Creative Writing: Adventures Through Time Course Syllabus

Transcription

1 Lesson Title Concepts, Content Objectives, and 1 Character Composition Concepts and Content Objectives Definitions and features of the Six Threads of Characterization: thoughts, physicality, actions, speech, other characters, and family and origins Definition of a character trait Definition of character motivation Identify and develop the threads of characterization, motivations, and traits for at least two original characters Identify specific details to convey the threads of characterization Write a GUDE sentence (Good Grammar, Complete Understanding, Correct Definition, and Excellent Examples) Analyze different choices for character details (the Six Threads), motivations, and traits and make a judgment about which choices work better Design a character using the Six Threads of Characterization and a character trait Page 1 of 10

2 Lesson Title Concepts, Content Objectives, and 2 Creating Character Concepts and Content Objectives Definitions of virtue; flaw; key actions; protagonist; antagonist; stock or flat characters; round, static, and dynamic characters; and heart-clutching moments Identify the difference between a virtue and a flaw, a protagonist and an antagonist, a stock or flat character and a round character, and a static character and a dynamic character Determine the level of the stakes given a character s motivation Express the relationship between motivation, traits, key actions, and consequences Design a character using the Six Threads of Characterization, a character trait, motivation, and key action Transform a flat character into a round character Experiment with the Six Threads, motivations, traits, and key actions to create a character who responds to a plot problem. Draft a scene or story with round characters whose traits and motivations are clear and lead to key actions Write a GUDE sentence (Good Grammar, Complete Understanding, Correct Definition, and Excellent Examples) Page 2 of 10

3 Lesson Title Concepts, Content Objectives, and 3 Setting Concepts and Content Objectives The Six Signposts of Setting: o The city, state, country, or region (if applicable) and the location o The geography/topography o The time period in which the story is set, including the particular year o The season (or whether it spans several seasons) and the weather o The time of day (if a short story) o The time span (Is it in an instant? Does it span a few hours? Does it cover several years?) The elements of the five senses as the basis for descriptive language and setting The definitions of the terms zeitgeist, anachronism, and mood as they relate to setting Create a scene for a story using the Six Signposts of Setting Analyze elements of plot, characterization, and setting as elements for cause-andeffect interdependencies Draw connections between setting and plot setting Identify the mood of a setting Establish mood through sensory detail and diction Write a GUDE sentence (Good Grammar, Complete Understanding, Correct Definition, and Excellent Examples) Page 3 of 10

4 Lesson Title Concepts, Content Objectives, and 4 Plot Concepts and Content Objectives The definitions of the terms plot, catalyst, foreshadowing, and cause and effect The five types of conflict: o a character versus another character o a character versus nature o a character versus the supernatural o a character versus society o a character versus himself/herself The parts of a traditional plot diagram and definitions of each section: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement/resolution Identify parts of a plot Trace cause and effect within literature Explain how foreshadowing works in literature Create a story line illustrating some of the five types of conflict with motivation-driven characters Write a GUDE sentence (Good Grammar, Complete Understanding, Correct Definition, and Excellent Examples) Page 4 of 10

5 Lesson Title Concepts, Content Objectives, and 5 Point of View Concepts and Content Objectives The features of different types of point of view: o First person o Second person o Third person objective o Third person omniscient o Third person close or limited Definitions of diction, syntax, and bias and how each connects to point of view Identify point of view in literary passages Write scenes in a predetermined point of view Change a story from one point of view to another and describe the differences Identify bias in one s own writing Page 5 of 10

6 Lesson Title Concepts, Content Objectives, and 6 Midterm Exam Concepts and Content Objectives The expectations of the midterm exam Analyze literary passages using terms of characterization, setting, plot, and point of view Identify areas of writing strength Identify areas for improvement of writing Establish and meet writing goals for characterization, setting, plot, or point of view Page 6 of 10

7 Lesson Title Concepts, Content Objectives, and 7 Revision of Plot and Setting Concepts and Content Objectives The definition of revision, a complex, multi-step process The 10,000 hours theory of practice for excellence The definition of satisfying stories and endings Plot formulas such as the Check Mark Plot Structure or The Hero s Journey model The elements of the Story Rubric to guide revision Map the plot of their story Identify whether the story s plot is boring, unrealistic, or predictable Revise the plot based on changes to the setting and vice versa Revise the plot without altering character motivation Revise the plot while maintaining the story s original ending Expand the setting in a single scene Page 7 of 10

8 Lesson Title Concepts, Content Objectives, and 8 Revision of Character and Point of View Concepts and Content Objectives The definition of revision as re-seeing, or looking at a piece of writing in a new way, in order to make changes to it The understanding of revision as a complex, multi-step process The elements of the Story Rubric to guide revision Refine characters motivations and revise to make characters more complex Alter a story s point of view, providing a different perspective on characters via new and/or rewritten scenes Develop clear revision goals and meet them Page 8 of 10

9 Lesson Title Concepts, Content Objectives, and 9 Dialogue and Elements of Style Concepts and Content Objectives The features of good dialogue, including conflict and character traits Dialogue s features of tags Definitions of the elements of style: o Diction (word choice) o Rhythm o Sentence structure o Sentence variety o Figurative language o Dialect o Tone The differences between direct versus descriptive writing style Analyze one s original piece of dialogue according to features of good dialogue Create a style profile describing the style of an artist/musician/chef/designer Analyze excerpts of writing to distinguish direct versus descriptive writing style Match appropriate diction to a character in order to describe style Revise elements of style such as figurative language or sentence structure Conduct a meta-cognitive style inventory to understand one s own literary style Develop realistic, interesting, and motivation-driven dialogue that advances the plot Identify character traits and motivations as expressed by a sample dialogue Page 9 of 10

10 Lesson Title Concepts, Content Objectives, and 10 Editing and Publishing Concepts and Content Objectives The definitions for concision and editing for wordiness, clarity, and diction Publications as potential venues for work The elements of an effective query letter Edit sentences by eliminating wordiness, increasing clarity, and identifying appropriate diction Identify publications that might want to publish work based on the readership and publication focus Write a query letter Page 10 of 10