2012-13- SYLLABUS- Creative Writing (1)

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SYLLABUSCourse: Creative Writing Grades: 9-12Teacher: Mrs. Williams Term: Fall 2012

Course Description: In this elective writing class, students will learn to identify and use the elements that characterize good writing and buildthe competency skills that make writing clear. Students will complete a series of creative assignments and projects, which

will guide them on the road to writing proficiency. ***THIS IS A WRITING INTENSIVE COURSE! Students will be expectedto produce a minimum of 1 pages writing (most of the time more) on a daily basis. A small composition size notebookmust be used for daily journaling. Please make this purchase by the return from Labor Day. If this serves as a problem,

please see me.***

Topics of Instruction:~Writing Assignments may include but not be limited to the following:

Writers Profile

Writers Workshops

Topics to be addressedmay include active voice,

audience, clarity,coherence, development,dialogue, style, originality,unity, and competencyskills.

Journal

Personal Narrative/ Memoir

Writing

Descriptive Writing Character Sketch

Childrens Book

Dialogue

Short Story

Mystery

Poetry

Tabloid News Articles

Restaurant Reviews Science Fiction/Fantasy

Script

~Major Projects Include:1. Group Project

Class Literary MagazineWe will publish a literary magazine for our class. Each student must submit at least twocreative writing samples. Students may submit artwork as well. Additionally, students will work as editors,proofreaders, art directors, and writers. This project occurs at the end of the semester.

2. Individual ProjectsWriting PortfolioThe writing portfolio will include a table of contents, revised writing samples, and self-evaluationessays. The finished product will be 50 percent of your final exam. Please keep all final copies of your writingsthroughout the semester. This will make it easier to put together your portfolio.

Childrens Book- Students in creative writing will create a childrens book that will be published.

Grading Policy

Grading Scale

A 90%-100% B 80%-89% C 70%-79% D 65%-69% F 64% or below

Most assessments will be in the form of a writing assignment . For example, students will learn how to write a charactersketch; then, as a test of their knowledge, they will write one. With each assignment, students will receive a rubric with adetailed explanation of grading for that assignment. All points earned for any assessments are weighted equally. Studentsmay keep a running tab of grades and can figure out their average at any time by calculating the total number of pointsearned divided by the total number of points possible. Major writing assignments will be worth 75-150 points.

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Additional assessments include:

Quizzes~ Periodically you may be given quizzes to assess your knowledge gained in writers workshops . Quizzes

will typically be worth 5 to 50 points depending on the amount of time spent on the material.

Writers Journal~ Journals will be collected every three weeks. Each entry is worth 5 points for a possible total of

75 points at each collection. Late journals will adhere to the late work policy. Therefore, the journal is considered amajor writing assignment. Take it seriously.

Writing Portfolio, Literary Magazine, Final Writing/Exam~ The writing portfolio is worth 50% of your final exam.

All students must hand in a writing portfolio. The literary magazine is worth 25% of the final and the in-class writingwill make up the remaining 25%.

Class Participation~ Class Participation includes attendance, promptness, level of engagement in class, listening

skills, behavior, and preparation. Score is based on a rubric, which will be discussed in class.

Make-up Work: If you are absent when a major assignment is due, it must be turned in on your first day back. If you checkin or out of school, on the day an assignment is due (**unless you have a valid emergency**), it is still due that day. It isyour responsibility to check in with me for the work that you missed.

Late Work PolicyIn life everyday people are expected to adhere to deadlines and this is no different for school work. However, deadlines maybe extended for justifying circumstances as long as teacher is notified in a special extension form by the due date of theproject. Students may receive up to two extensions throughout the semester. All work for which an extension form is notfilled out and submitted in a timely manner will adhere to the following guidelines:

Students will receive 10% deduction for each day late.After three days late, students may not receive more than 70% credit for assignments.Assignments which are 10 or more days late will only receive 50% credit.

Revision WorkAs we promote revision in writing, students will be able to revise work for which they wish to improve. Revisions may besubmitted at any point in the semester, up to two weeks prior to the close of the semester. Late work is not eligible forresubmission.

Retake Policy- It is my policy that students may retake quizzes in which student is not satisfied with first grade, however,the following applies to retakes:

1. Student must attempt the first administration of the quiz. (see absentee policy)2. Students may retake a quiz a maximum of two times to achieve up to a 90%.3. A retakewill not be scored above a 90%.4. In order to be eligible for a retake, student must correct original exam, complete retake request form

and short writing explaining why you are choosing to retake, and submit both original exam and retakerequest/writing to Mrs. Williams at least 3 days before scheduling a retake.

PLAGIARISM/ CHEATING: If you use ideas or passages from another writer for example, from a book, a magazine or awebsite you mustgive proper credit to the original source. If you dont, it is considered cheating plagiarism, to be exact and you will automatically receive a failing grade on that assignment, along with other consequences listed undercheating in the student handbook. All students will be required to complete a plagiarism and cheating unit at the beginningof the semester. In addition all students will receive a copy of the schools honor code and the School-Wide AssessmentProcedure (SWAP) to read and become familiar with.

***Engaging in plagiarism and/or cheating is just a bad idea.Remember, when you choose the behavior, youalso choose the consequence***

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Classroom Procedures and ExpectationsStudents are expected to follow classroom policies and procedures at all times as well as the S.O.C.K. and student

handbook rules. Much of the class participation grade will be based on ability to follow all rules within the classroom.Policies and procedures will be discussed and posted in class.

Daily Journal Rubric

Daily Journaling will be worth 5 points per day for a total of up to 25 points per week. Writings will be collectedevery three weeks and assessed according to the following guidelines.

5 points Students writing reflects a great deal of creativity and thoughtful reflection. Student answers allparts of the questions/writing prompt in a minimum of five complete sentences. Student met thefollowing three basic requirements: writing is legible, prompt is written above response, and journalentry is dated appropriately.

4 points Students writing reflects creativity and thoughtful reflection. Student answers all parts of the

questions/writing prompt in a minimum of four complete sentences or student is missing one of thethree basic requirements.

3 points Students writing reflects creativity. Student answers some of the questions/writing prompt in aminimum of four complete sentences and student is missing one of the three basic requirements.

2 points Students writing reflects some creativity. Student answers some of the questions/writing prompt inless than four complete sentences and student is missing more than one of the three basicrequirements.

1 point Students writing reflects little creativity. Student answers some of the questions/writing prompt inless than four complete sentences and student is missing more than one of the three basicrequirements.

0 points No attempt is made to respond to the journal question/writing prompt.

PLEASE ATTACH THIS RUBRIC TO THE INSIDE-FRONTCOVER OF YOUR WRITING JOURNAL.

(sign and return bottom portion- place top portion in your Creative Writing binder/folder)_________________________________________________________________________________

Student Name (PRINTED NAME): ___________________________________________Student Signature: ___________________________________ Date: ____________________

(Who would I contact if I had important information to share?)Parent/Guardian Contact (PRINTED NAME): ___________________________________Contact Phone #: __________________________ Alternate phone #: ________________________Contact Email: ________________________________________________Check all that apply: I prefer to be contacted via _____ phone _____alternate # ____email.

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Parent/Guardian Signature: ____________________________ Date: ____________________

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2012-13- SYLLABUS- Creative Writing (1)