| 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. 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 from Brighter Bee Academy
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| Grade | This course is appropriate for 4th grade students. |
| 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. | |
| Class Time |
Thursday at 6:30-7:30 p.m. EST 22 classes from the week of 1/9/2023-6/16/2023 There is no class during the week of April 3rd |
| Sample Schedule | Sample schedule for the last part of the semester
Class 16 Introduction: Editorial Writing –Topics: Editorials, Op-Eds, Balance of Objective & Subjective –Reading: Winning Samples Editorial 3.1, 3.2 –Writing: Pick Topic & Begin Editorial #1 Class 17 Using Sources –Topics: Finding Reliable Sources, Quoting Experts, Providing Context for Evidence –Reading: Winning Samples Editorial 3.3, 3.4 –Writing: Add Quote + Quote Introduction to Editorial #1 Class 18 Interpretation –Topics: Evidence Interpretation, Glossing, Providing Significance, Adding Original Ideas, Close Reading –Reading: Guest Published Sample #7 –Writing: Add Interpretation + Big Ideas of Evidence Class 19 Concluding –Topics: Editorial Conclusions, Coming Full Circle, Subjective/Objective Balance –Reading: Winning Samples Editorial 3.5, 3.6 –Writing: Finish Editorial #1 Class 20 New Topics & Thesis –Topics: Brainstorming a Less Familiar Topic, Challenging Yourself to Write about a New Topic, Bringing Ideas into Your Writing –Reading: Guest Published Sample #8 –Writing: Start Editorial #2 Class 21 Deep Interpretation –Topics: Interpretation, Using Evidence, Tying Evidence to Thesis –Reading: Winning Samples Editorial 3.7, 3.8 –Writing: Continue Editorial #2 Class 22 Editing & Looking Ahead –Topics: Providing Solutions to Problems, Sentences, Paragraphs, Ordering, Proofreading, Editing –Reading: Guest Published Sample #9 –Writing: Finish Editorial #2 |