Creative Writing
7 & 8th Grade 

✍️ Hughes Academy – Creative Writing Syllabus
Instructor: Dr. Leslie Janin Starr
Email: Lesliejaninstarr@greenville.k12.sc.us
Room: 107
School Year: 2025–2026

📌 Course Overview

Welcome to Creative Writing at Hughes Academy! This course is designed to help students grow into confident, imaginative, and skilled writers through a wide variety of engaging and hands-on activities. With an emphasis on the EBW (Evidence-Based Writing) Approach, students will learn how to express themselves effectively across multiple forms of writing.

This class is a safe and collaborative space to take creative risks, build writing fluency, and develop a strong voice as an author.

🎯 Key Focus Areas

Throughout the year, students will strengthen their writing through targeted instruction and practice in:

• Expository Writing – Explaining ideas clearly and logically

• Narrative Writing – Crafting stories with characters, dialogue, and plot

• Persuasive/Argumentative Writing – Making strong, supported claims

• Research Skills – Finding, evaluating, and integrating credible information

• Audience & Purpose – Tailoring writing for different readers and goals

• Editing & Revision – Improving structure, clarity, grammar, and style

🧠 Engaging & Creative Units

We’ll bring writing to life through hands-on, project-based learning activities, including:

• Short Story Writing

• “Who Done It?” Mystery Unit

• Project-Based Learning & Multimedia Writing

• Graphic Organizers to Plan & Structure Ideas

• Game Boards & Escape Rooms to Review and Reinforce Concepts

• Peer Review & Writing Workshops

• Publishing & Sharing Final Pieces

📚 Course Materials

Please bring the following each day:

• Notebook or journal (Composition Book

• Chromebook or school-issued device

• Folder or binder for writing drafts and handouts

• Pens/pencils/colored pencils

• A creative and curious mindset!

📈  Grading Scale:

            A         90 – 100

            B         80 – 89

            C         70 – 79

            D         60 -  69

            F         59 & below

  GFA: Grade Floor Applied
                Your child showed mastery on less than 50% of the information
                  being assessed, resulting in less than 50 out of 100 possible
                  points

NHI: Not Handed In
                Your child has not turned in the assignment

✅ Expectations

In our creative writing classroom, students are expected to:

• Take risks and explore their unique writing voice

• Respect each other’s ideas and writing styles

• Participate actively in workshops and group activities

• Revise work thoughtfully and accept constructive feedback

• Meet deadlines and put effort into every draft

📝 Feedback & Assessment

Students will receive regular feedback through:

• Rubrics for major writing assignments

• Peer and teacher conferences

• Writing reflections and goal setting

• Opportunities for revision and publication

📬 Communication

Please feel free to reach out at any time with questions or concerns.
📧 Email: Lesliejaninstarr@greenville.k12.sc.us
Office hours and extra help will be announced as needed.

🌟 Final Note

This course is not just about writing—it’s about storytelling, creativity, and finding your unique voice. Let’s make this a fun, supportive, and inspiring year of writing together!