Creative Pursuits

Your goal is to create a minimum of 300 words in one hour on one of the following topics. You may use a dictionary or thesaurus. You must do your best with the time you have! Hand in what you have finished after exactly one hour. Write with the highest level of diction and creativity that you can!

1. Weave a story that includes this headline: “Giant Flies Invade Norway!”
2. Take the first line of a nursery rhyme to start your story.
3. Write about someone you would love to see put in jail.
4. Erica Jong said, “If you don’t risk anything, you risk more”. Write about what this means to you.
5. Write about a good thing gone bad.
6. Write about a weird day in your workplace.
7. In 300 words, create your ideal place.
8. Use the following words in a story: hypocrite, paperclip, city, telephone, cookie jar
9. List 10 things you can do with Kleenex. Pick one and write about it.
10. Take two people who strongly dislike each other. Stick them both in the backseat of a cab. What happens?
11. What is the worst meal you have had? Write about it as if it is taking place right now.
12. Write about a habit you find hard to break.
13. Use the prompt “I used to think…” as your starter, and write 300 words.
14. The best thing in life is…
15. For 90 seconds, list everything you can think of that would be found in a hospital. Now write a story using every word you have listed, but don’t set your story anywhere near a hospital.
16. List 10 things you will never do. Pick one and expand on it (Or expand on 3 different things to make up 300 words)
17. Cook up your own version of a get rich quick scheme.
18. If an ATM could be custom created for you, what would it spew out instead of money?
19. Complete the statement: “I’d walk a mile for_____________” and continue to write about it.
20. Create a story based on this personification: “love hesitates”.
21. Come up with ten reasons why you should skip bathing for a week.
22. Create a story based on the metaphor: “A plate of fear”
23. I deserve a______________.
24. For 300 words write from the point of view of a strand of hair.
25. Write a story from the perspective of the parents who tried to sell their newborn baby on the Internet for $10,000.
26. In 300 words, describe 3 reasons to turn down a marriage proposal.

21st Century Education

After watching the Ken Robinson video(the link is in the sidebar under "websites of interest") and discussing various topics with the class, please answer the following questions:

1. What do you think are the most important skills that you are going to need for your post-high school life?
2. Do you think you are developing these skills in high school? (Why or why not)
3. Please describe the perfect school OR the perfect English class (that is based on serving your personal interests and your future plans.
4. Describe what you are doing next year.

Superpowers

If you could have any superpower in the world, what would it be, and why? Justify why you have chosen your particular gift, and rejected all others. OR You may choose to match any two superheroes together (Superman vs. Spiderman) and justify who would win in a battle. Remember to give EVIDENCE to support your opinion.

OR, if you have done that topic before: then do the "Historical Moment"

Historical Moment: You have the ability to transport yourself to any historical event. Describe that event. You may also choose to become involved in the event and possibly even change the course of history.

Make sure that this composition has a creative idea, interesting diction (word choice), specific detail, varied sentence length, and a dynamic introduction and conclusion.

High level responses will use formal language and proper grammar and punctuation. Make sure you include plenty of detail - this should be a lengthy paragraph.

Most importantly, keep it out of my "Boring Bin." Either dazzle me with your description, entertain me with your humor and creativity, or impress me with profound, thought provoking, and mature ideas.

Top marks will be awarded for those who are able to accomplish all of the above.

Blog Introduction

Blogs offer students a chance to easily read each others' ideas, as well as draw from internet resources. They also provide a different option for written expression. Please remember the following guidelines for blog use.

1. Everything you write on your blog must be considered PUBLIC. Do not include ANY information or opinions on your blog that you would not be comfortable with anyone else (in or outside the class) reading.

2. Please follow the proper expectations for writing in English 12. It is natural for students to become careless in their writing when working in an internet environment. However, in order for these blogs to be effective, proper grammar, punctuation, and appropriate word choice must be used at all times.