"Just Playing the Part"

Book excerpt: Focusing on the transformative power of the creative arts process, Christopher Worthman offers readers a new way of thinking about literacy development and, specifically, the teaching of writing and out-of-school literacies. Rich with theoretical and practical insights, this groundbreaking ethnography describes and analyzes the writing development of a group of teenagers involved in a unique community-based teen theater project. Includes detailed descriptions of improvisational activities that can be adapted for use by other classes or ensembles.