Creative Writing
Ms. Wood
Course Overview:
Welcome to Creative Writing! This course is designed to enhance your creativity in your writing and thinking skills. Some areas that will be explored over the course of the semester include, but are not limited to, short stories, poetry, a children’s book, and playwriting. Your goal, by the end of the semester, is to place all of your work in an organized portfolio.
Unit One: Introduction to Creative Writing Collaborative Writing,
Description, Dialogue Plot Structure,
Showing not Telling, Creating Hooks/Leads Short Story Analysis
Unit Two: Writing Fiction/ Short Stories
The Evil Twin—characterization, dialogue, and point of view: The creation of two characters (which are completely opposite) that meet and affect each others lives in some way. (3-4 pages)
Science Fiction/Fantasy—plot and setting: The creation of a unique plot and setting that falls into the category of science fiction. (5-7 pages)
Mystery Story—suspense: The creation of an incident, at least three suspects, and evidence. (3-4 pages)
Note: each paper is worth 50 pts.
Unit Three: Children’s Literature Fish Tale
Children’s Book Fractured Fairy Tale
Also each assignment will require you to follow specific guidelines and work on specific skills.
Unit Four: Poetry Portfolio (Final Exam) (200pts.)
Alphabet Poem Haiku Limerick
List Poem Paste Pot Poem
Ballad Student’s Complaint Poem Sonnet
Imagery Alliteration/Assonance
**Remember that you are writing for a school age audience, thus vulgar language, innuendos, racial slurs, and stereotypical language will not be tolerated. If this becomes a problem you will receive a 0, with the option of rewriting the paper for half credit.
Materials: You will need 2 notebooks—one notebook to compose your rough drafts and one notebook to be used as a journal. You will begin class each day by
completing a journal entry from a list of prompts that will be provided to you. .
Academic Guidelines:
Each assignment must be turned in at the beginning of your class period on the date that it is due. Late work will not receive full credit. For each week that your assignment is late your grade will drop one letter grade (there are no exceptions). Once we move on to a new unit, you will no longer be allowed to turn in papers for credit from the previous unit. Thus, it is very important that you utilize lab time wisely.
Absences:
Grading Policy
At the end of each six-week period, you will receive a letter grade based on a 100% scale. Grades are cumulative until the end of each semester. Your grades will be determined according to the district grading scale: **Note: It is important to participate in your writer response group because you will receive points for each discussion. If you are absent you will need to make arrangements to complete an alternate assignment.
A=100-93 B=92-85 C=84-77 D=76-70
F=69 and below
Behavior
As high school students, you are recognized as young adults. In this class you will be viewed as young adults and will be expected to meet your responsibilities. It is expected of every student to do his/her part to maintain the proper learning environment. The following list of behaviors are considered unacceptable and will result in detentions, parent phone calls, and/or, referrals.
1. Inappropriate language, ethnic slurs and jokes, and other forms of disrespectful comments or actions to teachers or other students in the class
2. Talking out of turn or when someone is speaking.
3. Failure to be in your assigned seat when the bell rings or moving to a seat not assigned to you without permission.
4. Making noises, making faces, talking, etc.— anything which distracts others and disrupts class.
5. The throwing of any object or using the wastebasket as a basketball hoop. 6. The abuse or destruction of property (school’s or teacher’s)
7. Any behavior that is harmful to someone else. 8. Arriving at class without the proper supplies.
9. Writing notes, doing other work during class time, sleeping, or eating in class. 10. Abuse of the hall pass.
Consequences for inappropriate behaviors:
1st offense: verbal warning 3rd offense: 15-30 minute detention after school
2nd offense: verbal warning 4th offense: referral/parent phone call
Bio-Poem
Interview a partner. Ask enough questions to find the information you need to write the following eleven line poem about him or her. You will be introducing your partner to the class by reading the poem out loud. Using construction paper, markers, glitter, etc. you need to explore your creativity and make the poem aesthetically pleasing. A finished poem might look like this:
Line 1: The person’s first name Tim
Line 2: Four trait’s that describe him or her Smart, absent minded, foolish, and witty Line 3: Sibling of. . . Brother of Connie and Grace
Line 4: Lover of . . . (3 ideas) Lover of justice, freedom, and equality
Line 5: Who feels. . . (3 items) Who feels joy on a sunny day, proud of getting A’s, and fear in the dark
Line 6: Who needs. . . (3 items) Who needs fresh air, the game of tennis, and a decent dinner
Line 7: Who gives. . . (3 items) Who gives help, laughs, and good jokes Line 8: Who fears. . . (3 items) Who fears the dark, the flu, and tests Line 9: Who would like to see. . . (3 items) Who would like to see a peaceful
planet, a great yearbook, and a fun school year
Line 10: Resident of (name of city), (road name) Oshkosh, Kirkwood
