Boyne City High School Creative Writing

2019 Course Syllabus

Instructor: Mrs. Nicole D. Seymour
Phone: (231) 439-8107
Planning period: 3rd Hr/ A Lunch
Email: nseymour@boyne.k12.mi.us
Description:
The Creative Writing course is designed for students who enjoy writing as a form of art
and personal expression. In this course, students will explore the elements of numerous
literary genres (short fiction, poetry, drama, film) and the power of both print and
multimedia formats. To develop original writing pieces, students will engage in writing
workshops, literary element development lessons, writing/author studies, and peer
reviews/conferences. To show evidence of writing development throughout the course,
students will be required to engage in writing community activities that require sharing
one’s work and in publishing one’s writing on our Google Classroom and Class Website.
This class is geared towards writers and exploring ones writing styles…and having fun
in the classroom.

Course Standards:
Students will:
• Complete prewriting activities to
encourage creative thinking and
to inspire writing projects.
• Analyze and critique writers’ use
of literary elements, word choice,
style, and content.
• Use class writing exercises to
develop their ability to create
characters, conflicts, settings,
plots,
themes, and points of view; to
craft language to convey their
ideas; to refine their own writing
style.
• Write original writing pieces
inspired by literary models and
examples.
• Make connections among
literature, students’ lives, and
real-world issues.
• Complete writing projects, such
as short fiction, children’s book,
poetry collection, digital prose
poem, one act play, film
screenplay, and literary
magazine.

Grading:
Students will be evaluated on the writing process and the process of completing writing
projects and class activities including, but not limited to:
• Writing projects • Writing exercises
• Prewriting activities • Class participation
• Revising activities

Grade Calculation:
• Writing Projects (major writing assignments/projects) 45%
• Writing Development (prewriting, peer review/conferences, drafts, writing
exercises, journal exercises) 35%
• Participation 20% Please note: Attendance is a form of participation. A writing community
cannot thrive without each member being present. Students who miss class due to an excused
absence may not be able to complete a class assignment since some class activities are
spontaneous or can only be completed within the class setting; however, such an assignment will
NOT detract from a student’s grade.
Absent/Late Work Policy:
Students have as many days as they are absent to complete missing work as long as
their absence is excused. It is the responsibility of the student to manage any missing
work. Unexcused late work will NOT receive full credit. Students may turn in writing
development activities for half credit following the day it is due. After that day, the
assignment will be scored as a 0. Late writing projects will be reduced by 10% each day
it is late until the score reaches 60%.

Participation:
Since students will be a part of a nurturing class writing community, they must be
prepared AT ALL TIMES to share their ideas and writing through peer conferences/edits
and class activities. Without enthusiastic participation, the class writing community
suffers. To further the authenticity of a writing community, a student must be prepared
to share their works with a real audience by publishing some of their works throughout
the year through our own class website and shared with other students in the course.

Academic Integrity:
Students must demonstrate academic integrity in this course by: 1) completing all
assignments to the best of their ability, 2) completing assignments independently
(unless otherwise noted), and 3) avoiding plagiarism in all its forms. All assignments
must be turned in with a minimally acceptable level, even if no credit is earned because
of lateness, in order to receive a grade for the quarter. A grade of “I” will be assigned
until all work is submitted. The grade of “I” turns into an “F” one week after the quarter
ends.

Plagiarism:
The penalty for plagiarism and cheating will be a zero for the assessment or
assignment; furthermore, disciplinary actions will follow according to school policy.
Plagiarism is defined as taking credit for another’s ideas or words without attribution.
Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to the following:
• directly copying passages from or paraphrasing another author’s work into one’s
own work without attribution
• Claiming another author’s entire work is one’s own work

“Alert” Writing:
While one of the fundamental goals of this class is for students to use their
unique experiences, aspirations, and inspirations for writing creatively, students
should understand that their writing will be read by others and possible shared
beyond the classroom writing community. Since all students’ wellbeing is an
utmost priority, any “alert” writing will be investigated (i.e., shared with proper
authorities, counselors, parents, etc.) to ensure that the student writer is
physically, mentally, and emotionally safe. “Alert” writing is writing that contains
depictions of any of the following:
• gratuitous violence, sex, language or drug use
• harm to self or others
• physical, mental, emotional, or sexual abuse
• bullying
All students are expected to monitor their own appropriate usage of all technology.
Inappropriate usage includes, but is not limited to:
• cyberbullying
• the use of social media
• gaming
• messaging
• plagiarism
• cheating
• unauthorized web searches
• capturing and distributing photos and video, unless authorized for academic
purposes
• capturing and distributing secure course material
• any other expectations specific to the source and/or instructor

The consequences for off task behavior when using technology include:

1. a warning
2. parental contact and loss of technology privileges in the classroom
3. administrative referral

The consequences for the inappropriate use of technology aligns with those outlined in
the Student Handbook and include parental contact, loss of technology privileges in the
classroom and/or administrative referral.

Tentative Course Content/Calendar by weeks:

Wks 1-3: prose: flash fiction, children’s book, science fiction/mystery

Wks 4-7: poetry: poetry collection of various forms, digital poetry

Wks 8-12: drama: monologue, one act play, film screenplay

Wks 12+: film, final project, online magazine development