Student Assignments at Àbulę
At Àbulę, we integrate traditional educational frameworks with innovative pedagogical approaches to foster creativity, critical thinking, and holistic development. Our curriculum transcends conventional schoolwork by incorporating diverse methodologies that engage students through multiple learning modalities.
These showcased assignments demonstrate our commitment to blending academic rigor with experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for real-world challenges.
Àbulę blends traditional education with innovative approaches, fostering creativity and critical thinking through diverse learning methodologies. These showcased assignments exemplify our commitment to meaningful experiential learning.
Reimagining the Literary Canon
Literature StudiesThis critical thinking project challenged students to examine the concept of the Western Literary Canon through a contemporary lens. Students begun by analyzing the traditional canon’s formation, exploring how cultural, racial, and gender biases have historically influenced which works were deemed “essential” or “classic” in academic settings.
After developing this critical foundation, students engaged in a collaborative process to propose their vision for a more inclusive, representative literary canon for their class.
Educational Context
For centuries, the Western Literary Canon has been predominantly shaped by white, male European and American authors. This assignment acknowledges this historical reality while empowering students to recognize that canons are not static or objective, but rather dynamic, evolving collections that reflect the values and perspectives of those who curate them.
Student Work Showcase
Valedictory Visions
Creative Writing 101In this assignment from Creative Writing 101, students explored the art of oratory and speech composition. They were tasked with imagining themselves 5-8 years in the future, graduating at the top of their university class, and delivering a compelling valedictorian address.
While the written speech shown here represents their preparation, the primary deliverable was an audio recording of students presenting their speeches. This approach emphasizes not only written composition but also verbal delivery, presence, and the emotional nuances of effective public speaking.
Student Work Showcase
HBCU Heritage & Design Project
Africana StudiesIn this immersive research project, students researched the rich legacy and contemporary significance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Beyond mere information gathering, this assignment challenged students to transform their research into compelling visual communication by designing a professional informational pamphlet for their chosen institution.
Through projects like this, students develop critical research methodologies, gain perspective on the historical importance of these institutions in advancing educational equity, and cultivate graphic design skills that effectively communicate complex historical and cultural narratives.
Student Work Showcase
Interactive Digital Notebook
Introduction to Law & U.S. GovernmentStudents in Introduction to Law & U.S. Government maintained comprehensive digital notebooks that served as both personal learning repositories and collaborative knowledge bases. These living documents evolved throughout the semester as students documented their understanding of constitutional principles, government structures, and landmark legal cases.
Unlike traditional note-taking, these digital portfolios incorporated multimedia elements, interactive diagrams, and collaborative annotations that reflect a deeper engagement with complex governmental concepts.
Pedagogical Approach
This assignment transformed passive note-taking into active knowledge construction. By curating their own digital repositories, students developed information literacy skills essential for navigating complex legal and governmental information landscapes.
Student Work Showcase
Black Panther Press Reimagined
Africana StudiesThis multi-disciplinary project introduced students to the revolutionary journalism and design aesthetics of The Black Panther Party newspaper (1967-1980). Students analyzed primary sources to understand how this publication functioned as a vital communication tool for social justice advocacy and community organizing.
Students synthesized historical elements with contemporary issues to create their own newspaper issue, applying both period-authentic design principles and modern desktop publishing techniques. The assignment also incorporated economic literacy as students calculated inflation-adjusted pricing for their publication.
Historical Context
The Black Panther newspaper reached a peak circulation of 140,000 copies per week, serving as a powerful platform for community information, political education, and revolutionary theory during the Civil Rights Movement.
Student Work Showcase
Legislative Simulation Project
Introduction to Law & U.S. GovernmentThis comprehensive simulation project transformed the classroom into a legislative chamber, immersing students in the complex process of crafting and passing federal legislation. Working in collaborative teams, students researched pressing social issues, drafted substantive bill proposals, and navigated the intricate pathways of the legislative process.
Each team developed a complete legislative package including a formal bill draft, supporting research documentation, budgetary impact analyses, and strategic advocacy plans.
Pedagogical Framework
This assignment exemplified applied civic education by requiring students to move beyond theoretical understanding of government systems into the practical challenges of policy development and coalition building.
Student Work Showcase
Digital Storytelling & Community Blogs
Creative Writing 101This innovative assignment introduced students to the digital publishing landscape through the creation and curation of personal blogs within our secure student community platform. Moving beyond traditional classroom boundaries, students engage in authentic digital authorship that fosters both creative expression and responsible digital citizenship.
Each student maintains a personal blog where they publish reflections, creative works, and multimedia narratives throughout the term.
Educational Framework
This assignment operates at the intersection of traditional creative writing pedagogy and digital literacy development. By positioning students as content creators within a supportive community context, they learn to navigate the opportunities and responsibilities of digital authorship.
Student Work Showcase
1964 Literacy Test Experience
Africana StudiesThis powerful experiential learning activity placed students in the position of African Americans in the Jim Crow South by challenging them to complete an authentic 1964 Louisiana Voter Literacy Test under the same constraints and evaluation standards that were historically applied.
Through this immersive exercise, students directly confronted the systemic barriers that were intentionally designed to disenfranchise Black voters. The assignment transcends traditional textbook learning by creating an emotional connection to historical injustice.
Historical Context
These literacy tests were deliberately designed to be nearly impossible to pass and were administered arbitrarily to Black voters while white voters were typically exempted through “grandfather clauses.” The tests contained obscure questions, confusing instructions, and were graded subjectively.
Student Work Showcase
Modern Marketing for Classic Fiction
Literature StudiesThis creative interpretation project challenged students to translate their understanding of W.W. Jacobs’ classic horror story “The Monkey’s Paw” into a contemporary advertising campaign. After literary analysis of the text’s themes, symbolism, and cautionary messages, student teams developed marketing materials for the titular cursed object as if it were being sold in today’s marketplace.
This assignment required students to demonstrate deep comprehension of the original text while reimagining its elements through a contemporary commercial lens.
Literary Context
“The Monkey’s Paw” (1902) is a seminal work in horror literature that explores themes of fate, hubris, and unintended consequences through the story of a cursed talisman that grants wishes with horrific results.
