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Welcome to Language Arts – Creative Writing

Instructor – Ms. Elizabeth Humphreys

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Creative Writing (9 – 11) will encompass narrative and descriptive writing as well as poetry. This course will offer the students an opportunity to understand and apply various literary skills, while developing and expanding their own creative writing ability. Students will be exposed to a variety of literary forms

and genre (e.g. poetry, drama, fiction, non-fiction, and science fiction). Emphasis will be on writing as a mode of expressing feeling, emotions, concepts, and imaginative ideas, while using an effective style of writing.

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Prerequisites and Requirements:

1. B average or better in English

2. Has basic knowledge of SENTENCE STRUCTURE and GRAMMAR)

3. Enjoys writing and has an aptitude for it.

4. Is prepared to do in-class writing daily, and home assignments.

5. Students must meet writing deadlines and make up missed work.

6. Schedule: Monday through Thursday = in-class study, research, and writing.

Friday = turn in final drafts for weekly writing grade.

7. Student MUST ALWAYS have writing supplies with them in class.

Supplies include writing notebook, pens/pencils, current handouts and writings in a pocket folder.

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SUPPLIES: Needed for Creative Writing

1. Students are required to purchase (from teacher) a paperback handbook, titled “Elements of Style” = discount cost $7.00 (college level) – Students will keep this.

2. A durable plastic envelope-style storage folder for their writings & handouts.

3. Student needs a 2-subject Spiral notebook – (college ruled) for writing only

4. Student needs 2 pencils or 2 pens (black ink or blue ink only)

5. Loose-leaf PAPER (college-ruled] – for handwritten finished work or do on computer.

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INSTRUCTIONAL TOOLS Available In The Classroom

Dictionary Rhyming Dictionary Computer-based Encyclopedia

Thesaurus Video/ CD/Cassettes Overhead projector/Transparencies

Magazines Image Books World Book Encyclopedia (set)

LEARNING IS REINFORCED with: Handouts, Assignment sheets, Study packets, Poetry collections for group reading, writing competition, and projects.

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CLASS RULES

¨ ALWAYS bring Writing Notebook, Pocket Folder with handouts, and Pens/ Pencils to class with you.

¨ IN THE CLASSROOM: No food! No drinks! No gum

¨ ASSIGNMENTS are due ON TIME

- If work is not turned in on time, points will be deducted from the grade.

¨ Students will be expected to make up missed work.

¨ ABSENCES due to sickness/family problems – Contact teacher for make-up work

¨ ‘Refusal’ to do assigned work will result in an ‘F’ for that assignment.

¨ If you do not understand something, by all means, ASK questions. We are here to help.

¨ COURTESY and RESPECT are PRIMARY RULES.

MAKE-UP TESTS & TUTORING– after school Mon./ Tues./ Thurs

(2:15 – 3:00 pm)

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CRITERIA for GRADING WRITTEN WORK :

1. Student follows directions.

2. Narrative prose writing must have one main topic or theme.

3. Narrative and descriptive Poetry (free verse or rhyme) must have a

consistent theme

4. Writing shows   original ideas / creativity / individual style.

5. When writing Fiction, Non-fiction, Essay, Autobiography, etc.

Student must use —

¨ Complete sentences

¨ Good paragraph structure (one main topic)

¨ Applies grammar, capitalization and punctuation for readability

¨ Type the final copy or submit a neat, readable handwritten paper.

6. Student learns to apply literary/writing skills.

7. Writing subject matter must be in ‘good judgement’ –

[NO foul language or risqué topics]

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Emphasis is on…

· WRITING: Expressing ideas, creativity, and polishing your writing skills

· UNDERSTANDING AND LEARNING TO APPLY LITERARY SKILLS: imagery, metaphor, simile, soliloquy, alliteration, assonance, personification, allusion, repetition, refrain, rhyme scheme, etc.

· EFFECTIVELY APPLYING person, voice, and tone in narrative writing.

· BEING EXPOSED TO AND USING a variety in writing: narrative & descriptive prose, satire, irony, poetry forms.

· READING, BRAINSTORMING, WRITING, and SHARING their writings with the class.

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Assessment Criteria – the 9 weeks grade is based on:

1. Tests * (each worth 100%) -------------------------------------40% of grade

2. Quizzes * (each worth 100%) ----------------------------------10% of grade

3. Homework & Class assignments (letter grade / %) ---------40% of grade

4. Participation, Presentation (letter grade) ------------------ + 10% of grade

100%

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GRADING CRITERIA

SEMESTER EXAMS, if given, will be worth 5-10% of over-all grade, depending on emphasis.

HORIZON’S GRADING SYSTEM

98-100 = A+	87-89 = B+	77-79 = C+	67-69 = D+	0-59 = F
93-97 = A	83-86 = B	73-76 = C	63-66 = D
90-92 = A-	80-82 = B-	70-72 = C-	60-62 = D-

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Ohio’s BENCHMARKS

for ACHIEVEMENT in Language Arts – Writing

¨ WRITING: Use The Writing Process, choose effective words, develop revision strategy, develop editing skill, apply and improve writing conventions (spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar). Apply writing skills to a variety of writing applications (narratives; business letters; informal essays or reports; persuasive composition; and informal writing such as journals, notes, and poems).