August 2017 - June 2018
Creative Writing Syllabus
Mr. Jasso ~ Room 573
Welcome to La Mirada High School! I am looking forward to an excellent school year for our class. To ensure a safe and productive learning environment for all students, a few important rules must be followed. A student’s success in school depends on responsibility and making positive choices. It is my desire that all students succeed. I encourage parents to contact me whenever there is a question about a student’s progress or behavior.
The following is a list of information for parents and students to read together:
Classroom Rules – Behavior Expectations
1. Follow Directions
2. Be On Time AND seated before the tardy bell rings
3. Come to class each day with supplies [textbook, pens, pencils, journals] and a ready-to-learn attitude
4. Be respectful to all in the classroom
5. No gum, no eating, no drinks in class, no electronic items out, and no grooming supplies
6. No class disruptions
Consequences for not following these rules may include any of the following:
Points deducted from grade, Detention, Loss of Class Privileges, Warning, Time Out, Contact Parents, Removal from Room, Confiscation, and/or a Referral to Administration
Curriculum
The Creative Writing Course will explore the following:
· Voice, audience, clarity, coherence, development, dialogue, style.
· Journal
· Personal Narrative/ Memoir Writing
· Descriptive Writing
· Character Sketch
· Children’s Book
· Dialogue
· Short Story
· Tabloid News Articles
· Restaurant Reviews
· Song Lyrics
· Scripts
Course Description:
This course is a writing workshop.Students will write every day, and they will explore different writing techniques and styles. Writing skills will be developed through pre-writing, editing, re-writing, and critiquing.Students will also examine various styles of writing by reading well-known and not so well-known writers of, songs, newspaper columns, short stories, novels, plays, monologues, dialogues, reviews, and stream-of-consciousness selections.Goals will be met through a variety of reading, writing, and speaking activities.Additionally, students must be willing to share their work; that is, they must be willing to read aloud and share their ideas with the group.Students will be asked to critique their own work and the work of others in a positive and gentle manner.Students will research critically and/or commercially successful authors to find out their secrets to success.
Absences
It is a STUDENT’S responsibility to see Mr. Jasso before or after school about makeup work, NOT during our class time. All assignment recovery must be addressed the day of the student’s return. As well, assignments that are due during absence will be turned in on the day student returns to school. All makeup work must be completed and handed in the day immediately following the student’s return. Students are encouraged to have a study buddy that they can count on to get notes from, if needed.
Restroom Passes
Each student will be given 3 emergency restroom passes to be used during the semester. I strongly urge students to save them for real emergencies. Once the passes are used, no more will be issued. Unused passes are worth extra credit at the end of the semester.
Suggested Supplies List - for Student Success
► 1 Composition Book needed throughout the year [the ones with marble covers are great]
► 3 pencils [#2 type] and/or 3 pens (blue or black only) - needed daily
► 3 Colored highlighters [each a different color] or colored pencils
Last but by no means least…
I am looking forward to a productive and meaningful year, especially in light of your help. Please sign and return the Acknowledgement portion of this document on Friday 8/18 (tomorrow), in order to verify that you have read and understand the classroom expectations. Please retain possession of the rest of the document.
Parents - If you have any questions you may leave a message with the school secretary at
(562) 868-0431 ext. 3101 and I will return your call as soon as possible. Better yet, you can email me at: or through the school website: lamiradahs.org
Acknowledgement
Student Name______
Period ______
Home Phone Number______
I have read and understood the Class Rules and Syllabus for Mr. Jasso's classroom. I will follow and/or support these rules, knowing that there are consequences for making poor choices.
Student Signature______Date______
Parent/Guardian Name (Please Print)______
Parent/Guardian Signature ______Date______
Parent/Guardian phone numbers & email where I can contact you during the day:
Work______
Cell______
Email address where I can contact you ______
Is there another parent/guardian who could be contacted if I am unable to reach you?
-Mr. Jasso
***Fall 2017 Acknowledgement***
The Creative Writing elective class will embark upon a study of terror/horror/gothic writing/literature throughout a portion of the Fall 2017 semester. The class’s study of horror will include the use of selections from Night Shift, a collection of Stephen King’s earliest published works. Minding the nature of the Horror genre, it is important to note that mature content will be addressed in a manner appropriate to classroom study. Your signature will serve as consent for your student’s study of Night Shift.
I ______hereby grant my student permission to read the text of Stephen King’s Night Shift.