| Course Description | In this course, students will be taught how to think and write like writers as they read and imitate works of short fiction and academic prose that are appropriate but challenging for their grade level. Classic short story authors covered in this course will include Ray Bradbury, Gary Soto, Ray Bradbury, Shirley Jackson, and Hernando Tellez. These readings will be provided in the form of digital PDFs by the teacher. Students in the course will finish with 2 completed short stories and 1 completed essay that they will be able to build on in future courses and writing competitions.
The course will cover a wide variety of writing topics specific to both creative and academic writing. We will start by focusing on writing at the sentence level, then move on to the paragraph, and finally discuss what it takes to complete a story and essay. Creative writing topics will include narrative structure, plot, characterization, description, noticing, narration, dialogue, climaxes, emotional arcs, and endings. Academic writing topics will include hooks, context, thesis statements, supporting points, the sandwich method, objectivity in writing, body paragraphs, citations, and conclusions. Each week students are expected to read and write based on prompts the teacher provides. The reading or writing techniques will then be reviewed in the following class session to inspire further student writing. Students should also upload their writing exercises to the Course’s Google Classroom page, and the teacher will provide highly specific, individualized edits and feedback for each student. |
| Teacher | Mr. Jake
-BA in English from Harvard University; |
| Grade | This course is appropriate for 3rd grade students. |
| Materials | All readings will be provided by the teacher.
-All class sessions will be conducted using the Zoom platform. -Students are encouraged to use Google Classroom for writing assignments so that the teacher can provide steady feedback to all students. |
| Class Time |
Tue 6-7PM ET 22 classes from the week of 1/9/2023-6/16/2023 There is no class during the week of April 3rd |
| Course Topics and Objectives | Sample schedule for week 1-7
Course Schedule (subject to change) Class 1 Introduction: Creative Beginnings –Topics: Narrative Concepts; Narrative Exercises; Strong Sentences; Punctuation –Reading: TBD –Writing: Strong Sentence Description Practice Class 2 Creative Beginnings: Hooks –Topics: Hooking a Reader; Types of Hooks; Exemplary Novel Beginnings; Essay Beginnings –Reading: TBD –Writing: Write a Perfect First Paragraph Class 3 Creative Beginnings: Exposition –Topics: Exposition; Description; Strong Adjectives; Active Voice; Detail; tension –Reading: TBD –Writing: Use Details to Build Tension Class 4 Sentence Composing 1: Subjects & Predicates –Topics: Subjects, Predicates, Completeness, Punctuation, Verbs, Active Voice, Description –Reading: TBD –Writing: Write Complete Descriptive Sentences for Story #1 Class 5 Sentence Composing 2: Complexity –Topics: Compound Sentences, Commas, Connecting Words, Conjunctions, Inciting Incident, Tension –Reading: TBD –Writing: Write Complete Sentences to Build Tension Class 6 Sentence Composing 3: Finishing Sentences –Topics: Sentence Endings, Characterization, Building Toward Climax, Suspense, Punctuation –Reading: TBD –Writing: Bring Back Detail From Story Beginning Class 7 Action Sequences –Topics: Writing Action, Dynamic Verbs, Compound Sentences, Independent Clauses & Dependent Clauses –Reading: TBD –Writing: Write the Climax of Story #1 |