The Writing Program’s annual Letter Exchange Dinner will take place on November 12 bringing together students from UCSB writing classes with their pen pals from R.J. Frank Intermediate School in Oxnard.

Now in its seventh year, the project uses a letter writing exchange to provide a “real-world” writing experience that builds on student knowledge and encourages audience awareness.  Students gain confidence in transferring what they know about writing from one context to another. And teachers are encouraged to show students how their school-based writing connects with real-world situations.

The exchange provides the intermediate school students with useful information about college life giving those who might not otherwise think of themselves as college bound the ability to imagine themselves in that setting. The project also creates an opportunity for the UC Santa Barbara students to reinforce their knowledge about the behaviors that lead to success. Funded by the Office for Education Partnerships and the Writing Program, the dinner brings the students together to meet in person and celebrates student writing.