Riverside Public School

Creative Writing Syllabus

August 2016 - May 2017
Instructor Information
Christine Courtney
Email: christine.courtney@riversideps.org
Website: mscourtneyspage.weebly.com
Supplies Needed by Student
Writing utensil
Notebook
Overview
Creative Writing is designed for senior students. In this students will:
-Create original short and regular fiction pieces to share.
-Show attention to various writing styles and complete various
projects for a grade.

to

-Participate in writers workshops which include sharing work as a class and

will also offer constructive criticism to classmates; the purpose of this is
improve creative writing skills while maintaining a safe, supportive, and creative
environment.

-Students will journal every day/every other day unless otherwise informed.
-This class will also be required to write various articles for the Charger Yearbook.
Instruction will be provided when the time comes.

Topics Covered
Creative Writing will be conducted as an upper-level elective, and is not a required class.
It will be required, however, that students put forth the same effort as any other required
class. This class will be designed to be relaxed in order to bolster creativity in a nonthreatening writing environment.
Students will be required to complete various activities and writing exercises in order to
improve and showcase their own writing. Exercises will include (but are not limited to):
characters, writing topics, story form, plot, conflict, resolution, dialogue, fictional times
and places, and setting.
Grading Policies
- Students will be graded on writing exercises, class participation, and projects.

Every assignment will be worth a given number of points.

- The student's grade will be calculated by points earned divided by total points
possible.
Late Work
- To earn full credit on late assignments, students must turn in the assignment
during the class period it is due.
- Every day the assignment is late, it will be deducted 10%.
- Papers, Projects, Presentations
- For every day the assignment is late, it will be deducted 10%. In
addition, because ample time is given for large-scale projects, the
instructor reserves the right to require the students to spend afterschool
time working on the assignment regardless of other after school
activities.
Failing a Quiz or Test
- If a student fails a quiz or test, he/she will be given the option to retake that
quiz/test. Highest retake-grade possible is 70%. (?)
Lost Work
- Students are required to have a separate folder for English class. You must be
responsible for your items. Students will get one free extra copy given to them - 10%
will be deducted from that assignment grade for any additional extra copies given.
Extra Credit
- Occasionally (at instructor's discretion) extra credit work will be given. DO
NOT RELY on extra credit for boosting final grades. If extra credit is given, all students
will have opportunity to complete the assignment.
Class Policies
Academic Honesty
- It is expected that students will use genuine, sincere, and fair means for the
accomplishment of tests, tasks, or projects from which evaluations of progress shall be
determined. Students found plagiarizing, copying, or cheating in any way will redo the
assignment with the highest possible grade of 50%.
No Zero Policy
- A student will be given a zero for any missing assignments. However, the
student will spend either lunch detentions or after-school detentions (at the teacher's
discretion) until the assignment is turned in. There may also be a substitute assignment in
place of the original. Late points will be deducted from the final grade as necessary.
Attendance/Missed Assignments
- If a student has an excused absence from class, he or she is responsible for the
assignments/homework that was missed. The student will be given two days for every
day of excused absence to make up the assignments. It is the responsibility of the student

to keep track of missed work and tests.

Required Composition Heading
- Typed papers will be headed at the Upper-Left corner:
Your Name
Instructor's Name
Class Title
Date

John Smith
Miss Courtney
Creative Writing
August 15, 2016

- All final papers must be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font, doublespaced, stapled, and have 1" margins. Any outside sources must be cited to avoid
plagiarism.
Staying Organized
-Students will be provided with a writing journal (unless you want to use your own!)
It will be your job to keep track and use accordingly. It is your journal, so you can
decorate it as you wish. Dont be afraid to get creative.
Arriving Late
- Because Room 218 is located on the opposite side of the buildings from the
restrooms, students will be given three minutes from the time the previous dismissal bell
rings to arrive to class on time. If a student arrives after three minutes without a pass,
she/he will be counted tardy.
Food/Drink in the Classroom
- Students may have food/drink in the classroom UNTIL someone proves that
they cannot handle the privilege (spills, not properly disposing wrappers/bottles,
distracting others, etc). At that time, only water will be allowed.
Cell Phones
- If a cell phone goes off during class unexpectedly, the student will be required to
place his/her phone on the teacher's desk until the end of the period. Repeated offenses
will have additional consequences.
- If a student is caught using his/her cell phone during class, the instructor will
keep the phone until the end of the day. Repeated offenses will have additional
consequences.
- With any conflict, the phone will be turned in to the principal.
English Room Printer
- Students may print in the English room during their class time. Excess
printing/students coming in and out of the room will cause distractions to the class in
progress. If any student enters from an outside class to retrieve printed material will be
required to serve after-school time.

Behavior Expectations
1. Come to class PREPARED and with a POSITIVE attitude.
2. Hand in your BEST work.
3. Be RESPECTFUL of each other, of me as the teacher, and most importantly,
yourself.
4. Please BE POLITE to your fellow classmates and your teacher/substitute
teacher. Thank you.
5. Do not be afraid to ASK FOR HELP!
What You Can Expect from Me
- I WILL NOT allow disrespectful behavior in my classroom. This classroom
will be a place where students can feel safe and secure. It will be a place of learning,
discussion, and varied interpretation.
- I will do my best but will make some mistakes and may not know all the
answers
immediately. I will do everything I can to discover the answers to
questions I may not know.
- Work time will be provided but will continue only if you can prove to me that
you can use it wisely.
Academic Support
- Students need to hold themselves accountable for their performance in class. If
a student does not understand a concept or an assignment, he/she needs to come see me
before or after school or during my prep period, which is during 3rd period.