CreativeWriting

Springfield High School English Department Course Expectations Joanna Coleman Creative Writing 802-885-7900 ext. 3301   jcoleman@ssdvt.org

Creative Writing is a course that is open to writers of various interests and abilities who have successfully completed Freshman English. In this course, students will study the principles and techniques of creative writing through the analysis of literature and active participation in an intensive writing workshop. Although students will closely read and discuss the styles and techniques of various prominent writers, the goal is for each participant to develop their own style and voice in their original written work. In addition to individual writing exercises and assignments, students will work in small writing groups as part of the writing workshop. Students will examine the literature that defines our national identity and will develop an understanding of how we came to that identity. This course will also provide balanced development of students’ abilities in reading, writing, speaking and listening, as well as critical thinking; appreciation of the arts; and an understanding of how English skills provide a foundation for study across the curriculum.

Welcome to Creative Writing. Guess what we’ll be doing a whole lot of this semester? This section of Creative Writing is not only an opportunity to dedicate time to your writing at school, it is a class that will help you refine and harness your writing skills. I am excited to read your work!

All formal assignments have equal importance in this English class, and therefore have equivalent weight. Formal assessments include take home essays and fiction writing assignments, in class essays and fiction writing, journal writing, large writing projects, and class participation. The SHS Writing Rubric is used to guide the grading process, however effort and growth are also considered.
 * Grading Policy**

The cumulative grade for each individual semester is worth 80% of the overall grade.

Midterm and final exams will be a comprehensive assessment of student knowledge for each semester. Each exam is worth 10% of the final grade.

All work is due on the assigned date. If work is submitted on any day after the due date students will lose partial credit, however the assignment will still be accepted. All essay and writing assignments, other than paragraph answer quizzes, can be revised and re-graded. Students are encouraged to take advantage of revision opportunities.

When a student is absent from class it is their responsibility to obtain the makeup work and complete it within 4 days of their return to school, unless other arrangements have been made.