Saturday, September 1, 2012

Welcome Writers!

Welcome back, class of 2015. Glad to see you! I hope all of you had a productive, safe, and enjoyable summer. Well, gosh, let's get back to work!

First a few housekeeping things. You can find our course criteria sheet on my teacher website (check link to the right).

Please check this blog each class period for agendas, deadlines, educational information, advice, and a whole lot of links to enhance your education. All you have to do is read and click. The more you take advantage of this tool, the easier it will be to help you improve and craft your writing. There's  good advice here, you just have to pay attention.

If you're absent or missed something in class, please check the blog to get caught up. As stated above, each new class period includes a new post. If you have a question about an assignment and are too embarrassed to speak to me in public (or you have a question that you think you will forget to ask), feel free to use the comment section.

New on our link page is a link to our Creative Writing Forum. You will be expected to use the forum to discuss the major reading and thematic topics in this course. Electronic forums save paper. You are keeping the world green by posting responses and reflections there.

Today, after updating our passwords, logging in, and going over the finer points of the course criteria, we will get started writing. We'll start by reading Mary Oliver's advice to writers, then follow the directions for the post above this one. If you finish early, please read the selection of poems listed here. This is also homework if you don't get to it today in the lab.

Please read the following poems, then select any 5:
Activity:
In groups of 1-2, identify what the persona OR theme is for each poem. Write ONE complete sentence for each of the five poems you selected, identifying the theme or persona. Hand your observation in at the end of class with your name(s) on the paper.

Please complete the reading of the poems above. If you read these with a partner, stop after each one and discuss what you liked about the poem or writing (even if you just like the title or theme). Do this, even if you are working alone, but chances are you are just thinking. Note what you are thinking. Use the ol' noodle. Hand in your paper for credit by the end of class for participation credit. 
WRITING ASSIGNMENT: During the second half of our class, please complete the activity above, and proceed to the following task:
As a baseline piece, please write a story, poem, non-fiction essay, or scene. You get to choose the genre you'd like to work in, and you get to choose the theme, character, POV, narrative structure, plot elements, conflict, and so on. Length is completely up to you. Include your name and title for this piece. The assignment is BASELINE: DRAFT ONE. This assignment is NOT due today. But whatever you do NOT finish, please finish over the weekend. Come to class on MONDAY, September 10 with your Baseline Draft completed.
HOMEWORK: Complete your baseline draft #1. It should be ready to print (or already printed). Share the course criteria with your parents/guardian.

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About this course!

This course stresses understanding the characteristics & techniques in the literary genres of fiction, poetry, and dramatic writing. This course will continue to build on students’ reading and writing skills begun in previous creative writing classes. Readings and discussions of works by major writers in the field will be examined as inspiration and models of fine writing. This educational blog is designed for the use of the students at the School of the Arts in Rochester, NY.