Name______

INDEPENDENT CREATIVE WRITING PROJECT (100 pts)

The independent project will provide you an opportunity to work on a project of your own choosing. The focus should be on selection of subject matter and writing genre that is important to you, so you can begin to learn what especially interests you about writing and continue to improve on the elements of that genre.

GUIDELINES FOR INDEPENDENT PROJECTS

  • Students can select a project based on any of the three genres covered in this course (poetry, short stories, plays) or they can select something different (e.g., a television or film script, a small magazine or "e-zine" format, a comic book, a children’s book, a graphic novel, a synopsis and first chapter of a novel, etc.).
  • If you are choosing poetry, try to create some kind of thematic link to tie your poems together.You must write enough poems to meet the rigor of comparable prose pieces.
  • Students must keep a record of their experience and progress. The purpose of this is to help you become familiar with your own creative processes and writing habits.

REQUIREMENTS

I. Proposal: Students must first write a proposal, outlining their project idea in specific detail. The project must be deemed rigorous enough and must be approved by the teacher before you proceed. In your proposal, you must include:

  • Objective (what it is you would like to create during this project)
  • Genre and reason for choosing
  • Overall concept of project (summary of specific idea, including general plot, themes, etc.)
  • Other works you plan to consult (could include professional magazines, poems, stories, plays, specific authors you would like to study as examples, etc.)
  • Personal goals (what writing goals do you hope to achieve as a result of this project?)

II. Process record/Journal: After writing the proposal and receiving approval, you should begin the research and prewriting stage of the project, finding other examples of this type of writing and making notes/outlines/plans for your specific idea. Keep a process record or journal of all ideas, outlines, steps along the way, reflections, questions, frustrations, etc. I would recommend beginning each class period with goals and thoughts for the day and ending with your reflections/frustrations about your output. Also discuss any sources you used as inspiration or instructional aids. These may be books on creative writing, professional magazines, poems, stories, plays, specific examples of work you admire and want to learn from, etc. Include at least 2 of these that you have consulted during the writing process how they inspired you.

III. Peer-evaluation: Students must come up with at least 5 questions to ask a peer partner that will help them make improvements to their draft. Include your questions and your partner’s responses (signed at the bottom) with your final project.

IV. Self-evaluation:In addition, students will write a self-evaluation letter addressed to me (or you might choose to think of a more general audience- i.e., “Dear reader,”) and signed by you. In your letter, you shouldaddress at least5 of the following self-evaluation questions:

  • In general, how do you feel about the final product of your independent project? Did it live up to your expectations? Why or why not?
  • Do you need to explain anything about your final piece?
  • What aspect of the piece are you most satisfied with, and why?
  • What aspect of the piece are your least satisfied with, and why?
  • How did your piece change during the final revision process?
  • Did you surprise yourself at any time during the process? If so, where and how?
  • Would you consider trying to publish (in Human Voices or elsewhere) any of your work? If so, what? (If not, why not?)
  • How do you feel about yourself as a writer? Do you feel your work or your artistic approach has changed?

V. Final product: Final grade will be based on the total of the other components, combined with an evaluation of the final product.

FINAL ASSESSMENT

Your final grade will be based on the following checklist:Your score:

  • Proposal10______
  • Process record/journal10______
  • Peer evaluation10______
  • Self-evaluation paragraph10______
  • Final product60______

______

TOTAL: