This video shows a producer from Youth Radio in Oakland, CA working with students to produce their own commentaries. It discusses why commentaries can be powerful tools to spark discussion and stimulate civic engagement. It includes prompts to help students uncover a meaningful story they want to share, components of good commentaries, and tips for educators.
Teachers or others working with youth might recreate a similar lesson, drawing from the key components of commentary writing presented in this video. The footage of the lesson also provides a powerful example of the kinds of questions and prompts that can be used by an adult to draw out students’ voices, help them feel comfortable sharing experiences, and gently push to help them sharpen their ideas.
Source Organization: The Teaching Channel