Creative Writing

Course Description

In Creative Writing, we will study and practice various forms of writing including memoir, short fiction, and poetry. We will use the writer’s workshop format in order to gain an understanding of various genres of literature, and to develop skills as editors of our own work and of others. 

Classroom journals will be kept as part of our focus on the writing process, which will center on developing a keen sense of poetic observation. Class participation will serve a major function in the class, as all writers are expected to share their work with others for peer evaluation.

Course Goals and Objectives:

• To read literature from a writer’s perspective

• To draft and revise writing

• To develop the writer’s craft

The course goals and policies can be found in your course expectations posted in Google Classroom on the first day of class.

Areas of Study

The course is divided into three main sections: Poetry, Non-fiction (personal narratives), and Fiction (short stories). Some of the things we will examine in this course include:

• using different poetic forms

• incorporating poetic devices

• writing effective dialogue

• establishing themes

• developing conflict and plot

• creating strong beginnings and endings

• developing characters

• establishing setting