Mrs. Worthington’s

Creative WritingI and II Syllabus

2017-2018

2nd and 5thHour

Room 606

Class Motto: Be Positive, Be Productive, Be Polite, and Be Proud

Curriculum:

Creative Writing will focus on improving your writing skills. By exploring literature, film, your own writing, and the writing of your peers, you will have the opportunity to become a better writer. Publishing opportunities will also be present for those interested. Please be prepared to write, write, write!!

Materials needed for class everyday:

  1. Notebook paper
  2. Three ring binder
  3. Journal/composition book
  4. Pens, pencils, and highlighters
  5. Agenda Book
  6. IDs
  7. Reading materials – when assigned
  8. Flash Drive - Always save on your computer and somewhere else.

Class Policies:

Entering and Leaving Class

  1. You are expected to come to class each day prepared to work. When you enter the room, you should have all materials you need for class. Please have agenda, notebook, pens, etc. with you. When you come in to class, please go directly to your seat. A warm-up assignment will be posted on the board. Begin working on the assignment, I will let you know when to stop.
  2. The tardy policy will be enforced. Two unexcused tardies constitute an absence, and any student that is more than five minutes late will be counted absent. Detention does not erase a tardy.
  3. Students need to stay in their seats until the bell rings. Do not line up at the door.

While in class

  1. When announcements are being made, please do not talk. What is being said might be very important. Please respect each other.
  2. Bathroom Usage – Whenever you are out of the class, you miss important classroom instruction. In order to prevent abuse of bathroom privileges, students will not be allowed to leave the classroom 10 minutes after the class starts or 10 minutes before class ends.
  3. If you are absent, (over ten absences means you don’t get credit for the class) you have one day to make-up work for each day absent. Please see make-up area for your assignment and a friend for any notes that were taken the day you missed. Hand in any make up work to me. If you have any questions please come and talk to me. Make up quizzes or tests can be made up before or after class. If you were in class when an assignment, test, or quiz was announced you are expected to turn in the assignment or take the test/quiz when you return to class.
  4. Homework will be turned in at the beginning of class, unless I tell you differently. Quizzes and tests will be given at the beginning of the class also; no time will be given in class for last minute studying.

Late Work Policy: I will accept late work up to threedays past the due date with a 25% penalty for each day late.

Student Expectations: What I need from you.

  1. Be Positive – Having a positive attitude in class makes the class more enjoyable.
  2. Be Productive – Use your time wisely. While in class be prepared to work, listen, and discuss. Keep everything that is not necessary for class in your bag or under the desk.
  3. Be Polite – Treat others the way you want to be treated. Do not tell others students what to do. If you have a problem please tell me, and I will address it.
  4. Be Proud – Take pride in your work. Do not turn in something that you are not proud of. That means make the time to complete a project or assignment. Don’t wait until the last minute.

Discipline Policies and Procedures

Cell Phones –The Student Handbook states that cell phones are not allowed in the classroom unless specified by the teacher. If I see a student using a cell phone when they are not supposed to, I will take it up and at the end of the day bring it to the proper grade office. Any student who resists, argues, or tries to bargain with me will also receive a referral. In order to keep you honest and to make sure that it doesn’t look like you are using a cell phone, book bags and purses need to remain on the floor or under the desk and closed. Take out what you need at the beginning of class, so there is no need to get back in your bag or purse.

Any infraction of the above rules will result in disciplinary action. All rules are in compliance with the MHS student/parent handbook.

1st Offense: Warning (verbal or written)

2nd Offense: detention*

3rd Offense: detention and a call home to parents*

4th Offense or Severe Misconduct: Referral to grade principal, call home to parents, parent/teacher conference, depending on severity of infraction.

*Detention Times are Tues. and Thurs lunch or from 3:15 -3:45

This will be the grading scale for the class:
Daily Work 20%

Journal Writing 30%

Final Drafts 40%

Final Project 10%

/ Grades
100 – 90 = A
89 – 80 = B
79 – 70 = C
69 – 60 = D
59 – below = F

Extra credit assignments will be given from time to time.

The guidelines in the Moore High School Handbook will be followed and upheld at all times.