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Writing Studio 11 Syllabus

Ms. Amanda Triplett (atriplett@cortlandschools.org)

2009-2010 - Cortland High School

"Write about what makes you different." - Sandra Cisneros

Overview: This course will explore the ELA state standards through a creative writing lens, with a focus on media literacy and collaboration between area schools, colleges, and writers.  We will work closely with the English Education department at SUNY Cortland to offer students the opportunity to connect with college level writers and professors.  Writers in this course will explore memoirs, novellas, short stories, theater, poetry, essays, and business writing, as well as developing their own publication.  Each student will participate in a variety of online bookclubs to develop critical reading skills in connection to Young Adult Literature, films, and classic texts.  Overall, this course should be enjoyable as students consume a variety of literature, while learning the form and mechanics to develop their art as writers and to successfully pass the Regents exam.

Needed Materials:

1. Composition Notebook

2. Pens (erasable are fine, but work will not be accepted in pencil)

3. Sturdy Pocket Folder (for handouts, photocopied material)

4. Thumb Drive - 1gb of memory or more to store writing/projects

5. 1 Box of Tissues

Grading:

20%  Book Clubs

20%  Writer's Notebook

20%  Class Blog

30%  Projects

10%  Class Participation

Expectations:

The Writing Studio is a place that holds celebration of diversity!  Students choose to take the class due to a desire to create art in response to literature and media.  The creations coming from this class will represent the many voices, experiences, and perspectives of the students and adults involved.  Therefore, each student is expected to respect individual differences such as race, class, sexual orientation, gender, religion, ability, ethnicity, and diverse thought.  As a team, we will create an inclusive and supportive learning environment.  With that said, the following are specific expectations for the 2009-2010 school year.

1.  Students will document any and all work that is not completely their own.   Work containing any form of plagiarism (turning in work that is not your own, failing to document paraphrased, summarized, or directly quoted material, or slightly altering the work of others without documentation, etc.) will receive a "0" and the writer will be assigned 5 hours of community service in the Writing Studio after school.

2.  All media equipment will be treated with respect or students will not be allowed to use the equipment. 

3.  Students are expected to complete assignments and projects by the deadline given.    Please plan for computer or printer problems, and do not ask for an extension unless there is a medical issue with a note from your doctor.  The  Writing Studio serves students that are able to work independently on their own creative projects.  Students should stay organized and set aside the time they need to do their best work in the time allowed.

4.  Students should only leave class if absolutely necessary.  Each student will be given three hall passes for the year, so please do not use these haphazardly. 

5.  Students should not have their cell phones or other media equipment in class. 

Media Use:

1. Due to the numerous computers in the Writing Studio, students will be immersed with media projects during the year.  We will also view a number of films that relate to the texts and topics we are studying.  All of these films will be rated PG or PG-13.  If parents have any concerns about their child watching these films, please let me know in writing, and I will find an alternate assignment for the student.

2. Students will be regularly contributing to a class website hosted by www.ning.com, and all participants will have to be invited to contribute, therefore limiting those who have access.  We will be will be posting pictures, video, writing, etc to the class website.  Many college professors use NING to host their classes, and this will help prepare students to give appropriate peer critique, as well as to publish their work for a larger audience.  If a parent has any concerns about the student participating in this online forum, please notify me in writing, and I will find an alternative way of assessing the student.  Students are expected to be appropriate in all that they publish on the class website, and their access will be suspended if infractions occur.

3.  I will be presenting at the National Council for Teachers of English conference in November in Philadelphia and the D.A.T.E. conference for Teachers at SUNY in late fall.  If parents have any concerns about me using pictures or material from class that reflects my teaching at these conferences, please make this known to me in writing.  Thank you.

** Feel free to contact me anytime at atriplett@cortlandschools.org as I check my email regularly.  There is no substitute for effective communication between parent and teacher.  Though most high school students try to handle their own school work and social pressures, I've found that most who are really successful are connected to the adults around them.  Please let me know if you have any comments or concerns. **