Benjamin Franklin
Writers’ Roundtable
Fall 2005
Mr. Fraser
Writing is like Painting, and there are at least two types of painting. A person can coat the exterior of an object—a house, a car, a fence—with paint, or someone may express his/her feelings, convey mood, and demonstrate style using colored pigment. The first is a functional application; the second is an artistic expression. Similarly, a student may write an essay, an extremely functional, focused form of writing, or he/she may write a poem, a highly creative and artistic form of writing.
Would a painter use the same tools to paint a picture and a house? Of course not! Therefore the same writing tools would never be used to write a research paper and a short story. Unfortunately, in school, teachers are usually forced to combine the practical forms of writing with the artistic forms of writing. This combination is often very bad, as we would never think of combining teaching how to paint a house and how to paint a beautiful picture in the same course. The two are vastly different.
You are fortunate. Writer’s Roundtable is a course in which you will learn and practice the art of writing. During the semester in this course, you will investigate a variety of forms of creative writing, and you will have many opportunities to express yourself in written form. Writers (you are one now) will be expected to produce and share work daily. I look forward to writing and sharing my work with all of you as well!
Writers’ Roundtable class members must be willing to become members of a community of writers. As a cohesive group, we will be optimally successful. In a writing workshop, there is no room for negativity, name-calling, snobbery, or immaturity. In order for all of us to flourish as writers, we must feel safe and accepted by our peers.
In order to be successful in this class, you must have some spark inside of you that makes you want to write. This class is not an opportunity to get remediation for writing skills. This is an advanced, elective course for those students who are either talented writers or those students who wish to become talented writers! The pace, the independence, and the attitude required for this class could make it difficult for some students.
Supplies
· 1 composition notebook (to be kept in class as your Writer’s Notebook—needed immediately!)
· Pens, pencils, quills, ink etc.
· Possibly other supplies as determined by personal projects and contracts
· Unending supply of creative thoughts
· Energy, enthusiasm, and a good attitude
Assessment (How to get a grade!)
· I will not read every word that you write in this class; however, you are expected to write daily. You should be here because you love to write!
· You will earn daily grades for participation and fantastic writing.
· You will earn project grades.
Writers Roundtable Students may explore:
· Becoming an integral member of a writing community
· Thinking Out of the Box: Exploring Creative Minds
· Word Power: Expressing Yourself in Poetry
· Short and Sweet: Writing Short Fiction
· All Play and No Work: Writing Dramatic Scenes and Monologues
· Did I Myth Something?: Writing Fantasy Fiction.
· It is a Mystery to Me!: Writing Mystery Fiction
· All About Me: Writing a Memoir
· Tell Me a Story: Narrative Writing
Writers’ Roundtable students will:
· Grow as an integral part of a writing community.
· Become peer mentors and editors.
· Learn about Publication and Journalism first hand—students will publish at least two school newspaper for distribution to GMS students, and students will generate writing for the Captain’s Log—the school yearbook.
· Focus on topics of special interest.
______
Please discuss this course outline with your parents and then have them sign the section below. This information should be the first thing included in your Writer’s Portfolio.
Writer’s Signature: ______
Writer’s Parent’s Signature: ______