Creative Writing (7th on Gold Days): Rules, Policies and Standards
Things you CANNOT do:
1. Be rude or disrespectful, to me or anyone else.
2. Commit academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, copying other students’
work, or asking other students for information about tests or quizzes in advance.
3. Talk or do outside homework instead of paying attention in class or working on
this class’s work.
4. Have food in the room during class.
5. Leave the class to go to another teacher’s class, unless written notification is sent
directly to Mr. Dickson, in advance of the class period, from the teacher who is
requesting that you leave class.
6. Get under the desks or sleep.
7. Make video or audio recordings or take pictures of anyone or anything during the
class period.
Late work
1. English Department Policy: I accept late work for two days after the due date.
Late work loses 10% credit (one letter grade) per day as follows: 90% credit one
day late, 80% credit two days late (next class day), then a zero. No late work after
two days. Due to the omnipresence of technology and multiple means of sending
work digitially, late days are counted on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
2. Any student who is in class but does not turn in an assignment hand in a written
explanation about why the assignment is not being turned in on its due date.
3. In the case of an absence on a major-grade due date, the work is due on the
day the student returns to school, whether the class meets or not. A long-term
major-grade assignment is not work that is missed during a student absence. The
assignment will only be accepted with an office-issued “Absentee Pass”.
4. I do accept e-mailed late work for full credit on the day the assignment is due by
4:15 pm, no later.
Make-Up work
1. According to MPS policy, it is student’s duty, not the teacher’s duty, to
arrange for make-up work to be done. I place a zero in the grade book when
the assignment is due. If the work gets made up within the allotted time frame, a
grade will replace the zero. If not, the zero will remain.
2. Due dates: Students are expected to make-up missed work in a timely manner, as
soon as possible after returning to school. Beyond those days allotted by school
policy, no make-up work will be accepted. Special exceptions will be made for
extreme circumstances if proof is provided.
Tardies
1. By the time students reach high school, they know that they are expected to be in
class on time. The class period begins when the bell rings, not when everyone
arrives and gets settled.
2. Any student who arrives late must have a pass or receive a tardy.
Technology
1. We use computers everywhere. However, technology failure is never an excuse
for late or missing work. Knowing that computers fail or crash, backup your work
and don’t wait until the last minute to print it.
2. Due to the possibility of viruses being downloaded, Mr. Dickson does not allow
students to use his computer to retrieve files from Dropbox, Google Drive, or
other cloud drives. Please make plans in advance for retrieving those files from
another computer on the school campus prior to this class period.
3. From MPS: Rule B16 (A): Possession of Any Telecommunication Devices
Students are not permitted to use a cell phone or any electronic device in school. This
includes, but is not limited to, a Blackberry, Smartphone, or other adapted PDAs.
Teachers have the authority to allow the use of cell phones and electronic devices for
instructional purposes during class, however that permission must be granted before
students are allowed to openly display cell phones or other electronic devices in
class/school. Unless otherwise stated, cell phones and other electronic devices are to be
out of view and not in use while students are in the school building. If a cell phone rings
or beeps in class/school, it is considered being in use. This includes any classes that may
be held outside of the building and on school sponsored field trips. Students are allowed
however, to have cell phones on school property. Students assigned to alternative sites
are to adhere to the MPS Cell Phone Usage Policy.
Other General Policies and Statements
1. Plagiarism (copying uncited source material from published sources) will result
in a zero and an office referral. Subsequent instances will result in a zero and
recommended suspension.
2. Copying the work of another student in the class will result in disciplinary
action and grade reduction dependent upon circumstances and severity.
3. Put only your name and the class on your paper; do not inflate the paper’s header.
4. All students must be dressed within the guidelines of the school’s uniforms/dress
code. Any student who is not clearly within dress code will be sent to the office
for clarification about his/her clothes.
Methods of contact:
BTWMHS school: 269-3617
Dickson’s MPS e-mail: foster.dickson@mps.k12.al.us
Dickson’s home e-mail: foster.dickson@gmail.com
*Mr. Dickson does not accept check e-mail after 5 PM or on Sundays
Now that you know what I expect . . . here’s what you can expect from me:
1. Fairness and equitable grading, including providing a breakdown of grading
2. Fairness and equitable adherence to all school/system rules, policies and standards
3. Being available in class for any appropriate needs at the proper time.
4. Being available outside of class, within reason.
5. Telling all students the truth, to the best of my knowledge
6. Doing what I say I will do to the best of my ability, with the side note that all
decisions are not in my hands solely.
Why this class is handled the way it is:
National Council of the Teachers of English’s Beliefs on the Teaching of Writing
1. Everyone has the capacity to write, writing can be taught, and teachers can help
students become better writers.
2. People learn to write by writing.
3. Writing is a process.
4. Writing is a tool for thinking.
5. Writing grows out of many different purposes.
6. Conventions of finished and edited texts are important to readers and therefore to
writers.
7. Writing and reading are related.
8. Writing has a complex relationship to talk.
9. Literate practices are embedded in complicated social relationships.
10. Composing occurs in different modalities and technologies.
11. Assessment of writing involves complex, informed, human judgment.
3rd Nine Weeks: 7th Period Creative Writing on Gold Days
Major grades in bold + italics (65%). Minor Grades in italics, including reading quizzes (35%).
Week 1: Print Fiction, the third oldest literary genre
W January 6: Syllabus. Projects. Review of Fundamentals
F January 8: History and Fundamentals of Print Fiction.
Week 2: Print Fiction (*Showcase Week)
T January 12: Readings in Short Fiction. *Hand out Terms
Th January 14: Readings in Short Fiction. Project proposal due
*F January 15: Showcase at the Davis Theater
Week 3: Print Fiction
*M January 18: KING/LEE HOLIDAY
T January 19: Work Day for Stories
Th January 21: Readings in Short Fiction. Review of Fundamentals.
Week 4: Print Fiction
M January 25: Test on Terms and Fundamentals for Print Fiction
W January 27: Readings in Short Fiction
F January 29: First Peer Reviews of Completed Stories
Week 5: Print Fiction
T February 2: Work Day for Stories
Th February 4: Second Peer Reviews of Completed Stories
Week 6: Print Fiction
T February 9: Work Day for Stories
Th February 11: Short Stories due
Week 7: Film Adaptations of Print Narratives
*M February 15: HOLIDAY
T February 16: Film Adaptations of Print Narratives: “Forrest Gump”
Th February 18: Film Adaptations of Print Narratives: “Forrest Gump”
Week 8: Creative Nonfiction, the newest literary genre
M February 22: History and Fundamentals of Print Fiction. *Hand out Terms
W February 24: Readings in Creative Nonfiction
F February 26: Readings in Creative Nonfiction
Week 9: Creative Nonfiction,
T March 1: Work Day for CNF
Th March 3: Readings in Creative Nonfiction
Week 10: Creative Nonfiction
M March 7: Work Day for CNF
W March 9: First Peer Reviews of Completed CNF works
F March 11: TBA
Week 11: Creative Nonfiction
T March 15: Watching the first half of “Shattered Glass”
Th March 17: Watching the second half of “Shattered Glass”
— Spring Break, March 21 – 25 —
Major Grades for Third Nine-Weeks
Test on Fundamentals of Print Fiction
All students will take an objective test on the fundamentals of the print fiction. The test
will consist of fill-in-the-blank and short answer questions.
Fiction Project: Students will write a Short Story of 800 – 1200 words on any topic or
subject. The story should effectively utilize characters within a setting to conduct a plot
that exhibits a theme. The story should exhibit an understanding of characterization, the
effects of place, the necessity of well-structured plots, and the importance of a story’s
message. Students will turn in one final draft, both copies of workshopped first drafts,
and both copies of workshopped second drafts. This requirement is allotted at 140-point
major grade = 100 points for final work and 10 points per workshopped copy
Creative Nonfiction Project: Students will write one of these two options:
 A Personal Narrative of 800 – 1200 words that exhibits how the author’s personal
story relays a universal truth about human life. Within the narrative, a meaningful and
well-developed plot should act as a catalyst to how the main character changes.
 A Contemplative Essay of 800 – 1200 words that explores the author’s ideas and
observations on a focused topic. This non-narrative form should flow from one idea
to the next in a clean, clear manner.
For both options, students will turn in one copy of the final draft, both copies of
workshopped first drafts, and both copies of workshopped second drafts. This
requirement constitutes a 140-point major grade = 100 points for final, 10 points per
workshopped copy.
*This project will start during 3rd nine-weeks and end during 4th nine-weeks.
4th Nine Weeks: 7th Period Creative Writing on Gold Days
Major grades in bold + italics (65%). Minor Grades in italics, including reading quizzes (35%).
Week 1: Creative Nonfiction
*M March 28: IN-SERVICE/HOLIDAY
T March 29: Work Day for CNF
Th March 31: Second Peer Reviews of Completed CNF
Week 2: Finalizing Creative Nonfiction
M Apr 4: Work Day for CNF
W April 6: Creative Nonfiction due.
F April 8: Review of literary genres: poetry and drama
Week 3: Summation of Literary Genres
T April 12: Review of literary genres: fiction and creative nonfiction
Th April 14: Summative Test on All Four Literary Genres
Week 4: Screenwriting, the form that has become literary
M April 18: History and Fundamentals of Screenwriting. *Hand out Terms
W April 20: Watch first half of “Cool Hand Luke”
F April 22: Watch second half of “Cool Hand Luke”
Week 5: Screenwriting
*M April 25: WEATHER DAY
W April 27: Watch first half of “Better Off Dead”
F April 29: Watch second half of “Better Off Dead”
Week 6: Screenwriting
T May 3: Watch first half of “The Village”
Th May 5: Watch second half of “The Village”
Week 7: Fainlizing Screenwriting and Senior Exams
M May 9: Test on Screenwriting and Film Studies
W May 11: TBA
F May 13: (Senior Exams?) Announcement of Exemptions for Seniors
Week 8: Senior Exams (and Graduation)
T May 17: TBA (Senior Exams?) Announcement of Exemptions for Juniors
Th May 19: TBA (Graduation at 6 PM)
Week 9: Exams
T May 23: Exams
Th May 25: Exams
Creative Nonfiction Project: Students will write one of these two options:
 A Personal Narrative of 800 – 1200 words that exhibits how the author’s personal
story relays a universal truth about human life. Within the narrative, a meaningful and
well-developed plot should act as a catalyst to how the main character changes.
 A Contemplative Essay of 800 – 1200 words that explores the author’s ideas and
observations on a focused topic. This non-narrative form should flow from one idea
to the next in a clean, clear manner.
For both options, students will turn in one copy of the final draft, both copies of
workshopped first drafts, and both copies of workshopped second drafts. This
requirement constitutes a 140-point major grade = 100 points for final, 10 points per
workshopped copy.
*This project started during 3rd nine-weeks and ends during 4th nine-weeks. The second
peer review and final project will be major grades on 4th nine-weeks.
Test on All Literary Genres
All students will take an objective test on the fundamentals of the four literary genres.
The test will consist of fill-in-the-blank and short answer questions.
Test on Fundamentals of Screenwriting and Film Studies
All students will take an objective test on the fundamentals of screenwriting and film.
The test will consist of fill-in-the-blank and short answer questions.