Learning to Write Personal Narratives through the Lyrics of Taylor Swift 

Since releasing her first album at 16 years old, Taylor Swift’s lyrics have bridged continents, crossed generations, and inspired millions. It is her absolute mastery that makes her music appeal to so many, and in this class we will explore exactly why.

Imagined by a scholar and a Swiftie, this course considers how Taylor’s honest, authentic stories resonate with the world and encourages students to master their own stories – their own narratives – with creativity and skill. Taylor Swift is changing the world by sharing her voice – and through this course students can, too. Students will learn how telling their own relatable, honest stories based on lived experience can resonate with many, whether as a poet, a songwriter, or any kind of storyteller. Guided by Taylor’s music and lyrics, students will be able to reflect on their own life experiences and tell their stories while learning literary devices, narrative structures, and genre and audience awareness. In addition to Taylor’s songs, we will engage with her interviews as well as personal narratives and life writing texts from other writers whose stories and styles deepen the discussion of Taylor’s craft. To supplement our close study of Taylor’s storytelling across her albums and eras, we will learn from guest speakers and experiential learning through field trips where students will try out place-based writing.

In their own writing, students will have the opportunity to write in a variety of genres, including personal essays, poetry, lyrics, letters, and more. Alongside learning how to tell stories about our lives through masterful language and structure, we will also explore tools for building sustainable and inspiring writing routines and rituals so that students can continue their strong writing practices at home and for the rest of their lives.