4+UNIT+4+Creative+Writing

This is our last unit of the year! We will be reading many short stories, poems, lyrics, short short stories, essays, and other pieces of creative writing. You are graduating high school in just a bit over a month; use this as an opportunity to create something lasting. Document your last days at BHS by creating something meaningful.
 * Unit 4: Creative Writing Unit **  ** 2013 **


 * __ Assignments __** :


 * __ 1. Poetry Portfolio __** : You will draft and edit a series of poems, each with a different topical or structural focus. Please bring a draft of your poem to each class and prepare to turn each one in on its assigned date. Between drafts, editing, and final copies this portfolio will be worth roughly 70 points.  [[file:Poetry Portfolio Rubric.doc]]




 * __ 2. Short Story __** : You will work to create one final short story (under 1000 words) to turn in. Each class we will be reading multiple short stories by many authors and will focus on one specific element of storytelling and writing each class (dialogue, character development, language, plot, etc). Be sure to save each new draft as a NEW draft rather than saving over each one. Between drafts, editing, and a final copy this will be worth roughly 50 points. [[file:Short Story Rubric 2013.doc]]


 * __ 3. Legacy Project and Coffee House __** : The class will decide on a unifying concept- developed by the whole class—to serve as the focus of this performance day. A Director and MC will be selected by the class to organize and run the show. These 2 people will be awarded extra points for their extra work. Each person will perform and share his or her creative work during one day at the end of the Q4. 100 points.

For the Coffee House/Free Choice assignment the only limit is your imagination. You want to produce a piece of art that you will be proud to leave behind in the Legacy Project Notebook at BHS. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Short Stories ** : original short stories, stories that continue where another story ends, stories that fill in the missing scene, missing background of a character stories, stories that come from a poem, stories that spoof another story, a reinterpretation of an existing story, etc. **Essays**: Personal essays, thematic essays, character essays, analytical essays, essays about themes across multiple texts, essays a character might have written, etc.** Poetry**: Poetry about characters, poetry by characters, social commentary poetry, new addresses poetry, form poetry, etc.** Music**: Original songs, songs with text from literature, etc.** Graphics**: Animated poetry, scenes in poetry or literature interpreted by photography or videos, original artwork with text, photo essays, etc.** Drama**: Dramatic interpretations, re-envisioning scenes, reader’s theatre, dramatic interpretations of multiple characters in a scene, a dramatic monologue, original scripts reenacted, parodies of characters or scenes, etc .

[|Elizabeth Gilbert on Creativity]

[|Tim O'Brien "Telling Tales" from The Atlantic]