Creative Writing
Ms. Jeannie Chufo
Room: D108 - e-mail: jeannie.chufo@sduhsd.net
phone: x4128
e-mail: jeannie.chufo@sduhsd.net
web page: http://chufo.org
online grades: https://parent.sduhsd.net/
online class: https://classroom.google.com
THE FRAMEWORK FOR OUR ORGANIZED CHAOS: Welcome. In this cross-genre class, we will focus on the elements that make for vivid, honest writing. We will explore fiction, poetry, gothic literature, fairy tales, experiential journalism, biographical vignette, drama, flash fiction, twit fiction, and screenwriting to name a few. Things may change as I get to know your writerly sensibilities; the unique community of this class also brings out shifts in the plan, but what remains true every term is that this course is designed to be an exploration of one’s writing.
At first, we will work within the framework of certain forms of writing. Eventually, we will explore our own genres of choice. To prepare you mentally and emotionally, I want you to know the obvious: this class is framed around writing, and write we will. A lot. Daily. Does this mean you will be burdened by the amount of writing? No. Not if you are productive in class and enjoy the process.
“Practice and all is coming.” Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
Just like marathon training, we will not start out the class writing a zillion pages a day. We will work on creating our writing space. We will train. We will take small steps and then build up our endurance.
THE MUST HAVES:
· You should have a sense of adventure and humility. We will be sharing our ideas, our successes and failures in class. It is important as a community of writers that we are willing to take risks.
· You must be brave. Some of our assignments will be posted in a blog to see what the public or other family and friends may think of our work. Be open to what the world says.
· A writing space: Creating a space in your life where you can really dig down and find that writer zone is important. Much of what we will do in this class will be framed around creating writing habits or rituals to help us with our future endeavors.
I feel overjoyed to be working with you to improve the talent you already possess. Having said that, I wish you a semester filled with growth, with challenges and ultimately with a satisfying experience.
THE BREAKDOWN: Projects, class assignments (70%) – Most of our projects will be collaborative; I will ask you to write for an actual audience (besides myself). These audiences include other classes, teachers, parents, the world wide web. Each project will have a corresponding rubric outlining what needs to be accomplished. There will be great variety and freedom in both how you accomplish the tasks and what final forms they take. And, while we will explore several genres of writing in this class, each student will have an opportunity to craft a project of his/her interest in other genres such as romance, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, etc.
THE WRITER’S NOTEBOOK: (10%)
The writer’s notebook is critical to your development and growth as a writer. This is a space that should be a treasure trove for your ideas. You will be asked to reflect EVERY day in your journal about life, about your writing, about your dreams. Be assured that this is a great way to form lifelong habits that eliminate the fear of facing the blank page. Final Project (20%) –This will be determined based on the collaborations happening within our class or outside of class within other departments. It should be a representation of your growth and development as a writer.
WRITING CONTENT RESTRICTIONS:
Like any author, your writing should reflect on the appropriateness of your audience. If writing a private journal, a student may write what he/she likes. If writing a project to be read only by me, the content should be appropriate to be read by a supervising adult. If presenting a work to a class, the student should observe content standards appropriate for minors (such as PG-13 films).
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
The following is the district’s definition of plagiarism. Canyon Crest Academy supports the district and for that matter all learning institutions in valuing academic integrity in one’s work.
Plagiarism: Any intentional representation of another's ideas, words, or work as one's own. Plagiarism includes the misuse of published material, electronic material, and/or the work of other students. The original writer who intentionally shares his/her paper for another to copy, without the permission of the teacher, is also engaged in plagiarism.
By signing this syllabus you acknowledge that the work you produce in your class will be your own ideas and words.
OUR RULES:
· Write passionately. Practice, practice, practice.
· Aspire to be outside of our classroom twice a week (this may be the library, a corner of the campus, the field, the Black Box theater, etc.)
· Be respectful of each other but also constructive.
· Be on time. Tardies will be assessed if students must be reminded to take their seat after the bell. School policies on tardies will be enforced.
· Be hydrated. You may drink water in class as long as you are discrete and respectful of others in class.
· Be timely. Turn your work in on time. For the writing process to work, it is important that you have your work when it is assigned in class. No late papers will be accepted.
RECOMMENDED READING:
On Writing, Stephen King
Writing Tools, Roy Peter Clark
SUPPLIES: · A writer’s journal ( A.K.A. A cheap, spiral- bound notebook that is no more than 50 cents. Don’t bother buying an expensive, leather bound journal. I find that you are less intimidated to write if your notebook doesn’t feel so “important.”
· A book to read for daily SSR.
· A sense of humor, humility, and adventure.
Without further ado, let’s begin!
**Please e-mail me that you have read and understand the syllabus. It’s part of your first assignment in this class. It ensures that I have your contact information and it gives you an opportunity to share any items that need addressing before we begin our adventures.
Wishing you all the best, Ms. Chufo
Room: D108 - e-mail: jeannie.chufo@sduhsd.net
phone: x4128
e-mail: jeannie.chufo@sduhsd.net
web page: http://chufo.org
online grades: https://parent.sduhsd.net/
online class: https://classroom.google.com
THE FRAMEWORK FOR OUR ORGANIZED CHAOS: Welcome. In this cross-genre class, we will focus on the elements that make for vivid, honest writing. We will explore fiction, poetry, gothic literature, fairy tales, experiential journalism, biographical vignette, drama, flash fiction, twit fiction, and screenwriting to name a few. Things may change as I get to know your writerly sensibilities; the unique community of this class also brings out shifts in the plan, but what remains true every term is that this course is designed to be an exploration of one’s writing.
At first, we will work within the framework of certain forms of writing. Eventually, we will explore our own genres of choice. To prepare you mentally and emotionally, I want you to know the obvious: this class is framed around writing, and write we will. A lot. Daily. Does this mean you will be burdened by the amount of writing? No. Not if you are productive in class and enjoy the process.
“Practice and all is coming.” Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
Just like marathon training, we will not start out the class writing a zillion pages a day. We will work on creating our writing space. We will train. We will take small steps and then build up our endurance.
THE MUST HAVES:
· You should have a sense of adventure and humility. We will be sharing our ideas, our successes and failures in class. It is important as a community of writers that we are willing to take risks.
· You must be brave. Some of our assignments will be posted in a blog to see what the public or other family and friends may think of our work. Be open to what the world says.
· A writing space: Creating a space in your life where you can really dig down and find that writer zone is important. Much of what we will do in this class will be framed around creating writing habits or rituals to help us with our future endeavors.
I feel overjoyed to be working with you to improve the talent you already possess. Having said that, I wish you a semester filled with growth, with challenges and ultimately with a satisfying experience.
THE BREAKDOWN: Projects, class assignments (70%) – Most of our projects will be collaborative; I will ask you to write for an actual audience (besides myself). These audiences include other classes, teachers, parents, the world wide web. Each project will have a corresponding rubric outlining what needs to be accomplished. There will be great variety and freedom in both how you accomplish the tasks and what final forms they take. And, while we will explore several genres of writing in this class, each student will have an opportunity to craft a project of his/her interest in other genres such as romance, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, etc.
THE WRITER’S NOTEBOOK: (10%)
The writer’s notebook is critical to your development and growth as a writer. This is a space that should be a treasure trove for your ideas. You will be asked to reflect EVERY day in your journal about life, about your writing, about your dreams. Be assured that this is a great way to form lifelong habits that eliminate the fear of facing the blank page. Final Project (20%) –This will be determined based on the collaborations happening within our class or outside of class within other departments. It should be a representation of your growth and development as a writer.
WRITING CONTENT RESTRICTIONS:
Like any author, your writing should reflect on the appropriateness of your audience. If writing a private journal, a student may write what he/she likes. If writing a project to be read only by me, the content should be appropriate to be read by a supervising adult. If presenting a work to a class, the student should observe content standards appropriate for minors (such as PG-13 films).
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
The following is the district’s definition of plagiarism. Canyon Crest Academy supports the district and for that matter all learning institutions in valuing academic integrity in one’s work.
Plagiarism: Any intentional representation of another's ideas, words, or work as one's own. Plagiarism includes the misuse of published material, electronic material, and/or the work of other students. The original writer who intentionally shares his/her paper for another to copy, without the permission of the teacher, is also engaged in plagiarism.
By signing this syllabus you acknowledge that the work you produce in your class will be your own ideas and words.
OUR RULES:
· Write passionately. Practice, practice, practice.
· Aspire to be outside of our classroom twice a week (this may be the library, a corner of the campus, the field, the Black Box theater, etc.)
· Be respectful of each other but also constructive.
· Be on time. Tardies will be assessed if students must be reminded to take their seat after the bell. School policies on tardies will be enforced.
· Be hydrated. You may drink water in class as long as you are discrete and respectful of others in class.
· Be timely. Turn your work in on time. For the writing process to work, it is important that you have your work when it is assigned in class. No late papers will be accepted.
RECOMMENDED READING:
On Writing, Stephen King
Writing Tools, Roy Peter Clark
SUPPLIES: · A writer’s journal ( A.K.A. A cheap, spiral- bound notebook that is no more than 50 cents. Don’t bother buying an expensive, leather bound journal. I find that you are less intimidated to write if your notebook doesn’t feel so “important.”
· A book to read for daily SSR.
· A sense of humor, humility, and adventure.
Without further ado, let’s begin!
**Please e-mail me that you have read and understand the syllabus. It’s part of your first assignment in this class. It ensures that I have your contact information and it gives you an opportunity to share any items that need addressing before we begin our adventures.
Wishing you all the best, Ms. Chufo