Creative Writing

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Mr. James Horton

 

Contact Information:

Phone: 901.837.8100

Email: [email protected]

 

Course Description:

This course is designed to give students the opportunity to think and write creatively. My goal as the teacher of this course is to encourage you to love writing and to guide you as you hone your craft. It is through writing that life becomes more meaningful to me, and I hope to inspire the same instincts in you, that writing brings to me. Writing can clarify, heal, excite, encourage, remind, inspire, and make the world a better place. This class is the beginning for you to be a poet, a free- lance writer, a story teller, an essayist, a non-fiction writer, or whatever you choose to become as a writer. There will be many options presented to you. If you make the effort to write in this class you are assured a very good grade. This class is about exploring the different writing genres.

 

Projected Units of Study:  

Autobiography                                             

Poetry                                                                                    

Creative nonfiction                                                              

Short stories

Narrative fiction

Personal Narrative   

Expository essay

Persuasive essay

Descriptive writing

Biographical writing

Novel writing

Restaurant reviews

Movie and music reviews

Reader’s Theatre script writing

Poetry and music

 

Course materials:

Binder with dividers

Loose-leaf paper

Flash drive

Hard back Journal

Pens/pencils

                                                           

Journal:

The purpose of the journal is to give you the opportunity to write every day. It is a place for you to write and create –don’t worry about spelling, grammar, or flow.  Just write. You will be responsible for writing in your journal. Sometimes you will free-write in your journals while other days you will respond to a provided prompt. I just want you to write! Journals will be collected periodically as a means of accountability. I will let you know in advance when they will be collected.

 

 

Portfolio:

You will keep a folder in the classroom that will serve as your portfolio for this class. In it you will place your completed writing so that at the end of the semester we can choose to publish it if you want to.

 

Autobiography: You will be writing a 10 chapter autobiography of your life up to this time. We will publish this writing by spring break and also hold an author reading before the end of the year. Parents will be invited to attend this reading.

 

Intuition List:

As you begin your writing journey, keep a list of ideas that pop into your head,  interesting word combinations, story lines that are interesting that you see, or vocabulary you might want to use in your writing. These lists you can keep in the back of your journal.

 

Conferences:

We will conference regularly together on your pieces of writing. Revision and excellence go hand in hand.

 

Tardies:

You must be in your seat when the bell rings to be considered on time.

 

Grading:

You will be graded on your journals (completing entries), written assignments, participation, peer editing, writing projects, and personal progress.  The grading scale is based on a points system, and you will be given points for your work.  If you hand in all assignments and have made an effort to fulfill the assignments to your best ability, you are guaranteed to get an excellent grade in this class. Doing your best work assures a good grade. Not handing in assignments takes away from your overall grade.

 

 

Absences:

You must see me after you’ve been absent. I will make sure you have the handouts that you have missed and any assignments you need.

 

Moodlerooms

You will be able to access my class calendar (due dates) and any handouts used in class.  Please use the calendar on a daily basis to know what is going on in the class.

 

Expectations:

  • Be punctual
  • Be respectful of people and property
  • Be prepared
  • Be on task
  • Be kind