Class Title: “FICTION: FINDING YOUR INSPIRATION”

Objectives: Students understand how to channel and source inspiration, applying innovative concepts and topics to fiction, gaining basic knowledge of prose, language, and imagery. 

Learning Outcomes: Understand how to creatively brainstorm topics, draw inspiration from existing literature or life experiences, and apply ideas to fiction. 

Class Timeline: 45 mins. per lesson (20 mins. for instruction, 20 mins. for discussion & debate, 5 mins. for homework review & Q/A) 

Detailed Lesson Plan:   

Flash Fiction
Week 1a: Flash Fiction—What is it?
Week 1b: Read and Reflect—Jamaica Kincaid, Ernest Hemingway, Roxane Gay
Week 2a: Brainstorming—How to creatively ideate topics
Week 2b: Structure—How to experiment with structure
Week 3a: Character Construction—Explore character flaws and psychology
Week 3b: Emotion—How to incorporate emotions into fiction
Week 4a: Capstone Project—Create your own work of flash fiction from scratch
Week 4b: Evaluation and Feedback  

Class Title: “POETRY: EXPLORING CREATIVE LANGUAGE”

Objectives: Students understand the basic components of poetry writing, applying experimental perspectives to varying forms of poetry, gaining an understanding of creative and compelling language. 

Learning Outcomes: Understand how to apply inspiration to poetry, utilize vivid language and imagery, and experiment with form using innovative strategies.

Class Timeline: 45 mins. per lesson (20 mins. for instruction, 20 mins. for discussion & debate, 5 mins. for homework review & Q/A).

Detailed Lesson Plan:   

Narrative Poetry
Week 5a: Narrative Poetry – What is it?
Week 5b: Read and Reflect – Edgard Allen Poe, Pablo Neruda, Claudia Rankine
Week 6a: Story and Setting – How to create your own story and setting
Week 6b: Conflict – How to identify a conflict
Week 7a: Figurative Language – Add similes and metaphors to your poetry
Week 7b: Experiences – How to incorporate experiences (or expertise) into your poetry
Week 8a: Capstone Project – Create your own narrative poem from scratch
Week 8b: Evaluation and Feedback

Class Title: “CREATIVE NON-FICTION: RE-IMAGINING YOUR LIFE”

Objectives: Students understand how to explore meaningful personal experiences, learning how to embellish facts to create fiction, and gain concrete experience with creative non-fiction writing styles. 

Learning Outcomes: Understand how to draw inspiration from life experiences, understand how to create a balance between “fact” and “fiction,” and apply to creative non-fiction outcomes. 

Class Timeline: 45 mins. per lesson (20 mins. for instruction, 20 mins. for discussion & debate, 5 mins. for homework review & Q/A).

Detailed Lesson Plan:   

Part 1: Memoir 
Week 9a: Memoir—What is it?
Week 9b: Read and Reflect—James McBride, Patti Smith, Joan Didion
Week 10a: Narrative—How to establish your voice
Week 10b: Reflection—Learn how to analyze and evaluate life events
Week 11a: Themes—Develop key themes in writing
Week 11b: Honesty—How to approach writing with honesty
Week 12a: Capstone Project—Create your own memoir excerpt from scratch
Week 12b: Evaluation and Feedback

Part 2: Personal Essay
Week 13a: Personal Essay—What is it?
Week 13b: Read and Reflect—Nora Ephron, Virginia Woolf, Cathy Park Hong
Week 14a: Hook—How to grab your readers’ attention
Week 14b: Metaphor—Incorporate creative metaphors into your essay
Week 15a: Perspective—Establish a unique point of view
Week 16b: Realization—How to introduce a creative realization
Week 16a: Capstone Project—Create your own personal essay from scratch
Week 16b: Evaluation and Feedback