Course Overview
The Creative Writing course at ASU Preparatory Academy is designed to introduce high school students to the best common practices in relation to writing professionally for the publishing and film industries. Students will learn various short story, script, and poetic forms before engaging in collaborative workshops to create longer products such as novels, screenplays, or poetry collections. Additionally, those who participate in the course’s enrichment activities will learn about how to submit their work to literary agents and/or publishers in their desired field(s).
Course Goals/Standards
Successful Creative Writing students will:
Students who reach proficiency level will:
Classroom Policies
Absences/Late Work
1st Violation
Plagiarism
It is the responsibility of the student to not deceive the instructor in any way in regard to the authorship of the work that he/she presents as his/her own. Consequences for plagiarism will be in accordance with the Arizona State University Preparatory student code of conduct. Plagiarism will be reported to the administration.
Classroom Procedures
Students enrolled at ASU Preparatory Academy will receive two letter grades in each of their courses. One of the letter grades is an academic grade that demonstrates if the student mastered the course objectives. The second grade is an effort grade that could reflect attendance, participation, discussions, or completion of practice assignments. Both of the letter grades will adhere to the following grading scale, but only the academic grade will be reflected on the student’s final transcript and included in the grade point average.
A* Exceeds Plus 97 – 100
A Exceeds 90 – 96
B Meets 80 – 89
C Approaches 70 – 79
D Approaches 60 – 69
F Falls Far Below 50 – 59
Syllabus Acknowledgement
Please complete the syllabus signature page with the appropriate signatures acknowledging receipt of this syllabus at: http://dpikeasuprep.weebly.com
Thank you,
Daniel Pike, M.Ed., MA
The Creative Writing course at ASU Preparatory Academy is designed to introduce high school students to the best common practices in relation to writing professionally for the publishing and film industries. Students will learn various short story, script, and poetic forms before engaging in collaborative workshops to create longer products such as novels, screenplays, or poetry collections. Additionally, those who participate in the course’s enrichment activities will learn about how to submit their work to literary agents and/or publishers in their desired field(s).
Course Goals/Standards
Successful Creative Writing students will:
- Know their intended audience
- Research their topics thoroughly to create believable scenarios before beginning work
- Understand the concept of showing vs. telling
- Know their ending at the beginning
- Be able to begin in medias res
- Be able to write a compelling hook
- Be able to write description that employs imagery (using three of the five senses)
- Be able to write dialogue for script, screen, and short story/novel (dialogue tags, avoiding on-the-nose dialogue, advancing the plot, revealing the characters)
- Be able to employ flashbacks/back story embedding through dialogue/frame narration, etc.
- Be able to write from multiple perspectives and points of view
- Be able to pace for entertainment/suspense
- Understand plotting—the A plot, the B plot, and types of conflict; know the “blip on the lifeline” plot diagram vs. the “witch’s hat” plot diagram
- Create compelling characters (protagonists, antagonists, round characters, flat characters, dynamic characters, static characters, etc.)
- Be able to select and maintain an overarching theme within a single piece of writing
- Be able to employ figurative language and create subtext
- Create plot twists that are ironic yet foreshadowed
- Create natural tension using foils and doppelgangers
- Edit their drafts (“murder your darlings”)
- Give and return constructive criticism in Socratic workshops
- Final Project: Compose a 50,000-word novel, 60-page screenplay, or short story/poetry collection
Students who reach proficiency level will:
- Develop a unique voice (minimalist, maximalist, tone, diction, style, etc.)
- Integrate foreshadowing with symbolism to create omens/portents
- Master the use of allusion, allegory, metaphor, and symbolism
- Master the use of meter and stanzas in poetry
- Master the use of poetic sound devices such as assonance, consonance, alliteration, end rhyme, internal rhyme, eye rhyme, etc.
- Master the use of screenplay, script, and short story formatting
- Engage in collaborative writing to produce a pilot script
- Write an extended (salable) project: an 80,000 to 120,000-word novel, a 90 to 120-page screenplay, or a three to five act stage drama with poetic elements
- Understand how to submit to literary agents and editors while avoiding scams
- Understand how to read and evaluate an intellectual property rights contract
Classroom Policies
- Be prepared to work - Be in class and ready to work at the official start time for the class. Come to class with all necessary materials for success. Take responsibility for your own learning.
- Be appropriate - Any conduct, which is harmful, obstructive, disruptive, or interferes with the educational process is prohibited. You are expected to respect the educational environment. All Arizona State University Preparatory policies will be strictly adhered to and enforced in this classroom, including but not limited to the use of electronic devices, dress code, and academic dishonesty.
- Be attentive - You are responsible for attaining information given. You are also expected to be present and engaged from the beginning of class to the end. Offer ideas, participate in discussions and group activities, and complete your own work. To this end, all cell phones and other personal electronic devices should be stowed and placed on silent before entry into class. In the event of an emergency, ask the teacher for permission to use your cell phone.
- Be positive - Enjoy the opportunity to learn and respectfully listen to ideas and opinions that may differ from your own opinions. Put forth your best effort with every endeavor.
Absences/Late Work
- It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of his/her absences and make-up work. In the event that you are absent, visit the teachers’ Weebly Webpage where you will find the course’s online plan book. You can link directly to the teachers’ pages from your child’s Weebly web page.
- If you miss a test/quiz/essay, you will need to schedule a time during office hours for tutoring before you will be allowed to make up the work. Effort assignments are not accepted past the due date. Academic assignments and assessments to demonstrate mastery will be accepted after the due date without penalty for a period of 5 days.
- Outstanding student circumstances will be addressed on a case by case basis. Whenever possible, the instructor should be notified of such circumstances in advance.
1st Violation
- 5 tardies in 1 class = 1 absence
- Consequence = Lunch Detention
- Lunch Detention + Community Service
Plagiarism
It is the responsibility of the student to not deceive the instructor in any way in regard to the authorship of the work that he/she presents as his/her own. Consequences for plagiarism will be in accordance with the Arizona State University Preparatory student code of conduct. Plagiarism will be reported to the administration.
Classroom Procedures
- No food, drink, gum, or candy in class. Closed water bottles only!
- Be prepared to write every day.
- Remain in assigned seat unless directed otherwise.
- Pencil sharpening, throwing away papers, etc. will take place prior to the start of class.
- Once you have entered the classroom, you are in “learning mode” and will begin completing the daily seat work.
Socializing/horseplay will not take place within the classroom. - With a limited number of minutes in the class and many objectives, we must work diligently at all times.
- Passes from class will be limited. Students need to be in class at all times in order to effectively participate.
In an effort to “go green,” students will be required to participate in online discussions and submit formal essays and typed assignments.
Students enrolled at ASU Preparatory Academy will receive two letter grades in each of their courses. One of the letter grades is an academic grade that demonstrates if the student mastered the course objectives. The second grade is an effort grade that could reflect attendance, participation, discussions, or completion of practice assignments. Both of the letter grades will adhere to the following grading scale, but only the academic grade will be reflected on the student’s final transcript and included in the grade point average.
A* Exceeds Plus 97 – 100
A Exceeds 90 – 96
B Meets 80 – 89
C Approaches 70 – 79
D Approaches 60 – 69
F Falls Far Below 50 – 59
Syllabus Acknowledgement
Please complete the syllabus signature page with the appropriate signatures acknowledging receipt of this syllabus at: http://dpikeasuprep.weebly.com
Thank you,
Daniel Pike, M.Ed., MA