Student Migration Essays

This year in the sophomore and junior literature class, one of the books we read was John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath.  As we read, I encouraged my students to think about migration and to do research in their family histories about stories of migration.  I wanted them to think through the reality that every family has had to migrate for one reason or another at some point.  My students did research and then wrote personal essays sharing incredible migration stories from their family histories.  The results were moving.

Here is a link to download a PDF of these migration essays:

Migration Essays

In my class, some students are honors students and some are not.  Some of my students are sophomores and some are juniors.  There is also a great variety of writing styles and skills.  Yet, throughout the year, every student's writing has improved, and these essays reflect that fact that every student has incredible stories to tell from their own family history and perspective.

I hope you will enjoy reading these incredible stories as much as I have.

- Austin Lingerfelt