Perspectives CurriculumPerspectives Curriculum

Olive Savoie from Lincoln High School in San Francisco recording her piece at KQED studios. Photo by Chanelle Ignant.

Writing Perspectives in your classroom opens up a space for students to share their thoughts, interests and passions. At heart, a Perspectives piece is personal, even if it touches on a political issue, local problem or universal truth. Perspectives that get on the air may share the following characteristics:

  • A compelling story that can be told in no more than two minutes (about 375 words) 
  • Vivid, precise language and word choice that bring the story to life in the mind of the listener
  • A window into an aspect of a young person’s life that helps define who they are and the world they live in.

Example:  Meeting Expectations by Geraldo Gonzalez
Example: That's so Gay by Olive Savoie

Curricular Resources

Choosing a topic: Perspectives Pre-writing Worksheet

Analyze a Perspective (main idea, purpose, audience)

Reading: Perspective Structure