When teaching students about notable figures in the writing industry, Nancy Allen holds a significant position due to her remarkable career as a novelist and law practitioner. With numerous legal thrillers under her belt, she showcases how professional experience and creative storytelling can harmoniously intertwine. This article will discuss various strategies to teach students about Nancy Allen while inspiring them to appreciate the impact of passionate and dedicated writing.
1. Background Information
Begin the lesson with an overview of Nancy Allen’s life, highlighting her upbringing, education, and career path. Emphasize on how she earned a degree in law from the University of Missouri and spent many years as a prosecutor, defense attorney, and law professor before making her mark as an author. Furthermore, discuss some key milestones such as her successful Ozarks Mystery series and collaboration with James Patterson.
2. Exploring Allen’s Work
Introduce students to Nancy Allen’s work by providing some examples from her collection of novels, starting with her debut book, “The Code of the Hills.” Encourage students to read one or more of her novels to gain insight into her writing style. Following this, facilitate discussions on narrative structure, character development, suspense-building techniques, and the incorporation of real-life experiences in fiction.
3. Legal Thriller Genre
Teaching students about Nancy Allen involves exploring the genre in which she excels – legal thrillers. Provide context on what makes a novel a legal thriller by discussing other prominent authors in the genre such as John Grisham and Michael Connelly. Encourage students to compare and contrast these authors’ works with that of Nancy Allen, focusing on themes like ethics, courtroom drama, and legal intricacies.
4. The Role of Personal Experiences in Fiction Writing
One crucial aspect that sets Nancy Allen’s work apart is her ability to weave tales based on her background as a lawyer. Explore with students how Allen’s real-life experience adds depth, authenticity, and excitement to her writing. Encourage students to identify how their own experiences might be used as inspiration in their writing, emphasizing the importance of authenticity.
5. Writing Exercise
Inspire students to attempt writing their legal thriller scene or short story, drawing inspiration from Nancy Allen’s works and their personal experiences. Provide guidelines for them to develop the plot, characters, dialogue, and setting while focusing on building tension and incorporating accurate legal information.
6. Guest Speakers and Multimedia Resources
To add more depth to the lesson plan, consider inviting guest speakers who are knowledgeable about Nancy Allen’s work or legal thrillers in general. Alternatively, incorporate multimedia resources such as author interviews, book trailers, or documentaries to expand the learning experience.
