As learners prepare for college applications, those pursuing further education in writing will typically require a professional writing portfolio. A professional writing portfolio should contain multiple examples of a writer's work, preferable across multiple genres. This semester-long course is designed to guide high school students through building their writing portfolios. We will meet twice weekly to write, workshop, and edit a range of works that will be suitable for submission to academic writing programs and professional writing opportunities. During workshopping, each writer will have an opportunity to share their work and receive feedback from the instructor and from their peers. 

Our fifteen weeks together will be split between four units covering three literary genres: fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Students will begin with a self-assessment of their writing strengths and weaknesses; this exercise will repeat in the final week so students can assess their growth and development as a writer. 

•Fiction Writing Unit: We will spend six weeks writing and workshopping two works of fiction. For each fiction work, writers will have two weeks to write (four hours of class time) and one week to workshop. 

•Creative Nonfiction Writing Unit: We will spend three weeks writing and workshopping one work of creative nonfiction. Writers will have two weeks to write (four hours of class time) and one week to workshop. 

•Writer's Choice/Flash Fiction Unit: We will spend two weeks writing and workshopping one piece of flash fiction/creative nonfiction. Flash fiction is a short, self-contained work that is typically under 1,500 words. Writers will have 1.5 weeks to write (3 hours of class time) and one class meeting to workshop (1 hour), for a total of four hours.

•Poetry Unit: We will spend two weeks writing and workshopping poetry in two genres, lyric and narrative. For each form, learners will have one class meeting for writing (1 hour) and one class meeting to workshop (1 hour), for a total of four hours. 

Students will end their semester of writing with a reflective essay, self-assessing their writing portfolio. One class period (1 hour) will be devoted to this reflective essay.

The final class meeting will be a discussion about applying to writing programs or freelance writing jobs.