Writing family history: A gift for generations to come


MESA, Ariz. — Two workshops on writing about family history, hosted by the Project for Writing and Recording Family History at Arizona State University’s Polytechnic campus, are planned for this fall. ASU Professor Duane Roen will discuss the family experiences that offer rich material for writing and will share strategies for beginning, including a hands-on activity that will get participants writing about a memorable family member, place or event, so bring paper and pen or laptop. Participants will respond in writing to a series of questions designed to generate concrete details about a family member, place or event. After recording these details, participants will be invited to share their writing with the group. In turn, the group will be encouraged to offer constructive feedback that will help writers develop their writing further.

The workshops are scheduled for:

  • Tuesday, November 14, 7:15 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Cooley Ballroom, Student Union, Polytechnic campus
  • Saturday, December 2 , 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., Fireside Lounge , Student Union Annex , Polytechnic campus

If you wish to participate in either session, please RSVP by calling (480) 727-1526 or duane.roen@asu.edu.

For more details about this and other workshops offered by the Project for Writing and Recording Family History, visit http://www.poly.asu.edu/saas/familyhistory. Once there, click on the link for "Activities, Events, Workshops." As noted on that page, the Project will offer a range of workshops on the Polytechnic campus. Also, groups may contact individual workshop facilitators to arrange for workshops at off-campus sites.