The ‘Art’ in Language Arts: What’s Beyond the 5 Paragraph Essay?
Written by Cheryl Chen
Edited by Daisy Hong
Cover Image by Linda Xu
Last year I spent so much time playing Tetris that my fingers were practically on autopilot when flying across the four arrows on my keyboard. Although nothing could beat my efficiency at Tetris, Havergal’s English curriculum comes a close second. By the end of the English course, many students were so familiar with funnel formats and 5-point paragraphs that they could craft a 4+ essay in their sleep (for the English teachers out there, that was a hyperbole). Perhaps this is solid evidence of the curriculum’s success, but just as Tetris lost its initial spark, the essays soon became mundane.
Certainly, the English curriculum does a splendid job of nurturing academic writing skills. If the goal of an academic paper is to represent the author’s opinion, simply plastering one’s thoughts and ideas without logical structure is not enough. Without any organization, a brilliant stance on symbolism in Lord of the Flies can easily become a jumble of incoherency. That is to say, the writing structures that are introduced in your English courses are formulaic for a reason. They act as the skeleton of your writing, giving the flesh of your words something to sit on and wrap around.
Despite its utility, the creative potential of the English language is confined by the same 5-paragraph structure that students see every year. Many students are passionate about consuming and creating literature yet find their hands tied in English class, unable to channel the same eagerness to read and write that comes so easily outside of the classroom. While creative works are incorporated into the curriculum, poetry, fairy tales, and short stories are condensed to yet another essay. Teachers put so much emphasis on analyzing literature that students become experts at identifying literary devices and scrutinizing their purpose, but have limited opportunities to produce creative literature. The curriculum is designed in a manner that encourages students to closely follow the rubric and meet the criteria for a 4+ essay. There is no room for stylistic exploration because straying from the expected writing structures risks deducted marks. It's like spending the majority of art classes analyzing the history and meaning behind each piece of artwork without getting to experiment with the colors yourself. The artistic process can be messy and slightly abstract, but if artists aren’t afraid of getting a little paint on their sleeves, why should writers hold back? When we are constantly bound by the pressure of abiding by formal essay structures, we tend to forget that language is also a form of art.
Almost everyone has heard of poems, short stories, and novels—prime examples of creative works in the language arts. Inside the classroom, students are introduced to a selection of famous pieces in this creative category. Take Emily Dickinson’s poem “‘Hope’ is a Thing With Feathers” or Ernest Hemmingway’s short story “Hills Like White Elephants”. Though brilliantly creative and moving, the authors’ craft seem so sophisticated and genius that we can’t even fathom emanating their talent in our own writing. So, we spend our time picking apart their words and attempting to understand what they mean to convey. It seems like analyzing famous works is the closest we can get to working with creative literature. What students aren’t reminded of is that one, the art of language stretches beyond just poetry and prose, and two, everyone is, in their own right, an artist of language. For example, songwriting and speech are both forms of language arts. During Prayers, students have performed and written original songs, weaving passion and personal voice into their lyrics; student speakers have delivered speeches, using the art of verbal language to inspire and educate others. Even Havergal plays, such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, assume the art of dialogue and prose to convey character relationships and emotions.
The best part? Most of these artists are just like you and me—students. You don’t have to be a renowned writer to dabble in the language arts. We all have a stroke of genius within us; the sooner you recognize the array of possibilities, the sooner you can begin to indulge in creativity.
Now that we’ve expanded the horizons of language arts, you may be wondering: “Where can I begin exploring these creative mediums?” Luckily, there are various places to start:
1. Contests
Playwrights, poetry, songwriting and more–there are contests for every subgenre of creative writing. Anyone can access these contests online. Simply select one that piques your interest, check if you are eligible to participate, and get creating! Contest examples include Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards, John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and the Alice Munro Festival. Not only can you submit your own work, you can also browse the creations of other participants. Alyssa Gaines, Youth Poet Laureate of Indianapolis, submitted her villanelle poem “Blue Dashers” during her senior year of high school. The award helped her gain recognition and inspire other budding writers.
2. Writer’s Toolbox
A Writer’s Toolbox is a collection of resources that assist with your writing process. It can be deeply personal to the writer. Think of it like a family cookbook. Inside are recipes, ingredients, and tips that cater to your own tastes and preferences. What works for some may not work for others. For example, if you are a visual learner, you may include a compilation of pictures that trigger certain emotions that you can spin into words and sentences. A box of random words and sentence starters could also help get your creativity flowing.
3. Havergal Clubs & Courses
There is a whole community of writers at Havergal! Publication clubs such as Behind the Ivy allow students to share their articles and creative pieces. If clubs aren’t enough to fuel your creativity, there are courses that cater to the art of writing in later grades as well. Writer’s Craft is a popular elective for aspiring writers and anyone interested in language arts. The course explores poetry, memoirs, short stories, and more.
4. Journaling
One of the best ways to wind down after a long day is to journal. There is no pressure to write a long entry every day, rather, write whenever you feel like it! Compose a long rant about your grueling schoolwork, or scribble down your shower thoughts. Getting into a habit of writing is a surefire way to ease into the practice of creative writing.
If you are currently enrolled in an English course, by all means, go master those 5 paragraph essays. But keep in mind that there is a world of creativity within the language arts–happy exploring!