Creative Writer’s Workshop

Students will write pieces of their own choosing, such as poetry, story, essay, and scriptwriting.  The ultimate goal is to complete one piece for publication.

Below are charts for minimum tasks to be accomplished for grades of C, B, and A.  (These can be modified based on different timetables.)
Four Week
Tasks 	C= X .75 	B= X .85 	A= X .100 	
1st Draft 	2 	3 	3 	
2nd Draft 	1 	2 	2 	
3rd Draft 	1 	1 	2 	
4th + Draft 	1 	1 	1 	
Conference 	  	  	  	
-responder 	2 	2 	2 	
-author 	1 	2 	3 	
-teacher 	1 	1 	1 	
Published 	1 
Rubric score of Acceptable. 	1 (submitted for publication) 
Rubric score of Well Developed. 	1 (submitted for publication) 
Rubric score of Polished. 	
Six Week
Tasks 	C= X .75 	B= X .85 	A= X .100 	
1st Draft 	2 	3 	4 	
2nd Draft 	1 	2 	2 	
3rd Draft 	1 	1 	2 	
4th + Draft 		1 	2 	
Conference 	  	  	  	
-responder 	3 	3 	3 	
-author 	1 	3 	4 	
-teacher 	1 	1 	2 	
Published 	1 
Rubric score of Acceptable. 	1 (submitted for publication) 
Rubric score of Well Developed. 	2 (1 submitted for publication) 
Rubric score of Polished for both pieces. 	

•	1st drafts are scored based on the completion of the Writer’s Worksheet (1st draft section)
•	2nd or more drafts are scored based upon revision notes written on the piece by the author and completion of the Writer’s Worksheet for the draft.
•	Conferences are scored based on completion of a form for each conference (as responder or author).
•	Teacher conference is scored based on author’s ability to set writing goals, explain what has been accomplished, and what will be done next.  This conference takes place anytime after the second draft is written.
•	Publication is scored based on the completion rubric.  The range consists of: 
Beginning, Acceptable, Proficient, Polished

Writer’s Worksheet

Name: ______________________________________________________
Working Title: _______________________________________________

Drafts must use: 12 pt arial font size, double spaced, font, 1” margins, 
Header= Name, assignment, and date, and Footer= Last name –page number-.

1st Draft	Word Count =	
Poetry		Story		Essay		Memoir		Script Writing		Other:		
Thematic meaning/purpose:

Skills to work on (Select 2 goals):
__ 1. Dialogue
__ 2. Plot
__ 3. Layered details (fact/experience/example)
__ 4. Imagery (sensory/metaphors/simile)
__ 5. Characterization
__ 6. Show do not Tell
__ 7. Other: _______________________________________

Suggested Reading:

Author: _________________________ Title: ______________________________
__ Teacher suggested. | __ Student suggested.	

Staple all drafts to this sheet
Fill out for each draft and have the teacher initial.
Action: peer revise (PR) | self revise (SR) | teacher revise (TR) | adult revise (AR)
Decision: redraft (R) | proof read (PR) | set aside (SA) | Publish (P)
Draft	Date Completed	Action	2 Skills (Goals)	Decision	Teacher’s Initials	
2nd						
3rd						
4th						
5th						
 
Published Date: ___________ Teacher Signature

Conferences on this piece: List name and date of people who responded to your piece.
Draft #	Names (Print)	Date	

			

Conference Notes

Responder’s Name: _______________________________ Date: ___________

Author’s Name: _________________________ Title: ___________________________

Other Participants: ___________________________________________________

Piece (circle one): Poem – Story – Essay – Memoir – Script Writing – Other: ________

During conferencing:
A)	One person (Author or a Responder) read the piece out loud.
B)	Use one-foot voice as the piece is read.  Place a minimum of 3 checks on the draft copy the author provided.
C)	Next to the checks write comments. (If no draft copy was provided, write your comments below.

After the Reading
D)	Verbally explain your written comments to the group.  Discus what each person has to say.  Responders try to answer questions asked by different responders
Begin with any of these phrases:

“I noticed…” (recognize author’s use of a skill)
“I wonder…” (express curiosity about meaning or expansion of details)
“What if…” (suggest a change)

Author may not comment.  Only take notes.

E)	After conferencing, list and explain the two most important comments/feelings that you gave or heard another give to the author. 

F)	This responder wrote at least two pieces of specific feedback above.  

Author’s signature: _____________________________________________