In this course we will use Minecraft as a way to hone our creative writing skills. We will create a character and setting, and explore how we use that character to advance a plot and develop a theme. I will teach a 'mini-lesson' and then allow students to practice that skill in the class. We will cover the following topics:

Meeting 1- Roll- A- Story: Let's get those creative juices flowing and start generating ideas!

Meeting 2- Choose Your Character: When we play Minecraft we take special care to pick out the perfect skin, and creating a character is no different! We will go beyond what your character looks like and explore personality.

Meeting 3- Climb Plot Mountain: We should write with the ending in mind, and one way to do that is to outline our plot. What successes and failures will your character experience? What lesson will they learn?

Meeting 4- Allow Me to Introduce Myself: Some readers rely on introductions to determine if a story is worth reading. How will you hook your readers? We will learn a few ways to craft a catchy introduction. 

Meeting 5- The Heart of it All: Your readers are hooked and ready to follow your character's adventures. So, what adventures will they go on?

Meeting 6- All Good Things Must Come to an End: It's time to wrap up your story. What does your character accomplish? How does this advance your theme?

Meeting 7- Focus: Writing a story is similar to taking a photograph: we should focus on the real subject. Are there parts of your story we can tighten up and refocus?

Meeting 8- Show, Don't Tell: Now that we have our story properly focused, let's look at our craft. Did we tell our readers the character is scared, or did we show them by describing how they look and act?

Meeting 9- The Nitty Gritty: Now is the time for the last minute adjustments! Run you story through a grammar and spelling check. Read it aloud to see how it sounds. Have a peer read through it. 

Meeting 10- Publishing Party!: Let's celebrate and share our work!