Syllabus

Dr. Lesia Patterson
Creative Writing and Career Exploration
   lfpatterson@greenville.k12.sc.us       864-452-0916

Creative Writing and Career Exploration Syllabus

This course is an introduction to the art of creative writing and publishing.  Class participants will write and revise pieces in various genres including personal essays, short stories, and poetry.  The central focus of the class is to write using various processes, using mentor texts as inspiration and models, and learning from providing and listening to feedback.  Most important we will be learning to engage in a supportive creative community that empowers individual curiosity, and artistic risk-taking. 


Realizing that all students do not learn at the same rate or in the same way, instruction will lend itself to varied learning levels and styles. Many times students will be offered choices on how to show mastery of the material taught. Students will be guided individually and in smaller instructional groups. The resource teacher will be advised of the course content and testing dates to better assist students with special needs.  

GOALS:  

My goal is to ensure that my students know that I care about them as individuals and as learners. It is also my goal to improve reading comprehension, writing skills, and communication techniques through the study of literature.  I want to share a contagious love for learning and nurture my students in the learning process. 

Instruction will be based on the Greenville County Schools curriculum guide and the South Carolina  English Curriculum Standards. These standards can be accessed on the SC Department of Education website. 


Procedures for Recording Student Progress

Students are assessed using both formative and summative assessments. Daily class assessments,  assessments in Mastery Connect, virtual projects, and quizzes will be included in these assessments. Summative assessments via project-based learning are assessed with rubrics. Students in English II will take the state End-of-Course Test.


District-Wide Grading Scale 

Student progress is cumulatively assessed every nine weeks in the following way:


Supplemental Materials & Supplies

Homework Policy 

It is crucial that all students complete homework and turn it in on time. Homework will be used for the purpose of previewing or reviewing material taught in class. Additional homework will be assigned as needed to reinforce concepts and skills. Students will only have homework when assignments are not completed during class or they are preparing for a major assessment.  


Makeup Work & Attendance Policy 

Students must make up missed work within 5 days of returning to school.  Students are responsible for making arrangements with teachers to make up work. I should be contacted before or immediately after the excused absence. Students must complete and turn in work on time to receive full credit.  


Email

I strongly encourage students to email me with questions at lfpatterson@greenvilleschools.us.

Please email.  I respond to all emails within 24 hours unless there is an emergency or if it is a holiday or weekend. Please do not expect an email response on weekends or after 6:00 PM on school nights. I will respond to emails during my planning times.  I will not respond to an email that is unprofessional. In other words, an email must have a greeting, complete sentences and paragraphs, accurate punctuation and spelling, and be signed with first and last name and class period. Diction, punctuation, and sentence structure are also paramount because they create the tone of the email.   


Class Rules