The Art of the Personal Essay via James Baldwin’s "Notes of a Native Son"
In this 3-part webinar, students will receive a comprehensive overview of a historic and timeless essay, "Notes of a Native Son" by James Baldwin. First published in 1955 when the writer was 31 years old, the essay deals with grief, racism, and love that co-exists with hatred and anger. In Part 1, the instructor will provide a brief overview and demonstrate a close analysis of the opening paragraphs. Part 2 will focus on Baldwin’s recurring motif of the “shattered glass,” which will hopefully inspire you to write a personal essay using an evolving motif. Part 3 will focus on the way the essay wraps everything up towards a climactic ending. After each part, the instructor will provide several writing prompts that build on what we’ve learned and lead to the next lesson. It is recommended that the students read the full essay while spacing out the three videos according to their own schedules.
These webinars are designed for writers at all levels, and readers who may or may not have previously read Baldwin’s work.
Yurina Yoshikawa is the Director of Education at The Porch. She holds an M.F.A. from Columbia University, and her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, NPR, Lit Hub, The Japan Times, and elsewhere. She was the winner of the 2020 Tennessee True Stories Contest and a 2021 recipient of the Tennessee Arts Commission. She has lived in Tokyo, Palo Alto, and New York before settling down in Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and two sons. For more information, visit www.yurinayoshikawa.com.
The Art of the Personal Essay via James Baldwin’s "Notes of a Native Son"
In this 3-part webinar, students will receive a comprehensive overview of a historic and timeless essay, "Notes of a Native Son" by James Baldwin. First published in 1955 when the writer was 31 years old, the essay deals with grief, racism, and love that co-exists with hatred and anger. In Part 1, the instructor will provide a brief overview and demonstrate a close analysis of the opening paragraphs. Part 2 will focus on Baldwin’s recurring motif of the “shattered glass,” which will hopefully inspire you to write a personal essay using an evolving motif. Part 3 will focus on the way the essay wraps everything up towards a climactic ending. After each part, the instructor will provide several writing prompts that build on what we’ve learned and lead to the next lesson. It is recommended that the students read the full essay while spacing out the three videos according to their own schedules.
These webinars are designed for writers at all levels, and readers who may or may not have previously read Baldwin’s work.
Yurina Yoshikawa is the Director of Education at The Porch. She holds an M.F.A. from Columbia University, and her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, NPR, Lit Hub, The Japan Times, and elsewhere. She was the winner of the 2020 Tennessee True Stories Contest and a 2021 recipient of the Tennessee Arts Commission. She has lived in Tokyo, Palo Alto, and New York before settling down in Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and two sons. For more information, visit www.yurinayoshikawa.com.
