SWHS Creative Writing2011-2012 Mrs.

Beavers
Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~William Wordsworth And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. ~Sylvia Plath The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say. ~Anas Nin

Class Description Creative writing expresses the writers thoughts and feelings in an imaginative, often unique, and poetic way (Sil.org What is Creative Writing?). Creative writing includes traditional genres such as fiction, poetry, and drama, as well as digital forms and even non-fiction. Over the course of the semester, you will have the opportunity to explore and practice writing in all of these genres. Course Expectations 1. RESPECT: My first priority for this class is to create a safe space for you to share your writing. At no time will it be appropriate to laugh at or ridicule a classmate's writing pieces or ideas. I also expect you to listen while I teach mini-lessons and give information. Basically, if I am talking, you are not. 2. PARTICIPATION: It is vital that you participate in all writing tasks and discussions. You must also follow the guidelines for the writing response groups that the class creates. A large portion of your grade will come from this area. 3. PREPARATION: First of all, be on time. Enter class and get started on the quickwrite (or read your independent book if one is not on the board). Come to class with both reading and writing assignments completed so you can fully participate in response groups and conferences. On days we are sharing our writing, make sure that you bring a copy of your writing piece for each group member. Course Requirements 1. Writer's Notebook: We will begin class each day with an invitation to writing. These are quickwrites that you will complete in your notebook from a given prompt. You will also be expected to write in your notebooks outside of class. I will give you ideas for this out-of-class writing, but it can include pretty much anythingobservations, reflections, illustrations, etc. Writer's Notebook entries will most likely become drafts of your assigned writing pieces. 2. Mini-Lessons: In addition to the writing you will do in your notebook, you will also record notes and complete exercises over topics essential to good writing. These will be included in your notebook grade. 3. Reading responses. Stephen King says in his book On Writing that if you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or tools to write. I believe that reading is essential to becoming a good writer. During each

unit, you will be responsible for reading and responding to examples of the genre we are studying. Many of these responses will be completed during class, but occasionally they will be assigned as homework. 4. Writing response groups: Throughout the writing process, you will respond to your classmates' writing in small groups using the PQP methodpraise, question, polish. You will complete a written record of each session to turn in to me. Throughout the semester, I will also hold one-on-one conferences with you to discuss your writing piece. I would like you to write your drafts using Google Docs so that I may easily access them and make comments. 5. Completed pieces. You will be responsible for turning in three completed pieces/projects as a portfolio of your work throughout the semester. These will include a short story, a poetry notebook, and another writing piece of your choice. Units AugustMid-September: Narrative non-fiction and short stories Mid-SeptemberNovember: Poetry December: Digital writing (comics, children's books, other forms) Materials/Resources Composition book Flash drive Folder with notebook paper and pockets for handouts Pen/pencil Google Docs account Late Work Students are expected to turn in all assignments on time. Smaller homework assignments will not be accepted late. These include answering questions over a short story, etc. Larger assignments such as drafts and final writing pieces will be accepted late, but ten points will be deducted for each day it is late. In the event of an excused absence, it will be the students responsibility to check with me to see what was missed. The student will have three days to make up any missed assignments. Late work must be handed directly to me to receive any credit. Cheating Cheating WILL NOT be tolerated in my class. I consider cheating to be stealing another's work and calling it your own. This includes, but is not limited to, copying from another student; text messaging, downloading from the Internet, plagiarism, and/or using cheat sheets. If any of this behavior is observed, you will receive a zero on the assignment or test and disciplinary action may follow. Tardies You must be in the classroom before the tardy bell finishes ringing. I expect you to enter and begin working on the quickwrite or to read quietly until class begins.

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