Creative Writing II Syllabus
Grades 10 - 12
Overview
As established writers, the focus of this course is to allow students to expand upon the creativity, insight and identity discovered during Creative Writing I. This will be explored through various modes, including short fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, as well as popular culture and media examples being used frequently for inspiration. This course will focus exclusively on the latter-half of the writing process—mainly production and publishing—and, how to return to works repeatedly in order to continually keep improving and changing them. Collaborative writing and fostering creativity with the help of others is another particular focus of this course – including learning how to adopt a “teamwork” mentality and become a writers’ community where everyone can learn and grow from one another. All this will be done using the workshop model of writing – an integral aspect to writing well and receiving constructive criticism. Also, an emphasis will be placed upon editing and revising their work – and assisting others, of course because, as Raymond Carver, a modern master of the short story, once said, “I don’t write. I rewrite.” Students will be given regular practice in class—writing frequently as individuals and in collaborative settings—and, will turn in a portfolio of their best work at the end of each 9 weeks – which will be the entire portion of their test grades for the semester.
Objectives
- To expose students to a variety of creative forms including poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction – in all its various forms
- To develop a skill basis for each mode of creative writing
- To collaborate with and learn from others in order to improve
- Adopt the cyclical process of writing, and create a working, uniquely-individual way of following that process
- To create a diverse body of creative work
Materials
- iPad (a portable charger is useful)
- USB storage drive
- Texts
- Pen and paper – just in case
- Highlighters
- Gmail account and Google Drive
- Internet accessibility
- Open-minds
"Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up." - Jane Yolen
Content
The content will shift to fit the needs of the students, but all of these will be covered throughout each semester.
Poetry/Music
Creative Nonfiction
Short stories
Screenplays, scripts, etc.
TV Shows and Films
"If you write one story, it may be bad; if you write a hundred, you have the odds in your favor." - Edgar Rice Burroughs
Assignments & Grading
Schoology
Please check this website daily. All assignment due dates, materials, updates, and including day-to-day course information will be available on your period's page. Click here to access Bishop Moore's page.
Percentages
Daily: 40%
Alternate: 60%
A is 90-100
B is 80-89
C is 70-79
D is 60-69
E is 0-59
Contact Information
As an alum of Bishop Moore (Class of '06) I am thrilled to be living my dream and teaching here. It is my personal mission to ensure all my students leave my classroom with the skills and knowledge to succeed in life; a love of writing wouldn't hurt, either!
To read my philosophy of education, please click here.
Email: bradicka@bishopmoore.org
Website: http://tinyurl.com/kovqjpn
Phone: (407) 293-7561