Creative Writing Syllabus

CCHS

Mr. C –D Room 229

Jim.ChurchillDicks@crookcounty.k12.or.us

There will be six main themes to guide our progress as writers this trimester:

Theme One: Characterization and Writing Unit: The

inner psychology of character driven plot-lines

Theme Two: Fiction Writer‟s Workshop & Writing as a

Way of Healing

Theme Three: A Master Class in Poetry

Theme Four: Reviews, and Writing in Moving Pictures

Theme Five: Creating a Personal Chapbook

Theme Six: Participation in The Nature of Words, Writers

in the Schools Program

Ongoing activities throughout the

trimester:

In-class readings
In-class writing prompts/exercises
Workshops on the elements of craft
Group Peer Revision Workshops (craft and structure vs. personal taste)
Annotation (2-3 pages typed literary review) on three books of your choice,
covering multiple genres and cultural voices. (MLA format)
 One music/movie review of a band/album or film of your choice. (2 pages
typed)Character Analysis essay (2 pages typed)
Creative work portfolios, work-shopped through the entire writing
process/ul>

GRADING POLICY

A 90-100%
B 80-89%
C 70-79%
D 60-69%
F below 60%

Assessment 85% (Based on Meeting or Exceeding

State Standards)

Summative Assessments 50%

Final Writing Portfolios,
Executed by State Standards
Formative Assessments 35%
Application/Practice/Writing Process/Comprehension

Participation/Attendance 15% (Workplace Skills)

Daily work and skills that reinforce success on both Assessments and future
workplace performance, such as: Attendance, Effort/Participation, Timeliness
for Assignments and Assessments
Texts/Literature covered in this
class:
On Craft:
Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott
Writing as a Way of Healing by Louise Desalvo
Gotham Writer’s Workshop-Fiction Gallery by various editors
Writing Toward Home by Georgia Heard
Best Words Best Order by Stephen Dobyns

Short Fiction:
Ten Little Indians by Sherman Alexie
Flash Fiction Anthology
The Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Poetry:
Dancing In Odessa by Ilya Kaminski
The Captain’s Verses by Pablo Neruda
At the Drive In Volcano by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Rose by Li-Young Lee
Notes from the Divided Country by Suji Kwock Kim
Hands Washing Water by Chris Abani
Various online literary journals such as Tarpaulin Sky, the Blood Orange
Review, Torches n’ Pitchforks and Octopus

Notification of the Right to Object to the Use of Materials

Any resident of the district may raise objection to instructional materials used
in the district‟s educational program despite the fact that the individuals
selecting such materials were duly qualified to make the section and followed
the proper procedure and observed the criteria for selecting such material.
The first step in expressing objection is consultation with the classroom
teacher or library staff and providing a brief written complaint. The staff
member receiving a complaint regarding instructional materials shall try to
resolve the issue informally through the discussion of the original assignment
or the opportunity for an alternative assignment.
If not satisfied with the initial explanation or an alternative assignment, the
person raising the questions will meet with a building administrator who, if
unable to resolve the complaint, will provide a Request for Reconsideration
form which will be given to the superintendent for action.

Behavior for Success:

Come prepared to learn and to contribute to a positive classroom

environment.
Take responsibility for your own learning. Show respect for the learning
environment,
yourself, other students, and the teachers and staff members. Follow the rules
and guidelines for behavior in the student handbook. Show up on time

Classroom Discipline Plan:

First offense: verbal warning. Second offense: parent contact.
Third offense or First severe infraction of the rules: Office referral, parent
conference, suspension, or removal from class.

ATTENDANCE POLICY See Student handbook

Passes for Bathroom and Drinking Fountain

I will only sign passes from YOUR student handbook. I will not sign off on
your pass unless your name is on the cover of your handbook in permanent
marker. Passes will not be signed in the either the first or last twenty minutes
of class. For safety reasons, I will not sign a pass for you to go to your vehicle.

Consequences for Late Work:

Students must turn in assignments on time to receive full credit. LATE WORK
THAT MEETS STANDARDS WILL RECEIVE A „C‟ GRADE. It is the student‟s
responsibility to acquire make-up assignments. Students with excused
absences due to an illness or an emergency have one school day to make-up
work for each day absent without being penalized, unless it is a long-term
assignment in which case students must meet the original deadline.

Cheating
Cheating in any form will result in a zero grade. Students who knowingly help
others to cheat will also receive a zero.

Films
The English curriculum includes viewing films rated, G, PG, and PG-13.
Unless otherwise notified it is assumed permission is granted for your student
to watch films with these ratings. Creative Writing Film: “Batman Begins” PG-
13