✍️ 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!