Pioneer AP students get real life writing experience

From AAPSNews Service

In what is normally a literature driven course, Don Packard’s Advanced Placement English students at Pioneer High School took a break from “The Scarlett Letter” to visit with Brad Hedeman from Zingerman’s online.

Hedeman, who is responsible for the online content for Zingerman’s Mail Order business, came to Pioneer Nov. 5 to talk about how he writes and the process he employs when writing about food.

Pioneer students get ideas for product descriptions for Zingerman's online.
Pioneer students get ideas for product descriptions for Zingerman's online.

Students were then given a chance to write their own product descriptions of chocolate bacon that is sold at the store and through Zingerman’s mail order.  Remarked one student, “The experience of trying to write copy for chocolate bacon was a good insight for me, personally, because it made me think about so many different aspects of selling something or making something appealing.”

Another added that, “It was a very fun experience because we could actually try the food and it was interesting to think about the words that describe the sensation of taste.”

Brad Hedeman from Zingerman’s online speaks with students at Pioneer.
Brad Hedeman from Zingerman’s online speaks with students at Pioneer.

What’s next?  The “winning” product description will replace the existing copy on the Zingerman’s Web site.  Look for it in weeks to come.

Zingerman’s Mail Order is part of The Zingerman’s Community of Businesses in Ann Arbor which include several independently operated food-related companies including the well-known deli and Roadhouse, as well as those focused on catering, coffee, candy and publishing. Visit www.zingermans.com.

This was submitted by Don Packard, a language arts teacher at Pioneer High School.

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