Formal writing can be a lot more fun than students typically realize.  Essays often seem boring or scary, but stories always sound fun.  After all, we are storytelling people.  Being able to tell a good story is an art form.  And good stories always have a lesson deeper meaning.  Good stories make an argument.  The skills needed to tell a good story are the same skills needed to write a good essay. In this course, students will work to master the English language through a variety of creative writing tasks and literary exercises designed to improve writing fluency and diction. These skills will not only improve students’ creative writing and ability to tell stories, but will also directly relate and translate to formal writing skills.  Students will learn how to structure stories, master the use of imagery, understand and incorporate figurative language, establish theme and thesis, support their arguments with evidence, and perhaps most importantly, find their own voice.

This course gives the illusion of being just for fun, and that is part of it’s strength.  Students are set free to write, unrestricted by grammar rules and writing conventions.  Students enjoy these writing tasks and therefore are engaged in completing them.  Because they are fun and nonrestrictive, students often don’t see the educational value, but it is always there.  One of the best ways to become a better writer is to write more, and this course is designed to do just that.   

This course will begin and end with similar writing tasks.  This will serve as a point of comparison so that student progress can clearly be seen.  

Homework
Students will complete two essays independently, one each week, based on the guidance and exercises completely in class.


Course Outline
The first half of class will be spent on a fun and engaging writing exercise designed to hone students writing skills.  This will be followed by a short lesson in writing, all leading up to the final goal of being able to tell good stories and write well developed essays.


Lesson 1
Writing exercise/assessment: The Jungian Forest
Introduction to poetry and lists

Lesson 2
Imagery writing exercise
Understanding and using figurative language (SHAMPOO)

Lesson 3
Picture story
analyzing prose and poetry
(Literary analysis essay assigned)

Lesson 4
What’s in the bag?
research and synthesis

Lesson 5
MADE writing exercise
SOAPSTONEs

Lesson 6
"This I Believe" Essay assignment (final homework assignment)
"The Train" Writing exercise