"Whistleblowers & Thriller" (Advance Creative Writing)

This advanced creative writing unit challenges students to explore the intersection of suspense and whistleblowing—the ethically complex act of exposing wrongdoing at great personal risk. Drawing inspiration from real-world whistleblowers, historical milestones, and recommended thriller novels, students will collaboratively create a multi-chapter thriller novella centered on a whistleblower who discovers illegal or unethical activity within a powerful organization. The unit emphasizes ethical inquiry, character-driven suspense, research and authenticity, and the exploration of truth, justice, and consequence. Each student will write one chapter (2,000–5,000 words) as part of a cohesive class novel.