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Welcome to middle school creative writing! I will post a great deal of information for the class right here, so be sure to check the blog often!

You are welcome to comment and ask questions on the blog, but please make sure that your posts are school related and appropriate. Thank you!

Here is today's agenda: 

Bell Work: Find and bookmark the class blog!

Essential Question: Am I prepared to start the new school year?

1. In your notebooks, brainstorm about the following: 

• Goals
• Expectations
• Feelings about starting a new school year.

2. Task: Write a Dear Me Letter. 
Here are some guidelines on how to get an A: 

• Write yourself a letter discussing your feelings about starting a new school year.
• What did you love and hate about last year?
• What are your goals and expectations for this year?
• How do you feel about being at SOTA?

*Note: These guidelines are here to get you started. You may add to the them as well!

* If you type your letter, please use Microsoft Word and SAVE YOUR WORK! Don't know how? ASK!

Assignments 17-20

17. Map of Life: Draw a stylized map, beginning with your birth and ending with the present. Along the

way, include little labels or diagrams of what you remember as important events, places, and people in your life.
Keep all items in order, but leave enough space between individual items to fill in as you think of additionalinformation. Write small since it must fit on ONE page. You may use branching paths or a legend.

18. A Mysterious Place: Describe in a FULL page some place that seemed mysterious, exotic, or fearful to

you. Concentrate on creating the same impression on your reader by a careful selection of sensory details which
recreate the setting. Help us recognize what was special about this place. Or make up a fantasy place that has
these qualities…just describe it well enough for us to believe in it too.

19. Synectics: Synectics makes the familiar strange and the strange familiar. It is the basis of all metaphor

and involves the process of creative problem-solving. Each of the following sets of questions ask for choices
between unrelated answers — answers which can be logically related somehow — and yet, there is no single

correct answer. BUT correct answers would rephrase the question as part of the answer.

Think carefully about the choices offered, make a choice, and then explain your reasons for choosing as

you have. It is your explanation which proves your answer “right” or “wrong.” Answer at least TEN.

1. Which is wiser? a pen or a pencil?

2. Which is easier to forgive? a street or a sidewalk?

3. Which is smarter? a clock or a calendar?

4. Which is easier to teach? a question or an answer?

5. Which is like a contest? a cloud or a sunset?

6. Which is more fearful? new or old?

7. Which is like a promise? mathematics or science?

8. Which is more difficult? a dream or a nightmare?

9. Which is braver? an hour or a year?

10. Which has more pride? an entrance or an exit?

11. Which is easier to close? a road or a map?

12. Which is like a legend? a mirror or glass?

13. Which is more suspenseful? rain or snow?

14. Which has less charm? a signature or an autograph?

15. Which is more trustworthy? history or literature?

16. Which is more useful? a friend or an enemy?

17. Which is sadder? seek or find?

18. Which costs more? a home or a house?

19. Which is happier? music or art?

20. Which is like a valentine? the truth or a lie?

20. A Day in the Life: Write about a part of your life as if it were a passage from a novel. Refer to yourself

in the THIRD PERSON — not “I woke up” but rather “she woke up.” Exaggerate, elaborate, and prevaricate if
you wish — there’s truth to be found in fiction, too.

Assignments 9-16

9. Room Sweet Room: We are territorial animals, instinctively seeking a place we can call our own. The

rooms we live in and how we decorate them are as revealing as our clothing. Examine your own room and all

the things that make it uniquely yours. Describe the room, not just by listing the things in it, but by conveying
the feelings you have for the room and the items in it.

10. Personal Metaphors: Make a list of metaphorical comparisons. Think, “If I were an animal, what kind

of animal would I be?” For each item, write the general LABEL and then your specific comparison. Be realistic,
be somewhat honest, and be able to explain your choices. Don’t say you are a rose, if you’re really a daisy.

1. Animal                                11. Musical Instrument

2. Car                                      12. Geometric Shape

3. Article of Clothing             13. Piece of Furniture

4. Day of the Week                14. Song

5. Food                                   15. Season of the Year

6. Color                                  16. Television Character

7. Movie                                17. Cartoon or Comic Character

8. Fragrance                          18. Appliance or Machinery

9. Type of Building              19. Natural Phenomenon

10. Plant                               20. Word

11. Extended Metaphors: Go back to your list of personal metaphors. Choose FIVE that you can extend by

explaining the comparison in detail. Write a paragraph for each personal metaphor by giving four or five
specific points of comparison. If you are like an alley cat, discuss four characteristics of an alley cat and explain
the ways in which you have the same characteristics.

12. Symbolic Recipe: Write a symbolic recipe for yourself. This means your ingredients are not blood,

muscle, bone, and a hank of hair, but abstract qualities and personality traits (like patience, friendliness, humor).
What is really necessary to create you. Follow standard recipe format: a list of ingredients and exact
measurements, followed by a paragraph of instructions, advice about the proper sequence of the steps, and any
tips or warnings.

13. The Ultimate All-Purpose Excuse: Just in case you are tardy some day, write an elaborate, exaggerated,

fantastic excuse for yourself. Be as creative as you can. In about 150 WORDS, convince your heartless English
teacher that your excuse is a valid reason for being tardy.

14. Telling Tales: Think back to memories you associate with family storytelling. You know, the ones you

hear over and over every holiday. Maybe these tales are the legends that have given your family courage in
hardship? Maybe they are religious stories or goofy songs or true family history? Maybe they all seem to be
about what a bad kid you were? Embarrassing, hilarious, unbelievable? Retell a story you remember as part of
your family’s heritage OR makeup one you wish had been told (and may tell in your own family circles later).

15. Unfinished Sentences: Complete each of the following sentences by expanding them into short

paragraphs. As always, be specific.

1. I usually worry about…            6. I feel frustrated when…

2. I feel angry when…                  7. I feel depressed when…

3. I’m moody when…                  8. I am comfortable when…

4. I’m happiest when…               9. I feel nervous when…

5. I feel confident when…          10. I feel sentimental when…

16. Personal Symbol: Write about an object that has special symbolic meaning for you. It might be a gift

from someone you love, an award of which you are proud, a souvenir from a place you miss, a childhood toy
you still treasure, a family photograph, whatever. Describe the object, appealing to the senses as appropriate and
giving specific details. Also explain what it symbolizes for you.

MORE Autobiography Assignments

3. Personal Alphabet: Browse through a dictionary, looking for adjectives to describe yourself. Know the

meaning of the words you select and be able to explain how each word you’ve chosen fits you. Choose at least
ONE adjective for each letter of the alphabet. Be sure you choose the adjective form of words. For example,

“excite” is a verb and “excitable” is an adjective. “Exciting” is a participle so it can be used as an

adjective…BUT “excitable” and “exciting” mean very different things.

4. Likes / Dislikes List: Make TWO columns, one titled “Likes,” the other “Dislikes,” and list from TEN to FIFTEEN specific items in each column. Avoid naming specific classmates and teachers by generalizing. For

example, “that mean teacher who’s making me write an autobiography,” not my name!

5. Sensory Experiences: The five senses allow us to perceive whatever is tangible, or concrete. A sensory

experience is something we can taste, touch, smell, see, or hear. For example, ice-cold water-melon, hot dogs sizzling over a charcoal fire, mosquito bites, fireworks, and the music of the ice-cream wagon are sensory experiences I associate with a Fourth of July picnic. Describe a specific time and place which recalls rich

 

sensory experiences for you. Include at least TWO details that appeal to each of the FIVE senses.

6. Metaphorical Definitions: This kind of definition helps make abstract words easier to under-stand by

giving a specific concrete example. A famous metaphorical definition is “Happiness is a warm puppy.” For you,

happiness may be something very different — a raise in your allowance, a banana split, a room of your own.

Write metaphorical definitions of TEN different abstract nouns. Your concrete example must be something

specific that you can sense — taste, touch, smell, see, or hear. Your definitions should follow the format below:

METAPHORICAL DEFINITION = ABSTRACT NOUN + IS + CONCRETE EXAMPLE

7. A Quality Personality: In J. Ruth Gendler’s The Book of Qualities, 70 abstract qualities come to life,

walking and talking, borrowing Grandmother’s shawl and telling scary stories late into the night…

personification at its best! Precise, specific images reveal each abstract quality as a vivid personality. After you

read samples in class, choose one quality from the list provided. Check the dictionary and the thesaurus,

exploring possible meanings and hunting down synonyms.

These qualities are real people, with weird relatives, bad friends, unique clothing styles, and strange stories

to tell. Make your chosen quality a real personality, too. Complete a sensory CLUSTER for your quality — sight,

smell, taste, touch, sound. Then write and carefully polish a ONE-to-THREE-paragraph personification of your

quality. Make every word count on this one!

8. Color Your World: In color, and about color, this assignment honors every crayon ever nibbled by any

kid. Although you don’t have to use crayons, use the color(s) themselves as part of your writing. You could

write a poem about the things you associate with a specific color, such as all the blues there are! Or explain the

colors you associate with different emotions. Or make lists of best colors to wear or drive in or…You have

freedom with content here, since color is the key ingredient. Maybe a myth about “How Pink Was Born”?

WRITING PORTFOLIO: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY

 

You will write some assignments in class; others will be homework; you will turn some in for comment, and share others in peer groups. Since you are required to have your book bound professionally, you must plan ahead and budget time and money. (OPTIONAL)

You should revise ALL assignments before rewriting them in final form. If you do not

type your assignments, you may write them neatly in final draft form. Most assignments will be approximately a page long. You may complete an assignment by writing on the back of a page, but start every new assignment on a new page.

❒ PROFESSIONAL BINDING-- Plan ahead and budget time and money to have your book

bound professionally. You may choose strip or spiral binding, from about $3.00 up, depending on your choices. (OPTIONAL)

❒ A COVER-- Your cover should include your selected title, your name, and an illustration

appropriate to your book. For illustrations, consider a word pattern, graphic design, collage, original drawings, photographs, magazine pictures, quotations, etc. Use rubber cement or a glue stick to mount items, and be sure that your cover design hides price tags and brand names.

 

❒ A TITLE PAGE-- Select a word or phrase particularly meaningful for you to serve as your

title. Browse through a thesaurus, listen to music you love, think of special people and places and interests, and then submit several possible titles. “A Book about Me” or “My
Autobiography” are poor titles because they are vague and impersonal. Illustrate the title page with the title, name, hour, and date due.

❒ A TABLE OF CONTENTS-- List the assignment number and title of all assignments in your

autobiography. Title each contents page.

❒ AN INTRODUCTION-- Explain the significance of your title, making clear why it is

relevant to your life in particular. Also include a brief description of this writing project and its purposes -- in your own words.

Every assignment should be:

✔ a thoughtful response to the assigned topic

✔ revised as necessary

✔ neatly and legibly written or typed

✔ in order according to this assignment booklet

✔ in black ink

✔ titled on the top line

✔ numbered by assignment (not page) in the upper right corner

✔ corrected using proofreading symbols or correction fluid

DONENESS counts! But your writing should also demonstrate appropriate word usage,

sentence structure, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

WRITING PORTFOLIO: Specific Assignments

1. Prologue (or Introduction): Explain the significance of your title, making clear why it is relevant to your

life in particular. Introduce yourself gracefully to your reader and capture our attention. Include a brief description of this writing project and its purposes — in your own words.

2. What’s in a Name?: Names are an integral part of who we are. They shape our sense of who we are.

Explore your feelings about “the unity between [your]self and [your] name.” Are these the names you would have chosen for yourself? Surname, middle name, Christian name? Is there a story behind your naming? Someone famous, a family member, weird initials? Does your name have symbolic meaning? Is it ethnic or historic or literary? Did your parents consider other names? In short, how do you live with your name?

Scary Story Guidelines

E.Q. How do I write a suspenseful scary story?

Hi Everyone!

We are going to begin writing our scary stories today. Once you finish your planning pages, begin writing your stories. Here are the guidelines we discussed in class yesterday:

 

Scary Story Guidelines

• Stories must be 3-5 pages typed and double spaced.
• You must use a 12 point, Times New Roman or Arial font.
• Rough Draft is due next Tuesday 5/12.
• Final copies are due next Friday 5/15.

Reminder

*Your planning pages will be graded. Please have them completed so you can turn them in tomorrow! Finish them for homework if they are not done. There are extra copies on the front table!

Happy writing!

Scary Story Writing

We are going to begin our scary story writing unit today!

AGENDA

Essential Question: Do I know how to write a spooky story?

Class Discussion:What scary stories have you read? What scary movies have you seen? Can scary stories be funny?

Research: Horror Genres with Partners

If time permits, we will begin working on our Scary Story Planning Sheets!