ADVANCED Writing 1 with Janelle McNeill 
Semester ONE 2012, 5th Period Tuesday 

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Are you ready to recreate your vision of self? Can you imagine how much fun it will be to combine words, writing, whimsical, and wonderment into your learning and creative self?

The core of this writing class is weaved with the passions from photographer and teacher Wendy Ewald. She comments how we all have the need to articulate and communicate something relevant about our personal lives, and how photography for writing stimulate each other. I hope the inclusion of a visual literacy component will allow students a greater chance at finding their writer voice in English.　

"Photography offers a language that can draw on the imagination in a way we may never have thought possible" spoke Wendy Ewald. With this idea, I want to combine creative writing challenges with original photos taken by students to feed an intrinsic need to write about something of importance. This will be a collaborative learning experience where students mutually support each other, and share the responsibility of being the teacher.　

Students are required to submit an end of semester Writing Project that reflects the variety of work they have accomplished throughout the class in photographically inspired personal narratives.

Contributing weekly stories of personal significance to self created blogs is also another important component of this class. Having an audience and publishing written work gives meaning to writing, and I believe will inspire great masterpieces.

In addition to contributing to their own blogs for creative expression, students will also have ten alternating writer buddies from class who they correspond with via their blogs, to offer essential feedback and encouragement for their writing and photography. 

Be inspired by the ideas and adventures of others! 
Be dazzled by the expressive narratives and edgy photography!　


>IMPORTANT TOOLS FOR CLASS

*A curiousity and passion for self expression and creating visually interesting artwork through photography and words
*A willingness to believe you have something important and relevant to share
*An open, friendly and respectful energy toward your fellow classmates and teacher in class and online
*Finding a dimension of self that taps into your imaginative and right side of brain intelligence
*Remember that being creative is a way of thinking, a way of viewing the world.


>HOLISTIC outcomes

Students may >recognize how much abundance they have in their life  >discover how fun writing really is  >thrive as a blogger more than they expected >take more interest in photography >be more open and honest as writers in English　

Students may also >gain more confidence in using the Internet in English >be less fearful of online learning through blogging >develop more communicative competence in English through ongoing group work in class >strengthen and widen their English grammar and vocabulary　


>ASSESSMENT and EVALUATION

You may earn the following points for your efforts in this class.

*Attendance and Participation  100 points

* In-class writing challenges 150 points

*Visual Catalogue of Inspiration 
(Either done in a hands on scrapbook style, or through an online version like Pin Interest)   100 points

*Personal Blog stories (10; one weekly [or more] ) 200 points

*Weekly commentary on classmate blogs (2 blogs or more each week for 10 weeks) 150 points

*End of Semester Writing Project  200 points

*End of Semester Writing  Project Talk 100  points

>GRADING 

[A] 900-1000 points,  [B] 800-899 points,  
[C] 700-799,  [D] 600-699,  [F] 599 and below

Which grade are you going to strive for? Why not decide NOW?

PLUS+++++

BONUS POINTS can be earned by students in this class intending to study Academic Writing Two in second semester with me. HOW??????

Students can earn bonus points by continuing with their blog writing during the holidays. Not hard at all right? Why not write ten minutes every day after breakfast? Or perhaps you prefer to collect your thoughts online before bed each night? Challenge yourself! Go on!

>>ATTENDANCE and PUNCTUALITY
We only have 15 classes together, so it is vital you are in every class participating with your complete powers switched on!
Penalties will apply for late arrivals, and unexplained absences. If you have reasons for missing a class, email me before the lesson to explain.

20 minutes late = LATE
3 x LATE arrivals = 1 ABSENCE
5 x absences = FAIL

>TEXTBOOK
There is no prescribed textbook for this class. All materials are self created by the teacher, and based loosely on the amazing work by Wendy Ewald called Literacy through Photography. I want to rename it Creative Expression through Photography for this class.　

>RESOURCES
Other TOOLS for your writing excellence
*Large Notebook (lined or plain) for writing exercises in class
*Large plain scrapbook (for your visual catalogue)
*Cell phone or regular style camera for photographing (with SD card)
*Necessary stationery goods (don't forget colour pens/pencils)
*Paper or electronic dictionary (if desired)
*Access to a computer and printer　

>CONTACT details
Students can reach me via the class blog,        

  http://otemaecreativewritingplatform.blogspot.jp/

or through personal Email.

starlightstarbright66@hotmail.com

>EXTRA resources
Have a browse through these images by Wendy and see what you think. Do you prefer colour or back and white? Do they alter how you interpret the images by their tones?

http://www.google.co.jp/search?q=wendy+ewald&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=-JZmT6SWPIq1iQf4n9jZBQ&ved=0CCgQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=672

Here is the Literacy through Photography Blog by Wendy Ewald. 

http://literacythroughphotography.wordpress.com/wendy-ewald/