This is a collection of the best creative writing by this summer’s class. Read and enjoy!
Fantastic 7 – a literary journal
Leave a reply
Author Archives: Jacquelyn Blain
Mystical & Magical – Instructions
For this one (due Monday, Aug 14), go to either (or both) of these websites.
Bridges:Â http://www.earthporm.com/20-mystical-bridges-will-take-another-world/
Paths:Â http://www.earthporm.com/28-magical-paths-begging-walked/
Then write a 250-word (or more) story using one of these prompts as the beginning of your first sentence:
“I walked across this bridge, and…”
OR
“I walked down this path, and…”
OR
You can combine them and use both the bridge and the path.
The story can be a fairy tale, an adventure, a romance, a horror story… anything you’d like it to be. Just have fun with it!
Be sure to check the “Mystical & Magical” box in the Categories menu before you hit Publish.
Music CATW practice
Post your practice CATW responding to the essay about Music.
Be sure to click the “Music CATW” box in the Categories menu before you hit Publish.
“Dear Stuff”
For this Assignment:
1. Read “Stuff” on p.430-1 in Grassroots.
2. Write and post a 300-word letter to your favorite possession. It can be funny, sad, grateful, annoyed, angry, sweet… or a combination of any or all of those.
Be sure to check the “Dear Stuff” category box before you hit Publish.
Have fun with this!
CATW practice revision
You can post your revision here, either by
- doing a copy-paste into the post window, or
2. attaching the Word file. To attach the file, you need to use the Add Media button, then upload the file and add it to the post that way.
Be sure to click on CATW revision in the Category box before you hit Publish.
Memo August 1
Simply write me a memo about how you felt after doing the practice Grammar Test. What did you think you did well? What do you still see as something you need to work on?
After that, create a chart for your personal grammar demons following the one in Grassroots, but only create columns for the error you make, what it’s called/how it’s defined, an example, and a way to remember how to catch it. You don’t have to fill it out completely for tomorrow (and yes, my brain is marginally working now!); just do what you can and bring it in.
Alexie and Me instructions
Simple. Write a short piece addressing ONE of the Writing Assignments one p. 415 of Grassroots. OR write an op-ed opinion piece (like you would see in The N.Y. Times or on Huffington Post) about one of the issues we talked about today in class.
Be sure to check the Alexie and Me category box before you hit Publish.
“Superman and Me” questions
For this assignment: Read Sherman Alexie’s “Superman and Me” on p.412-5 in Grassroots. Then answer the Discussion and Writing Questions on p.415:
- Why would a smart Indian be a “dangerous person, widely feared and ridiculed” (paragraph 6)? Why would non-Indians adopt this opinion? Why would Indian children adopt this self-defeating idea?
- What does the author mean when he writes in paragraph 7, “I was trying to save my life”? What point is he making about books and educating oneself?
- Based on Alexie’s story, what inner characteristics or outward support does a person need to break free of stereotypes and dead ends and forge a a path to success?
- In paragraph 3, the author uses the metaphor that “a paragraph was a fence that held words.” Does this metaphor help you understand what a paragraph does? How would you explain a paragraph?
Post your answers by checking the “Superman” box in the Categories menu, and then clicking on Publish.
Tell me a story…
For this activity, simply tell us a story about something that happened to you in the past. It could have happened recently, or a long time ago. It can be funny, sad, scary… even boring. Just as long as it’s about you (use “I”) and it happened before today, you’re good to go! Be sure to check the Tell me a story… category box before hitting Publish.
“Girl” Collage Instructions
For this Assignment (which you’ll post under Writing à Girl on Open Lab), you’ll be writing a 250-300 word creative non-fiction piece called a “gender memory collage.” That means you get to put your ideas/memories/whatever about what it means to be a male or a female in any form you want: something like Kincaid’s story, or a story, or a poem, or photo essay with captions… Play with this!
The way to start is to list a whole lot (shoot for 50 or more) of comments, accusations, or words of advice you’ve heard repeatedly, or that are stuck in your head for some reason. Use these prompts to help you generate your list (you don’t have to address every one of these, but the more the better!).
- Things people have said to you beginning with the phrase, “This is how you…”
- Advice that employers, teachers, or coaches have given you.
- Accusations that employers, teachers or coaches have addressed to you.
- Advice that your parents have given you about the opposite sex, about being successful, about getting along in the world.
- Advice that your friends have given you about the opposite sex, being successful, or getting along in the world.
- Advice that your grandparents or some other older person have given you about the opposite sex, being successful, or getting along in the world.
- Things those closest to you often say when they are angry with you.
- Things those in authority have told you – think of police, counselors, traffic court judges, doctors, etc.
- What your grandparents or other older people you’re close to often say to you.
- Something people say to you that you strongly disagree with.
- Things a boyfriend or girlfriend told you that caused you a lot of pain.
- Things a boyfriend or girlfriend told you that caused you good feelings.
Once you’ve done all of this listing, organize them into a “story” of some kind that leaves us with an overall idea about what this means to you. Don’t worry about grammar, etc., but do your best. Just let your creative muscles go crazy!
