CREATIVE WRITING 15 / 25 / 35 

• A binder, in order and up-to-date, complete with lined paper.

• Several HB pencils, pens, erasers, and highlighters.

• Post-it Notes, pencil crayons, poster paper, and other additional materials may be required for some projects.  Notification will be provided.

• A pocket dictionary and/or thesaurus (recommended).

• Class textbooks, novels, and other materials.

• A digital device such as a Chromebook or laptop is recommended. Cell phones are not sufficient in this regard. 

• Most importantly, a positive attitude and a willingness to participate.

• By Monday, February 3rd, 2025:

  • A notebook - as close as possible to 8" x 11" in size. 

  • A physical text to participate in weekly silent reading. Digital texts will not be permitted during this time. 

  • A glue stick if possible. 

• Students will attend class every day, prepared to work, with a writing utensil, an organized binder, and any other supplies or textbooks that are being used for the unit being studied.

• Food may be used responsibly, but teachers have the right to disallow food if garbage or allergies become an issue.

• Students will treat the teacher and fellow classmates with respect. Everyone has a right to be heard and to learn in a secure environment.

• Students will treat the property of the school and the property of others in a respectful manner.

• Students will not let anything impair their ability to communicate (cell phones, MP3 players, hats, etc.). The teacher may confiscate the item if it becomes an issue.

Absences:

• It is always the student’s responsibility to determine and complete any evaluative activity that has been missed. If a student misses an assignment while absent from class, that assignment will be listed as "Missing / Not Handed In / 0" in PowerSchool until such time as the assignment is completed. 

Excused Absence:

• An excused absence occurs when a parent or guardian reports an absence to the school through the School Messenger app or by phoning the school at 403-948-3800. Telephone calls from students are not acceptable, unless the student has “adult status” confirmed by the administration of BCHS. Parents are requested to notify in advance of the absence if possible. If that is not possible, parents must call the day of the absence, or no later than the day after the absence (i.e. within 24 hours) if it is to be excused. Notes received from parents within this time frame are also acceptable.

• If a student is excusably absent from class on days during which an assignment, quiz, examination or other evaluation activity occurs, the student shall be given the opportunity to make up the missed work through either the original or replacement work at the teacher's discretion.

Unexcused Absence:

• An unexcused absence includes those absences for which no phone call or note has been received within 24 hours following the absence.  If the student misses a class where there is an assignment due or a quiz or exam written, the work will be awarded a designation of “NHI” (Not Handed In), which constitutes a zero for the purpose of calculating grades. (Chapter S-3, Part 1.14, School Act, 2000).  

Late Arrivals:

• Attendance is taken withing a few minutes of the bell and then updated once the class has begun to work independently. Do not expect attendance to be adjusted immediately for students arriving late. It will be adjusted prior to the end of the period. Please be patient. 

• Please arrive to class on time.  If you are late for any reason, you will knock on the door and wait outside until it is convenient for your admission into the classroom.

• Repeatedly being late will result in disciplinary action which is specific to the presiding teacher. BCHS policy also applies.

Readability:

• Sloppy or illegible work WILL NOT be accepted.  If it can’t be read, it can’t be graded.

Reporting:

• Assignments will be populated in PowerSchool within 48 hours of the due date in questions. Assignments not received will be labelled "Missing / NHI" and scored as a zero until such time as the assignment is submitted. 

• This procedure will be followed for all assignments, even those for which a student has an extension (see not below). If the assignment is intended to be completed, it will be listed as a zero until it is completed. 

Extensions:

• Extensions on assignments will only be considered if a student makes arrangement at least one (1) day prior to the due date.  An accompanying signature/note from a parent indicating the circumstances of the extension would be welcomed.

• Assignments with extensions will still me listed as "Missing / NHI / 0"  in PowerSchool until such time as the assignment is submitted. 

• Effectively, all an extension does is prevent the assignment from being labeled as "Late."

Digital Submissions:

• Assignments may be submitted electronically only at the discretion of the presiding teacher. If the teacher in question does not permit electronic submissions, an assignment submitted in this manner will not be accepted. 

• Teachers are permitted to establish their own practices for electronic submissions.

• Digital assignments can be emailed or shared with Mr. Smith at andrewjsmith@rvschools.ab.ca. 

Missed Assignments/Earned Zero Policy:

• When a student has an excused absence, it is their responsibility to contact the teacher about missed work, as they are still responsible for the work covered in your absence. 

• If a task is given that day, the student must contact the teacher to determine a mutually agreeable time for missed assignments to be handed in for marking. Such issues must be discussed with the teacher on the day of the student’s return to classes, or earlier if possible (email).

• If excusably absent on the due date of an assignment, then the assignment is due the day you return to school.

The following assignment policies will apply to the class:

• Assignments submitted on the due date will be marked in as timely a fashion as possible (typically two to three weeks, depending on the size and type of assignment). These assignments will be given a rubric and formative feedback. 

• Assignments submitted up to TWO WEEKS LATE after the due date will be marked as other assignments allow. Late assignments are not the priority, and the only timeline that can be assured is that they will be marked prior to the end of the semester. "Missing / NHI / 0" labels will be removed in PowerSchool within 48 hours of the assignment being submitted. Students will no written feedback on late work, but may arrange a time to discuss the assignment in person with Mr. Smith.  

• Assignments submitted more than two weeks late will be labeled as "Missing / NHI" and will be awarded a score of zero. Assignments such as this can only be made up during the Recovery Period at the end of the semester. 

Please Note: The presiding teacher has no onus to grade late work immediately. The teacher will do everything in their power to mark late work as quickly as possible, but it may not be marked until the conclusion of the course.

Rewritten Assignments:

• Some assignments qualify for replacement grades, which means the most recent example of student achievement will replace the previous one.

• If the teacher determines that a rewrite on an assignment is appropriate, the following guidelines apply:

1. Corrections are not permitted. Assignments must be re-written (i.e. completing a different question or topic) under the guidance of the presiding teacher.

2. Re-written assignments are due on the date noted by the presiding teacher. Once this date has passed, students will not be permitted to hand in re-writes for the assignment in question.

3. Re-written assignments must be submitted with:

-        The original, marked assignment;

-        The mark sheet for the original assignment.

4. Before a major assignment (such as an essay or another composition) is re-written, the student must discuss it with the presiding teacher one-on-one.

If the noted guidelines are not adhered to, the re-written assignment will not be accepted.

An educationally functional electronic device as outlined by Bert Church High School policy is an asset.  If such a device is to be used, it is expected that students will bring their device to class with charge sufficient for use throughout the period.

In general, the use of AI to produce either the whole or a portion of an assignment, composition, or project is prohibited. There may be times where AI will be used under teacher direction, but any use of such programs for any aspect of the course must be approved by the teacher and documented on the final, submitted assignment.  

• If it is discovered that students have used AI programs without permission, it will be considered an instance of Cheating / Plagiarism and be subject to the polices noted below. 

Cheating includes:

• Informing other individuals what material is on a test or quiz. 

• Taking notes or other aids into a text or quiz when it has been forbidden. 

• Copying - in whole or part - off the work of another student. 

Plagiarism is when one student passes off another individual’s work as his or her own; the other individual in question may be a peer or an artist, author, or writer. Plagiarism is the most serious academic offence and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. 

Cheating and plagiarism also includes the use of AI programs to compose student work, in whole or in part. 

Any task, assignment, quiz, or test that is presented with evidence of cheating or plagiarism, a grade of zero (0) may be awarded. Additionally, students found to have used AI programs to complete their work will lose the ability to complete future work digitally and will have to do so by hand. 

• Students will be instructed in the proper use of, and how to cite secondary sources throughout the course.

• Students will also be instructed in what constitutes acceptable use of AI programs and software. 

• If in doubt, check with the presiding teacher as soon as possible, absolutely before the assignment is submitted.

Cell phones do not replace the use of a Chromebook/Laptop, and significant research reveals that such devices are immense distractions to student learning and impediments to success. As such, cell phones, tablets, and other non-educational electronic devices should not be used in-class unless expressly directed by the teacher. 

Cell phones and other electronic devices may be used with teacher discretion during individual student work time. They must be away and out-of-sight during all other times unless specific permission is granted by Mr. Smith. The use of such devices is governed by RVS Administrative Procedure 148: Responsible use of Personal Mobile Devices and Social Media in Schools. It includes the following consequences for misuse of a device:

1. A warning to put the device away is issued by the teacher. 

2. The teacher takes the device away and informs parents / guardians. 

3. The device is sent to the office and the principal informs parents / guardians. 

4. The device is sent to the office. The Principal informs parents / guardians. The device stays at home or in the school office. 

Ultimately, RVS strongly encourages students to leave their devices at home. Learners can bring their personal laptop/tablet to school if it is being used for instructional purposes as directed by the teacher. Should they choose to bring devices to school they must be out of sight and turned off or silent unless authorized by a teacher to meet learning outcomes. Parents/guardians and students assume full responsibility if their device is lost, stolen or damaged. It is not the responsibility of RVS staff.

Remember, cell phones and social media are excellent repositories of information but have an abysmal affect on students' ability to learn and achieve. In almost all cases, the first intervention asked of a student trying to improve their grade will be to remove their electronic devices from the classroom.  

• Planning - 12.5%

• Revising & Editing - 12.5%

• Long Form - 24%

• Short Form & Alternate Genre - 16%

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Assignments will appear in PowerSchool as "Collected (✓)" or "Missing (0 / NHI)" within 48 hours of an assignment due date, even assignments granted an extension. . 

• If an assignment has not been submitted at this time, students and parents will be notified by email. 

• EXTENSIONS - The only thing asking for an extension does is prevent Mr. Smith from labelling an assignment as "Late" in PowerSchool. Assignments not submitted on time will still be listed as "Missing (0 / NHI)" until they are submitted. 

• EXEMPTIONS will only be granted after a discussion, ideally in person. 

LATE ARRIVALS:

• Attendance is taken withing a few minutes of the bell, and then updated once the class has begun to work independently. Do not expect attendance to be adjusted immediately for students arriving late. It will be adjusted prior to the end of the period. Please be patient. 

• If you do not talk to Mr. Smith at some point during the period after arriving late, you are not present. 

• Even if your seat is in the front row, DO NOT WALK IN FRONT OF MR. SMITH OR ANY OTHER PRESENTER WHEN ARRIVING LATE. This is a small but important habit that will serve you well in all future workplaces. 

LEAVING EARLY:

• Mr. Smith does not have the authority to allow you to leave early for any reason (even work) without parent/guardian permission. 

• To leave early, it must be listed as such in PowerSchool (i.e. your parents / guardians phoned and spoke to the office staff), I must receive confirmation from the office staff, or I must speak to your parents directly. 

PARTICIPATION IN CLASS:

• I'm going to call on you occasionally during class discussions even if you don't have your hand up. It's perfectly fine to say you're not sure or to decline to comment. I will not think less of you in any way. 

• If, however, you're on your cell phone during discussions, I'm definitely going to call on you.

The FOUR P's:

• Be PRESENT

• PUT AWAY THE PHONE

• PAY ATTENTION

• PARTICIPATE

1. DO THE READING:

1. • The entirety of this course contains as much reading as the first four to six weeks for the average post-secondary student. This is a great time to develop reading management skills. 

   • Additionally, develop a daily reading habit. Twenty minutes a day of something you enjoy without electronic distractions will go a long way to furthering your critical reading skills. 

2. WRITING IS AN ART, AND ART IS A PROCESS:

• Failure is part of the process. Sometimes you won't know what doesn't work until you've tried it. This is why you have to plan, complete rough drafts, revise and edit, and sometimes do all that more than once before you have a serviceable final draft. 

• Beyond that, anything you can do to develop your writing skills will go a long way to developing your critical writing skills. 

  • Write letters to a romantic partner, post reviews online, write to your grandparents, start a Wattpad account and write bad fanfiction, etc. 

3. CLASS TIME IS WORKING TIME:

• The only true homework I assign is reading. Other than that, you will receive A LOT of work time in class. Use it. Put away the cell phone, save the inappropriate stories for times when the adults are not around (I have excellent hearing), and get the work done in the time you've got.

• "Do your work on time. " (Mentioned by 25 students)

  • • "It sucks to write essays in January on stuff you read in September."

    • "When stuff is handed in on time, you get great feedback from him."

    • "The only thing that makes this class hard is procrastination."

    • "He'll take the work whenever, but don't abuse this."

    • "Do not procrastinate!!!!!" 

    • "Deadlines are your friend."

• "Ask lots of questions. Ask for help. Ask for feedback." (Mentioned by 19 students)

  • • "He is a very critical marker, so be sure to ask for feedback before handing stuff in." (Mentioned by 2 students)

    • "Revising and editing is the key to good grades on essays."

    • "Email him when you have questions, even if it's 3:00am." 

• "Do the work." (Mentioned by 16 students)

  • • "He'll make sure you pass if you do the work."

    • "The work seems hard, but it's not once you do it."

    • "He gives you so much time to work. I can't believe how much time I wasted this year."

    • "Just do the work, it's not as bad as it seems."

    • "Try your hardest. Your effort will be seen."

• "Pay attention." (Mentioned by 13 students)

  • • "Actually pay attention in class. He went over your question already."

    • "Take notes in class in class. Take notes when you read. Just take notes."

• "If you are nice and respectful to him, he will be nice and respectful to you." (Mentioned by 12 students)

  • • "He's an honorable guy but don't make him mad."

• "Do the daily grammar." (Mentioned by 6 students)

  • • "Might not like the daily grammar, but it really helped my writing."

• "Participate in class." (Mentioned by 5 students)

  • • "This dude is super boring, but he'll talk to you about anything. Get him distracted and you won't have to do any work."

    • "Getting engaged in the class makes it more fun."

• "Audio books are how you will pass this class. If you don't read, listen." 

• "Sparknotes are a great secondary tool." 

• "Be kind to those around you." 

• "Stop gaming until 4:00am." 

• "Sit with people who are smarter than you."

• "Dude likes his poetry. Get used to it."

• "Wear sunglasses. Sometimes the shine off his bald head is shocking."

• No relationships. If you and your romantic partner are in this classroom together, you break up as you enter the room. Whether or not you get back together as you exit is not for me to decide. 

  • A single course constitutes approximately one hundred and twenty-five hours, which means your relationship is about a week younger than you think it is. Adjust your anniversaries accordingly. 

  • If you would like to work an EX into your writing, change their name. Mr. Smith does not need to know personal details about students he may encounter later on in his career.

• No swearing during peace time unless it is a direct quote from a work of literature. If a war on the North American continent breaks out, you go to town.

• No licking. If you come to class with an ice-cream cone, I expect you to bite it. 

• No spitting.

• No sticky water (i.e. pop, juice, etc.) on Mr. Smith’s floors.

• No tattooing in class, whether permanent ink, impermanent ink, invisible ink, henna, or any other medium. This includes tattooing on clothing, desks, or skin. 

• No giving or receiving massages. Plutonic, romantic, or otherwise. 

• No giving or receiving piercings.

• No using books as table, chair, or shelf supports. YOU WILL RESPECT LITERATURE IN THIS COURSE. YES, EVEN BAD LITERATURE (You do not have to respect bad authors; I.e., Harry Potter is in. J. K. Rowling is out). 

• No parkour. 

• No sitting on laps. Human, animal, or otherwise. 

• No discussions of how much of a hipster Shakespeare would be if he was alive today.

• No discussions of an author’s poor work habits as a means to justify your own poor work habits. 

• No multilevel marketing schemes.

  • With respect to school fundraisers, the first student to ask Mr. Smith - whether he teaches them or not - is the sole student he will support if the product being sold suits his interests. 

• No spoilers within fourteen days of a film’s release or one month of a book’s release.

• No discussions about how you could have written a better book / poem / screenplay / dramatic script without evidence.   

• No marriages. 

• No referring to someone as your child unless they are biologically your child. 

  • If you have a child and your childcare is not available, Mr. Smith will gladly hold your baby and teach the class so you can take notes and complete your work. 

• No threatening to “kill yourself,” ironically or otherwise. 

  • If this is a serious thought, talk to me.

  • If you tell someone else to “kill themselves” you will be asked to leave. 

• No fire. 

• No cremations. Of people, animals, insects, or anything else. 

• You make a mess, here or anywhere else, you clean it up.

• No epic high-fives or hand slaps - e.g., Predator style - until the essay (etc. ) is complete. 

• You may touch Mr. Smith's bald head for luck once per course, though you should know the last student to do so failed English 30...