EMPATHY-BASED LITERACY: DEVELOPING THE ESSAY ANTHOLOGY “MERAJUT MAKNA DALAM KEBERAGAMAN: REFLEKSI PENDIDIKAN DAN BUDAYA", THROUGH A LOVE-BASED CURRICULUM

Abstract

This study aims to describe the learning process of opinion/essay writing among Grade XII students at MAN Kota Palangka Raya through the “Love-Based Curriculum” approach. This approach emphasizes empathy and emotional connectedness to social, environmental, and cultural phenomena. The research employed a descriptive qualitative method involving 54 students and 10 teacher representatives as research subjects. The findings indicate that this approach successfully encouraged students to write independently without coercion. A tangible outcome of this study is the publication of an essay anthology entitled “Merajut Makna dalam Keberagaman: Refleksi Pendidikan dan Budaya.” This success demonstrates that care-based literacy is capable of producing authentic and meaningful written works.