prompt

For this project, you will explore, examine, and present an important
counter-story of a marginalized group that belongs to Los Angeles
history, culture, and/or landscape. It can be based on race, gender,
class, or any other bias. It may be an oral, visual, or written story. Your
essay needs to do at least TWO of the following:

Reveal how this marginalized group overcame the challenges

imposed by the dominant society.
Demonstrate stereotypes about a particular group AND explore
how these stereotypes are not representative of the whole.
Research and create a biographical counter-story for an
individual whose story is relevant to understanding Los Angeles
culture and community.

Finally, regardless of which prompt you choose, discuss how the

counter-story is an act of Change Writing as discussed by Mary Pipher.

Topic Choice

Project Requirements

The organization of your essay is up to you. You will work in groups of

2 to 4. Your essay must
Incorporate at least 1000 words of writing per person.

Include at least 1 visual element per person.

Include research as evidence to support your ideas. This

research will include at least 4 sources BEYOND Merryweather
and Pipher, at least one of which must be field research
(interview, site visit, etc.).
Be presented in a clear, coherent, organized, and unified way.

Group Members
Contact Info

Suggested Project To-Do List

Choose your group.
Choose your topic.
Create a plan / schedule via
Google Docs.
Perform Research.
Prepare for your
interview(s).
Complete your interview(s).

Delegate tasks to each

group member.
Plan essay content.
Assemble your essay
Meet with Prof M-W to
discuss progress & ask
questions.
Review & Revise.
Edit using the Checklist.