Creative Writing Week 1
Monday, November 16
- Seating chart.
- Take out your notebook for this class, write today's date, and then respond to the following:
- My career thus far as an English student has been …
- What drew me to register for this creative writing class was…
- This is what I really hope we do in this class this term:
- I really hope we don’t do this:
- My goals for this class are ….
- Introductions — write 2-3 questions for me on the index cards. I will answer a couple a day over the next week or so.
- Go over Class Procedures and Expectations and the Creative Writing Tentative Syllabus
- 6 Word Memoirs — these are based on the legend that Ernest Hemingway once penned a 6 word novel: "For sale: Baby shoes, never worn." Can your life be summed up in 6 words? Is that possible?
OR
- Do you think writing this type of memoir is easier or tougher than writing a book-length memoir?
- You are going to find out! The parameters of the assignment: You must write a personal memoir in only six words. Some tips:
- As with all writing, there is no first draft, perfect draft. To accomplish this task:
- Brainstorm: what defines you? You might start with just a list of words and events, or personality traits. Likes, dislikes, etc.
- Start drafting, pulling words from your list. Write several different drafts of several different memoirs.
- Choose your favorite and write it in ink or marker on the white index cards.
- Add some color and design elements to your card.
- Bring these back to class tomorrow.
- Syllabus page with parent signatures and signed Plagiarism Policy due Friday, November.
Tuesday, November 17
- Focused Free Write: Describe the most peaceful place you know.
- Where is it?
- What does it look like, sound like, smell like?
- What experiences have you had there that give you the sense that this place is a place of peace?
- Present 6 Word Memoirs
- Discuss creative non-fiction
- focused free write:
- Assignment for tomorrow: read the excerpt from Dandelion Wine, by Ray Bradbury and underline passages that you found to be particularly descriptive.
Wednesday, November 18
- Focused Free Write: Describe the most disturbing place you know
- Where is it?
- What does it look like, sound like, smell like, taste like?
- What experiences have you had there that give you the sense that this place is disturbing?
- Discuss the assigned reading — the excerpt from Dandelion Wine
- Descriptive writing project: The Lunch Room
- Assignment for tomorrow: read "The Longest Day: Act 1" and underline the passages you find to be particularly descriptive.
Thursday, November 19
- Focused free write: Think of a place that has changed significantly over time, OR a place you love to visit or travel to…
- Where is it?
- What does it look like, sound like, smell like, taste like?
- What experiences have you had there that make this place stand out in your memory — why is it important??
- Discuss "The Longest Day: Act 1"
- Using your notes from yesterday, write one solid paragraph describing the commons during lunch. These are due tomorrow!
Friday, November 20
- Focused Free Write: Thinking about one of the three places you've described this week:
- What is unique about this place? What makes it different than any other place?
- What is ordinary about it? In what way might others think it is just like any other place?
- Is this place symbolic of something?
- Does this place seem different after further acquaintance with it? Did your impression of it change over time? How?
- Descriptive writing mini-project: It's All About the Words
- Assignment for Monday: Read "Finding Luminescence" and answer the questions at the end
It's All About the Words and "Finding Luminescence" due Monday