"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart." ~William Wordsworth
Welcome to the 2017-2018 Academic School Year!
A blue or black pen is a MUST for Creative Writing.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Creative Writing Class Work & Homework Assignments Page
This website not only contains all your class work and homework assignments, but also includes all the handouts and resources you will need for a successful year. Of course, you should never hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or problems you have, as it is my goal to ensure that you have a challenging and productive year.
Simply email me through my direct email address, or via the Contact Me tab.
Simply email me through my direct email address, or via the Contact Me tab.
Class Work and Homework Assignments
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Handouts for Uploading and Printing
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Classroom Goals and Expectations
Monday 1/29/18 - Introduction to Course
Here are the Classroom Goals and Expectations. After you and your Parent(s)/Guardian(s) have read them, please sign and return only the bottom portion of your sheet. This will count as a HW grade. The top portion of the sheet is for you to keep and refer to throughout the year. Keep it handy. Due Fri. 2/2/18 - Please note that your marble notebook and the two-pocket folders are also due Friday. :) |
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Remind 101
Remind 101 Sign-Up No later than Fri., 2/2/18: Enter Code for your specific class. If you do not get a text back from Carota, I did not receive your request. SEE ME. THIS is MANDATORY.
QUIZ GRADE Due Friday, 2/2/18 |
Remind Instructions/Code - BE SURE you use YOUR CLASS CODE.
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"Unwritten" Group Analysis
Wks. 1/29/18 - "Unwritten" group analysis
In class, work in groups to analyze lyrics, search for literary devices, and informally present findings. Remember to delve deeply into the author's purpose. What is the author attempting to convey and how are they communicating this information. In other words, what tools is the author using to convey their message. |
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Writer's Oath
The Writer's Oath is a pledge I ask all students to take before we begin our creative writing journey together.
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"I am..." Poem
Wks 2/5/18-2/12/18 "I am..." Poem: This will count as your first formal assignment.
Due Dates:
Rough Draft due Mon., 2/12/18; Final Copy due Fri., 2/16/18
Use the Description of Me handout and your visual images as inspiration to compose your "I am..." poem. Be sure to thoroughly read the guidelines on the "I am..." handout for important information.
"I am..." Poem Rubric: read the rubric for guidelines on how you will be assessed.
Due Dates:
Rough Draft due Mon., 2/12/18; Final Copy due Fri., 2/16/18
Use the Description of Me handout and your visual images as inspiration to compose your "I am..." poem. Be sure to thoroughly read the guidelines on the "I am..." handout for important information.
"I am..." Poem Rubric: read the rubric for guidelines on how you will be assessed.
Sample rough draft and edited/revised "I Am..." poem
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Pink Sheet (Peer Editing) and Blue Sheet (Rubric - These WILL Vary)
Have a peer responder complete "pink" sheet and provide specific feedback that you will then use to edit and tweak your original piece before handing in your assignment.
As the writer, use the "blue" sheet as a guideline in composing your assignment; before handing in be sure to complete the two statements at the bottom of the page, as well as giving yourself a number grade. |
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Description of Me; Coat of Arms
Wks 9/18/17-9/25/17: - Interview and Coat of Arms
Using the Description of Me handout, begin work on your partner's interview and coat of arms. Remember, your coat of arms must include
Rough Draft Due Tues. 2/27/18 Final Copy Description of Me and Coat of Arms Due Fri. 3/2/18 We will not be doing presentations: Description of Me and Coat of Arms Presentations begin Monday. Remember author's purpose: what are you expecting your listeners to gain from your words, and how will you effectively and creatively convey these ideas? |
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Writing Territories; Circle the Wagons
Writing Territories / Circle the Wagons
Writing Territories – Each Friday, a.k.a. Free Write Friday, you will have the opportunity to explore a writing prompt of your own creation. This may pose a question or two: What will I write about? Where do I start? What topics are okay to write about? You will find the answer to these questions through the development of what we will refer to as writing territories. Explore your own writing territories using Ms. Carota’s My Writing Territories handout as a guideline. These territories will come in handy, especially on Free Write Fridays. Circle the Wagons - Each Friday you will have the opportunity to share your writing with your peers. This will be an chance for you to share work and receive constructive feedback for future editing and revision. The Circle the Wagons Response Guidelines provide helpful hints on how to effectively participate.. |
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Writer's Notebook; Portfolio Explanation
Wk. of 1/29/18:
The What is a Writer’s Notebook and the Creative Writing Portfolio handouts define each component and its role in the course. Anticipate collection of your Writer’s Notebook (Writing Prompts), as well as the completion of a Writer’s Portfolio upon completion of the course. NOTE: The portfolio is your final semester project. |
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Poem of Possibilities
Wks. of 2/26/18 - 3/19/18 Poem of Possibilities
Annotate John Updike's "Ex-Basketball Player" The Prewriting Questions, Ex-Basketball Player, and TP-CASTT handouts will help you explore and prepare for the Poem of Possibilities assignment. You will compose a poem in which you explore who you have become five years into the future. The poem should be at least twelve lines and can be in any style: free verse, sonnet, etc. Please make sure you print two copies of your poem, as one copy will be mailed to you five years from now. DUE DATES: Rough draft REVISED: Poem of Possibilities Due Mon. 3/19/18 Final Copy Due Fri., 3/23/18 - Must be in MLA format: proper heading, typed, double-spaced, 12 pt font (with pink & blue sheets included) Please make sure you print two copies of your poem, along with self-addressed stamped envelope as one copy will be mailed to you five years from now. |
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Memoir
Wks. 3/26/18 - 4/9/18 Memoir
Begin memoir unit: choose a specific event or moment in your life and fully explore it to compose your own memoir. We will explore memoir samples and brainstorm ideas as you create your own story. Rough Draft Due Tues., 4/10/18 Final Copy Due Fri. 4/13/18 - should be typed; double-spaced; 12 pt. font; (with pink & Memoir blue sheets) |
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Multi-Genre Research Project
04/16/18 Multi-Genre Project (approx. 2 wks)
Begin multi-genre research project: choose a topic Create a multi-genre research project, which will include a reflective, creative writing, visual, and an informational research component*. *Your informational research component is a fact-based research paper that MUST use a minimum of four sources, have a thesis statement, and include a works cited page. Upon completion of the above four categories, you will compose a rationale page that will discuss your reasons for choosing each of the four categories. Lastly, you will compose a Letter to the Reader; this letter will introduce your project to your reader and must be completed after all other components are completed; it will discuss your journey through this paper and what you hope the reader will come to understand after reading your project. A student sample of Process Grade 1 is to the right, as well as samples of the Reflective, Creative Writing, and Informational Research components. There is also a Letter to the Reader sample and Works Cited samples. Process grades will be collected throughout the multi-genre process. First, attack informational research portion of your paper in computer lab and/or library. Your paper MUST include a minimum of four sources. You must include a works cited page for this category of your multi-genre paper. The remaining categories (reflective, creative writing, and visual) can be worked on only after the informational research portion of your multi-genre paper is completed. I have included some student samples for inspiration. Process Grade #1: Due Wed., 4/18/18: rough draft topic, writing choices for each category, and mini-rationale Process Grade #2: Due Mon., 4/23/18: four completed library colored source logs Process Grade #3: Due Wed., 4/25/18: works cited page with a minimum of four sources Final Multi-Genre Paper REVISED DUE DATE: Wed, May 2, 2018 It should be typed ; double-spaced ; 12 pt. font (with the exception of certain visual components, etc.) ; MUST include works cited page with a minimum of four sources. See below for samples of the Works Cited, as well as the different Writing Categories, Letter to the Reader, and Rationale. |
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Multi Genre Research Project Components and Samples
Category #1
Reflective Sample: letter to society |
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Category #2
Creative Writing Samples: wanted poster Category #2
Creative Writing Samples: recipe |
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Category #4
Informational Research Sample: cosmetic testing on animals Works Cited Sample
(Process Grade #3) |
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Letter to the Reader: Introduces your multi genre project to the reader.
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Rationale: This component is similar to Process Grade #1, except NOW you will more fully flesh out your reasons for choosing the categories and research topic you chose. Again, now that you have done each component of the project, you have a more well-rounded idea of why you did what you did. For the research paper, I no longer need an outline of the paper, but the reasons why you chose the topic for research that you did.
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Research Project Rubric
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Monologue
Wks. 5/7/18-5/14/18 Monologue
Begin monologue unit: Review monologue and soliloquy definitions and look at samples. Use the samples and our analysis and discussions to compose monologues for the Theater class. You may compose your monologue anonymously if you feel more comfortable, but I strongly encourage you to share your thoughts without reserve. Enjoy! Rough draft Due Mon. 5/14/18 (2 copies) Final Copy Due Fri. 5/18/18: typed, double-spaced, and 12 pt. font (with pink & blue sheets) one with name for grading and one, if you choose, without, to submit to my theater class anonymously |
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Imagist Poem
Compose a poem using the Imagist handout and in-class sample poems as models. You can create a poem using an image as inspiration to create a sensory poem, OR use an image to create a riddle poem. Pay special attention to "The Toaster" and "The Apartment" on the imagist poem exercise sheet to the right for great samples of riddle poems. Either way, an image must accompany your poem.
Rough draft due Mon., 5/21/18 Final Copy Due Day. Thur. 5/24/18 |
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Final Portfolio
Wk 5/28/18 - end of semester (As ALWAYS, you will have PLENTY of in-class time to plan your portfolio)
Begin final portfolio unit: Review all previously submitted pieces for consideration into portfolio. Your portfolio is the equivalent of your final exam in this course. It MUST include the following: THREE (2) previously submitted AND REVISED pieces (preferably of two or more different genres) ONE (1) NEW piece (any genre) Cover letter to reader, addressed Dear Reader Final Portfolio Due Wed., June 6, 2018. MUST be submitted using MLA 8 format: typed; double-spaced ; 12 pt. font, with proper MLA 8 heading. TIME MANAGEMENT is CRUCIAL, as late submission is NOT AN OPTION! Thank you! |
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Sample Letter to the Reader for Final Portfolio
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Please do not go ahead as occasionally assignments and dates are subject to change. Thank you!
DO NOT CONTINUE BEYOND THIS LINE, AS ASSIGNMENTS MAY CHANGE FROM SEMESTER TO SEMESTER...
THANK YOU! :)
Satire and Parody
Wks 5/23/16 - 5/30/16 - Satire and Parody
Begin satire/parody unit: Watch Shrek film clip and discuss elements of fairy tales. Discuss satire and parody using definitions and examples, such as "Why I Hate Literature and You Should Too", "FDA Approves Salmonella", and Charlie Sheen article. Students will listen to excerpts of and then later peruse A Wolf's Story, or The Other Side of the Story, and/or watch YouTube videos, such as Weird Al's "Fat" (a parody of Michael Jackson's "Bad") and/or his "Word Crimes", which is not only a parody of a popular song, but also a satire on the public's poor use of grammar. Use these short film clips and excerpts as models, as well as our analysis, to compose your own satire OR parody piece. Rough Draft Due Fri. 5/27/16 Final Copy Due Tues. 6/1/16 - should be typed ; double-spaced ; 12 pt. font ; (with pink & blue sheets) |
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Poetry
Wks. of 12/10/15-12/14/15
Begin poetry unit: review elements of poetry and examine various poetry styles. Read and listen to poetry samples and use these models and our analysis and discussion to compose your own poems. Choose one OR the other. Compose your own "These I Have Loved..." using the attachment as a model. Rough Draft Due Day. Mon. 12/21/15 Final Copy Due Day. Wed. 12/23/15 Compose a poem using the Imagist handout and sample poems as models Rough Draft Due Day. Mon. 12/21/15 Final Copy Due Day. Wed. 12/23/15 |
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1/4/16: Continue our exploration of poetry with Slam Poetry.
Create your own slam poem You have a choice on how to fully express your poem:
Final Copy Due Day. Tues. 1/19/16 Poetry Slam Presentations begin Friday 1/15/16 :) |
Daniel Beaty’s “Knock Knock”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXQ2eRHklDc Taylor Mali’s “What Teachers Make” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I_JK6tTGKo Alex Dang’s “Times I’ve Been Mistaken for a Girl” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2i-i8k6AbQ
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Watch Michael Jackson's "Bad" video and then watch Weird Al Yankovic's "Fat" video for a great example of parody
Poetry 2
Wk.
Continue poetry unit: review elements of poetry and examine various poetry styles. Read and listen to poetry samples and use these models and our analysis and discussion to compose your own poems. Compose a poem using the Twenty Actions handout and sample poems above as models Rough Draft Due Day. //13 Final Copy Due Day. //13 |
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Fiction
Wks. 10/22/12-10/29/12
Begin fiction unit: review The Shape of Stories, Elements of Fiction, Story Patterns, short story structure. Read short story sample: "Building Foundations" and complete plot structure. Complete Main Character Questionnaire (using Woman Floating in Lake photo as writing prompt), Pre-Writing Your Short Story, and Elements of a Short Story Checklist. Use the short story models, handouts, and our analysis and discussion to compose your own short story. Rough Draft Due Thurs. 11/8/12 Final Copy Due Tues.11/13/12 should be typed ; double-spaced ; 12 pt. font ; (with pink/blue sheets) |
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Wk. of ?/??/11
Interpret your “I am…” poem using Glogster. You are not writing your “I am…” poem on your glog but visually representing and connecting your poem and your glog. The two assignments should be an amalgamation of YOU. Due Day. ?/??/11 on or before midnight |
Op-Ed
Wk 5/2/11-5/9/11
Begin Op-Ed unit: Review Op-Ed definition and look at samples. Use the samples and our analysis and discussions to compose Op-Ed pieces. We will visit the library to provide research material for the pieces. Rough Draft Due Thurs. 5/11/11 Final Copy Due TBA. - should be typed ; double-spaced ; 12 pt. font ; (with pink & blue sheets) MUST include separate works cited page |
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