Literacy Links
Earlier this week the NSW Education Authority (NESA) launched its anthology Young Writers Showcase, a collection of works that celebrates the impressive talents of HSC English Extension 2 students from across the State. This year’s 20th edition showcases the extraordinary works of eighteen students selected from more than 1,385 young people who studied HSC English Extension 2 in 2020. This collection of writing includes short fiction, creative non-fiction, critical responses, poetry, podcasts, and a script. Emma Jones – a Mount Carmel student from the 2020 HSC class – had her creative nonfiction work selected for inclusion in this highly-acclaimed anthology.
Emma is now a published author. As Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell stated, “For many of the students whose work is published here, this is just the beginning of their wonderful journey into creativity, storytelling and production.” I have included below NESA’s description of Emma’s composition that formed part of this week’s Young Writers Showcase media release. Next week I will share with you an outline of the English Extension 2 course which allows our students to do what Emma has done. It is a marvellous course which provides students with the opportunity to craft language in critical and creative ways.
Emma Jones: Mount Carmel Catholic College
Hidden
Creative non-fiction
Emma Jones, author of creative non-fiction Hidden, says that much of her inspiration as a creative writer comes from a deep sensitivity to the world around her, and an appreciation for listening and stillness.
Her major work Hidden follows the interwoven stories of three different characters as it explores the ways in which we define ourselves as individuals and how we come to the sense that we ‘know’ who we are. Throughout the piece she interrogates the public frameworks we use to find names and meanings for ourselves, as well as the often illusory nature of self-knowledge.
The piece was inspired by an educational trip to Germany in 2019, where Emma spent time visiting places with strong historical significance to the Nazi era and the Third Reich. This, in turn, lent Emma to thinking about identity and its relationship to place and history.
Emma is undertaking a Bachelor of Arts and Advanced Studies (Media and Communications) at the University of Sydney and says that she is focusing on developing herself personally, hopefully finding herself professionally along the way.
English Coordinator and Literacy Instructional Coach
