Creative Writing Spring 2023-2nd Block Assignments

Please use the below link to connect your Google Classroom account to your Realize Account.

For this free write I want you to reflect on your time in this class this semester. Describe your experience and consider the following questions -

What did you learn, what are some things you would change or improve upon (either your own study habits or the class itself)?
What was the most / least interesting part of this class?
Are there any writing assignments you are particularly proud of?
How do you think you've grown as a writer? As a student?
Were there any memorable moments from the class? 

Submit the final draft of your two writings here:
Identity and Reflection
Imagery

*Additionally, a brief "artist statement" explaining why you've chosen these works for the class and what they mean to you as a writer. 

Submit your three final drafts here:
Worldbuilding
Story, Mood, Setting
Independent. 

Review both YOUR cut and your PEER cut of your World-building story and answer the following questions:

Are there stark similarities or differences in the edits? Why do you think that is? 
Do you agree with the peer cuts? Why or why not? 
What was the focus of your edits? (Clarity? Emphasis? etc.)
What section of your story do you feel CANNOT be cut in any way? Explain your reasoning 

After reviewing your written pieces, which one is your favorite and why? Which one is your strongest and why? 

Pulling from our "Quiet Year" play through, select a point of interest in the world we built to create a story. This can focus on any aspect we created such as the following examples:

The yellow star people
The mystery to what happened in the cave
The dragon that lives in the area
The fairies / butterfly fields.
The mysterious volcano that appeared. 
A story centering on one of our characters (The doctor maybe?) 

300 words minimum or 1 page length in poems

Some prompt ideas:
What is something you are looking forward to in the future? 
A review of your favorite movie / show / music album
The one personality trait you cannot stand. 

300 words minimum or 1 page length in poems

Some prompt ideas:
Your "hot take" on a very opinionated subject
Least favorite animal and why
A story featuring one of your pets.

Submit your Science Fiction Writing Story here. Must be 700 word minimum. 

Things to consider:
the Novum (or possibility of the story taking place)/
The Problem / Solution and what does that solution reveal bout society or a theme? 

300 words minimum or 1 page length in poems

Some prompt ideas:
A story featuring Lego pieces
An animal escapes from the zoo: what is it and what does it do?
What it means to be "equal."

What does it mean to be "equal?" What are some pros and cons of being equal?

300 words minimum or 1 page length in poems

Some prompt ideas:
A story set in your favorite season
Aliens are visiting Earth - what is the one thing they are most curious about? 
Romeo & Juliet set in modern times 

300 words minimum or 1 page length in poems

Some prompt ideas:
You've traveled to a new world, what does it look like? Who else lives there?
Your favorite memory of someone important in your life.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? 

Submit your final draft here. 

300 words minimum or 1 page length in poems

Some prompt ideas:
Describe your Spring Break
The story of you turning into a werewolf (or any other monster)
A letter to someone who will never read it. 

Goal is to write a 500 word essay reflecting on your 1st nine weeks in Creative Writing. Things to consider:

What is something you enjoyed about the course? Or excelled in writing? 
What is something you struggled with? Or something you didn't enjoy?
What is something you would want to try to write in the next 9 weeks? Is there a particular genre / style / archetype? 
What is something you could improve on in the next 9 weeks?
What is an area that I can improve the course, in either content or focus? 

Feel free to include any other reflective elements 

Upload your comic book script rough draft here. 

Which of the characters you've read about so far in American Born Chinese do you relate to the most? Could be via experiences, personality, actions, etc. Explain why.

Complete a dialogic journal for your Daily Independent Reading Assignment (or any current Required Book)

Define "closure" as it relates to comic books.

What all do you know about comic books, comic book characters, or comic book styles?

Review and Critique the series on it's implementation of the various elements of scary stories we've discussed in class:

Foreshadowing
Suspense
Mystery
Plot
Symbolism 

Minimum word count: 300 words

Complete a dialogic journal for your Daily Independent Reading Assignment (or any current Required Book)

Submit a rough draft of your scary story here. 

Requirements:
600 words

Suggestions:
Remember our conversation on establishing "mood," "pacing," and "foreshadowing" within a scary story.

What action of the story do you want to highlight and "focus on" to build suspense for the reader?

What do you believe makes a "scary story?" What is the scariest story you've read / watched?

Step 1: Browse through Google and various other search engines in search of written "scary stories" and read a few. Select one you think you like and post a link in your answer. Explain why you liked that particular story (without giving away details!)
Step 2: Browse through Youtube for various verbal "scary stories" (similar to "Click-Clack the Rattle Bag"). You may even want to look at ones from the same writers. Select one that you enjoyed. Post a link to that video and why you liked that particular story.

Step 3: Read / Watch the stories of your peers and discuss. Provide a comment for each person's selection.

If you need help looking up writers, I've provided a few notable ones below:

Stephen King
Neil Gaiman
Flannery O'Connor
Edgar Allen Poe
Mary Shelley
Percy Shelley
Shirley Jackson

I know we've already discussed starting "scary stories" as our writing focus next week, but I want you to take a moment to think about what else you'd like to learn to write over the next few weeks. Is it short stories? (if so, what style?) plays? comic books? Something I haven't mentioned. Suggest away!

Considering all that we have explored with our poems over the past few days (slam poems, alliterative poems, haikus, golden shovel, etc.) Now is an opportunity for you to create a poem of your own. Requirements are:

2 pieces of figurative language ( metaphor, simile, alliteration, assonance, consonance, etc). 
Minimum 12 lines

Complete a dialogic journal for your Daily Independent Reading Assignment (or any current Required Book)

Submit your 4 Haiku poems here. Examples are provided as well. 
As a reminder the Haiku style is 5, 7, 5 (in # of syllables). 

Submit your poem here after going through the template. Reminder it does not have to be exact, feel free to play with the structure. 

Submit your Golden Shovel Poem here. Look through the websites for ideas and inspirations. Or revisit any of the poems we've discussed in our slam poetry sections. and discussions

Share a "line" from your own poem that you believe is your favorite. Explain why.

If someone where to ask you "Where are You From?" what would your answer be?

Revisit your comments and replies over the Poetry research. Are there recurring patterns or relationships between the poems we've discussed or read? Think about style, theme, content, word choice.

Step 1: Browse through the Poetry Foundation website. Read a few different poems, and select one that you like. Post a link to that poem and a brief explanation of why you like that particular poem. Provide one "line" that really sticks out to you.

Step 2: Browse through Youtube for various Slam Poems (similar to what we watched yesterday). You may even want to look at ones from the same artists. Select one that you enjoyed. Post a link to that poem and a brief explanation of why you like it. Provide one "line" that really sticks out to you.

Step 3: Read / Watch the poems of your peers and discuss. Provide a comment for each person's selection.

If you need help looking up poets, I've provided a few notable ones below:

Robert Frost
Stephen Crane
Langston Hughes
Nikki Giovanni
Rupi Kaur
Billy Collins
Taylor Mali
Nikki Grimes
Matsuo Basho
Sylvia Plath
Mary Oliver
Emily Dickinson

Which of the poems today did you enjoy the most? Why? Provide a favorite line or metaphor you discovered. If you need to look up lines or videos they are below.

"To This Day" Shane Koyzcan
"OCD" Neil Hilborn
"59"Harry Baker
"The Sunshine Kid" Harry Baker
"Paper People" Harry Baker
"The Road Not Taken" Robert Frost

If there is one emotion you could write a poem about, what do you think you'd have the best chance of writing? Explain why.

Submit your Finalized draft of your Personal Narrative here. Be sure to review all comments and commentary from peers and instructor. We will read these together on Tuesday. 

Provide a few sentences on what you know about poetry. Feel free to even provide your opinion on the subject.

Complete a dialogic journal for your Daily Independent Reading Assignment (or any current Required Book)

Submit your personal narrative writing here. Requirements are:

600 words
Includes all five senses
Includes a metaphor
Includes a simile 

Provide 2-3 "eye opening experiences" of your life - moments that you felt changed who you are or changed how you viewed the world. Provide a sentence or two summarize the event - these will help you establish a potential Personal Narrative.

What is your absolute favorite thing you've read and why?