Creative Writing

BRUTON HIGH SCHOOL

Syllabus 2008-9

Instructor: Alex Layman                                                                  Telephone #: 220-4050

E-Mail: Alayman@ycsd.york.va.us                                                               Voxmail #564-6683

 Home Page: http://yorkcountyschools.org/teachers/alayman/laymanindex.html

  1. Course Title:  Creative Writing: Prose and Poetry 
  1. Text(s):  Panning for Gold in the Kitchen Sink, other books as assigned 
  1. Course Description:  Creative Writing-Prose-In this course, students extend their prose writing techniques.  Emphasis is placed on a variety of prose models that include short stories, essays, and dramatic scripts.  Creative Writing-Poetry- This course provides students with the opportunity to develop poetic writing techniques. Emphasis is placed on lyric and narrative style, traditional poetic forms, tone, and allusion.
  2. Competencies: Upon completion of this course, you will be better able to do the following:  Have a firm understanding of literary devices in both prose and poetry, write a better narrative in written form, create a work from idea to finished product, and create a literary magazine.
  1. Course Outline:

I. First Quarter

A. Poetic Forms

B. Formless Poetry

C. Poetry Project/Journal

II. Second Quarter

A. Drama

B. Drama Project

C. Newspaper Project

III. Third Quarter

A. Short Story Basics

B. Short Story Genres

C. Short Story Project

IV. Fourth Quarter

A. Lit Mag Assembly

B. Creative Essays

C. Creative Essay Project

6. Course Requirements:   You will be required to do the assigned work to pass this class.  You will be required to read, write, and speak.  There is a lot of writing in this class.  And I do mean, a lot.  You will be doing outside reading, oral presentations, and critiquing of each other’s work.  There will also be large projects you will have to complete.  You will need to pass the tests and quizzes to pass this class.  It is your responsibility to get any work you missed when you are absent.

 7. Attendance Policy: To comply with Virginia Law, students are expected to attend school every day and to be on time unless there is illness or death in the immediate family. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to get any work that you missed while you were absent. (Check Layman’s home page)

8. Evaluation:  Grades are earned by the completion of work according to the rubrics assigned.

Tests/Quizzes/Projects= 55% of your grade

            Class work/Homework= 45% of your grade

School Grading scale is used; A=100-92   B=91-84   C=83-75   D=74-67   F=66-0

9. Class Procedures:

I reserve the right to revoke eating and drinking privileges based on behavior.
Do not talk when I am talking.  I consider it to be EXTREMELY rude and disrespectful.  You expect me to listen to you.  I expect that same consideration; in fact, I will demand it.
Remain in your seat unless otherwise directed by me.
Hall passes will only be given during your work time.  If I am teaching, do not bother asking.  You are asking to be treated as adults, so control your bladder.  Do not drink 64 oz of Gatorade before class and expect to leave because of your bad decision.  You will have one pass per week so use it wisely.  You will have to use YOUR OWN AGENDA.
There will only be one student out at a time.
Late classwork and homework can be accepted, as long as it is in the grading period.  Work cannot be turned in after the interim cut-off date or the quarterly cut-off date.  These dates are as follows; October 2nd, October 30th, December 4th, January 15th, February 26th, April 2nd, May 7th, and June 8th by 1:47 PM.
Projects are due at or before 1:47 PM on the date required.  Otherwise, they are late and assessed accordingly.  Projects will only be able to be turned in three days late, maximum.

10. Class Expectations:
YOU ARE EXPECTED TO PASS THIS CLASS!! If you are having trouble, please come and see me.  Do not wait until the day before grades are due, or right before exams, because the grave is already dug.
You are expected to do your homework each night.
You are expected to read when assigned, or pay the price on the pop quiz.
You are expected to respect yourself, your school, your classmates, your teachers, your administrators, and anyone else who enters our building.
You are expected to come to class prepared each and every day.  This includes having a writing utensil, your notes, paper, and whatever text we are currently working with.  If you are using a pencil, please sharpen it before class.
For tests, you will need a number two pencil.  Please bring one as I will not and do not loan.
If you are given a worksheet, essay question, etc, where a word is spelled correctly, it will be marked wrong if you misspell that word.
Listen to each other as well as the teacher.  You never know when I will write down an excellent question or answer to put on the test.
No rhetorical questions in essays.  You are instructing your audience, not informing them of their ignorance.  This will cost you points and grades.
Do not switch tenses in your formal essays.  I will take off 5 points per switch if you do it. 
Unless I say otherwise, assume all writing is formal.
You can sit on top of the desks when you have earned your own high school diploma.
Musicals are evil and unholy as they are neither drama nor opera.
You will learn not to ask either/or, neither/nor questions, and yes, my ancestor was the Cheshire Cat.
Do not play with my things.  This includes everything on my desk, person, etc.  You do not want me in your book bags, purses, lockers, cars, so give me the same respect.