Instructor Notes
Stations, pre-grouped activities in the room, allow your students to get to know each other and some foundations of the class without a lecture.
These materials should be printed prior to the class session and the room should be laid out accordingly.
Directions
To introduce everyone to the class, groups of students will rotate stations every 10 minutes or so. You should be taking notes and are allowed to annotate copies of readings included in the station. It is okay if you skim or not finish longer readings, most of them are short, and can be taken home to continue.
The purpose of this activity is to give you a low stakes way to begin the course, as well as give you important information in a digestible way.
Stations
Station 1: Young Writers…
Read Colum McCann “Letters to a young writer” Link and discuss
Station 2: Where does inspiration come from?
Read as much as you can of either and discuss:
Station 3: Craft Techniques and terms
Find 3 elements that you want to know more about in “The Glossary: A Concise, Evolving Guide to the Elements of Literary Craft” from Craft.
Station 4: Theories of Writing
Read as much of you can of either and discuss:
2. Annie Dillard “Write Til You Drop”
Station 5: The Writing Process
Read about the writing process we will use in this class and discuss.
Station 5: Goals
Review our course learning outcomes. Identity any terms or ideas you know, and any terms or ideas you are unfamiliar with.
| What are the goals of this course? | How are this achieved? | Why is this important? |
| Gather, interpret, and assess information from a variety of sources and points of view related to the production of written creative works in a multitude of genres. | Reading Choice & Discussion | Students should form a foundational knowledge of craft content & writing practices they can then expand upon. |
| Produce well-reasoned written or oral arguments using evidence to support conclusions; and Evaluate evidence and arguments critically or analytically. | Craft Talks | Students should leave the class feeling empowered with their own practice of craft & be able to articulate their own writing philosophies via co-teaching & cosmopolitan strategies. |
| Identify and apply the fundamental concepts and methods of creative writing. | Writing Cycle Assignments | Students should feel set-up for creative success both in mind & body after cogenerating content knowledge. |
| Analyze how arts from diverse cultures of the past serve as a foundation for those of the present and describe the significance of works of art in the societies that created them. | Readings choice & Discussion | Students should learn context for their own and worldly communities, as this promotes communal connection. |
| Articulate how meaning is created in the arts and how experience is interpreted and conveyed through creative work. | Co-generative workshop groups, Craft Talks, and cover letters | Students should feel confident and comfortable sharing and giving comments through co-teaching prompts and empowering students to articulate their creative philosophy |
| Demonstrate knowledge of the skills involved in the creative writing process. | Writing Cycle Assignments | Students should achieve fluency in content and awareness of the context of the literary world |
Station 6: Writing
Write a paragraph that explains what writing feels like to you. This is low stakes but will be handed in to your professor as an introduction.
