Creative Writing
Creative Writing
This course is for students who are interested in creative writing. Through daily reading and writing, students will build their narrative and grammatical 'tool box' and produce pieces of both short and longer fiction.
Prerequisites: None
½ credit
Introduction
Creative Writing will introduce you to a variety of types of writing. Creativity can present itself in many ways, from formal writing, to journaling, to discussion, and we will engage in all of them. Students will write several pieces over the 9-week course, and will finish with a well-rounded creative writing portfolio. This class requires that students work independently towards deadlines and engage with peers actively in the editing and revision process. There will be daily journaling along with the larger projects.
Necessary Materials
1) notebook - required every day. Single subject, just for creative writing
2) Pens and pencils.
3) Highlighters
Rules and Expectations
All students are to adhere to rules and expectations set by the Pittsville Student Handbook. In addition:
1) Students must arrive to class on time every day ready to give their best effort. This means having all materials as well as a good attitude.
2) Students have 2 days after an excused absence to make up work. Once that time has passed, and for all other late work, students must fill out a “late work request” form.
3) Make-up tests will be offered to students who fill out the “re-teach, re-do, re-take request” form and complete all necessary components.
4) Cheating will not be tolerated. This includes plagiarism. Cheating/plagiarizing will result in having to re-do the assignment as well as disciplinary action.
5) Students are expected to be respectful of all people, spaces, and materials.
Grading Breakdown and Scale
Writing projects/Presentations………………….…………………………..50%
Classwork/Participation……...…………..…………………………………...30%
Journaling………...…………………..…………………………………………….20%
A final project will be assigned that will be 10% of the final grade
Your course grade will be determined using the following grading scale
93 – 100 A 80 – 82 B- 67 – 69 D+
90 – 92 A- 77 – 79 C+ 63 – 66 D
87 – 89 B+ 73 – 76 C 60 – 62 D-
83 – 86 B 70 – 72 C- Below 60 F
Topics to be Covered
Week 1: Journalism
Week 2: Narrative #1
Week 3: Poetry
Week 4: Narrative #2
Week 5: Drama/Screenwriting
Week 6: Narrative#3
Week 7: Memoir
Week 8: Children’s Books
Week 9: Finals Week Project
Essential Standards to be Covered
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
Engage and orient the reader by setting out a problem, situation, or observation and its significance, establishing one or multiple point(s) of view, and introducing a narrator and/or characters; create a smooth progression of experiences or events.
Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, reflection, and multiple plot lines, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.
Use a variety of techniques to sequence events so that they build on one another to create a coherent whole and build toward a particular tone and outcome (e.g., a sense of mystery, suspense, growth, or resolution).
Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters.
Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on what is experienced, observed, or resolved over the course of the narrative.
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.