SYLLABUS Course: Creative Writing Teacher: Mrs.

Williams Grades: 9-12 Term: Fall 2012

Course Description: In this elective writing class, students will learn to identify and use the elements that characterize good writing and build the 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 expected to produce a minimum of 1 pages writing (most of the time more) on a daily basis. A small composition size notebook
must 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 Journal Writers Workshops Personal Narrative/ Memoir Topics to be addressed may include active voice, Writing audience, clarity, Descriptive Writing coherence, development, Character Sketch dialogue, style, originality, Childrens Book unity, and competency Dialogue skills.

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 two creative 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 Projects Writing PortfolioThe writing portfolio will include a table of contents, revised writing samples, and self-evaluation essays. The finished product will be 50 percent of your final exam. Please keep all final copies of your writings throughout 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 character sketch; then, as a test of their knowledge, they will write one. With each assignment, students will receive a rubric with a detailed explanation of grading for that assignment. All points earned for any assessments are weighted equally. Students may keep a running tab of grades and can figure out their average at any time by calculating the total number of points earned divided by the total number of points possible. Major writing assignments will be worth 75-150 points.

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 a major 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 writing will 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 is your responsibility to check in with me for the work that you missed. Late Work Policy In life everyday people are expected to adhere to deadlines and this is no different for school work. However, deadlines may be extended for justifying circumstances as long as teacher is notified in a special extension form by the due date of the project. Students may receive up to two extensions throughout the semester. All work for which an extension form is not filled 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 Work As we promote revision in writing, students will be able to revise work for which they wish to improve. Revisions may be submitted at any point in the semester, up to two weeks prior to the close of the semester. Late work is not eligible for resubmission. 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 retake will 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 retake request/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 a website you must give 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 under cheating in the student handbook. All students will be required to complete a plagiarism and cheating unit at the beginning of the semester. In addition all students will receive a copy of the schools honor code and the School-Wide Assessment Procedure (SWAP) to read and become familiar with. ***Engaging in plagiarism and/or cheating is just a bad idea. Remember, when you choose the behavior, you also choose the consequence***

Classroom Procedures and Expectations Students 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 collected every three weeks and assessed according to the following guidelines. 5 points Students writing reflects a great deal of creativity and thoughtful reflection. Student answers all parts of the questions/writing prompt in a minimum of five complete sentences. Student met the following three basic requirements: writing is legible, prompt is written above response, and journal entry is dated appropriately. 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 the three basic requirements. Students writing reflects creativity. Student answers some of the questions/writing prompt in a minimum of four complete sentences and student is missing one of the three basic requirements. Students writing reflects some creativity. Student answers some of the questions/writing prompt in less than four complete sentences and student is missing more than one of the three basic requirements. Students writing reflects little creativity. Student answers some of the questions/writing prompt in less than four complete sentences and student is missing more than one of the three basic requirements. No attempt is made to respond to the journal question/writing prompt.

4 points

3 points 2 points

1 point

0 points

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.

Parent/Guardian Signature: ____________________________

Date: ____________________