Final Class: Craft

Today, please study for your final exam (see previous blog posting) and prepare your portfolio.

You will be collecting the following for your portfolio/booklet:
1. 3-5 of your FINAL drafts of short stories done throughout the year.
2. 2-3 JOURNALISM articles
3. 5-7 FINAL drafts of poems
4. 2-3 Play & Film Scripts/Film projects
5. A 3-5 page self-evaluation
The writing process begins with brainstorming. After getting an idea, a writer drafts or composes the first draft of his/her work. After completing the final project or work, a writer can figure out what was left out, what needs to be included, and can begin to shape the writing to approach an artistic vision. It is in this drafting that the real piece begins to emerge. Drafting can take a long time. Sometimes it's never done. After some time and luck, a piece may find the light of day in publication. Good luck to all of you. The only requirement to be a writer is to write. Enjoy your work.

After our film viewing, if you haven't yet completed your portfolio, please do so now and turn in by the end of class. This is a major assignment, please complete it.

Self Evaluation: Write about how you’ve grown as a writer this year, what has been easy/hard for you, what areas you feel you need more work in; reflect on your progress as a writer, a reader, and as a student. Write about each selected piece you have chosen to include in your portfolio (per genre): why did you include these pieces in your portfolio? How does the piece show your growth and craft as a writer in this particular genre? What did you learn about yourself concerning writing from this assignment or project? Discuss what you learned about the form or genre of the work as you wrote, revised and crafted the pieces, what have you learned about yourself as a writer, etc.

All work should be considered your FINAL drafts, with errors, grammar mistakes, weaknesses purged and removed through the process of CRAFTING your work. All pieces should include a title. Essentially, show me that you learned something about the Craft of Writing through your original work this year.

Have a good summer!