During the course of the semester, you should be producing an average of three pieces of writing each week. This writing can take the form of straightforward prose, poetry, flash fiction, or dialogues.
Each piece of writing that you produce will be graded on the following scale:
2 – extremely short pieces (e.g., single haikus, paragraph-length expository writing) or pieces which reflect a lack of serious effort on the part of the student. An extra point will be given to written pieces like these that are combined with interesting photographs.
4 – simple expository writing that shows minimal effort. An extra point will be given to written pieces like these that are combined with interesting photographs.
6 – for pieces that go beyond the minimal requirements for posts. These might include (1) longer pieces that show extra effort to produce; (2) writing that demonstrates some degree of creativity or imagination; (3) competently written works of poetry. An extra point will be given to written pieces like these that are combined with interesting photographs.
8 – for pieces of writing that demonstrate a higher degree of effort, skill, or imagination. These might include (1) longer pieces of prose that show effort to produce, (2) writing that demonstrates a higher degree of creativity or imagination (3), fully realized poems; (4) a competently written piece of flash writing that tells a story, fictional or true, (5) posts that demonstrate that the student has gone beyond his or her comfort zone or has tried something out of the ordinary for him/herself. An extra point will be given to pieces written like these that are combined with interesting photographs.
10 – for exceptional pieces of writing or writing that has gone well beyond the expectations of the instructor. These might include: (1) fully realized, interesting stories/flash fiction pieces/monologues/dramatic scenes; (3) incredibly unconventional/bizarre/weird/wild pieces that show a high degree of creativity and imagination at work, (4) posts that demonstrate that the student has gone well beyond his or her comfort zone and has, therefore, stretched his or her creative potential, (5) photoshopped text art combing words and images.
Writing for each week of class should be submitted on Tuesday during class and will be graded and returned to you by Thursday.
Since you have 10 weeks to do your writing, the maximum grade that you can can receive for your creative writing is 300 points (out of a total of 1000 points for the course). Keep in mind any time you include a photograph that goes with a piece of your writing, you will automatically receieve an extra point. Having writing and photos that work together will also make it much easier for you when you are putting together your book at the end of the course.
