Get a taste of the upcoming CS Lewis Studies ELA course with this fun assignment. How to Create a APA Research Paper Style Creative Writing Project.
How to Create a APA Research Paper Style Creative Writing Project
7Sisters will soon be releasing a full-credit ELA bundle-course, the last course in the series of our one-topic ELA credit. This will be a good fit for many eleventh or twelfth graders.
The bundle will include (it may change a bit by the time we release it):
Literature:
Cinema Studies for Literature Learning
- The Chronicles of Narnia Movie The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Cinema Studies for Literature Learning
- Classic BBC The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Cinema Studies for Literature Learning
- The Most Reluctant Convert Cinema Studies for Literature Learning Study Guide
- Shadowlands Cinema Studies for Literature Learning Study Guide
Writing
- Advanced Essay Writing Guide (with special instructions on how to use the guide to explore Lewis-inspired topics)
- APA Research Paper Writing Guide (with special instructions on how to use the guide to create a Lewis-style subcreation)
- Myth-Fantasy Short Story Writing Guide
- Lewis Poetry Guide
There are so many ways that homeschooling high schoolers can be inspired by the works of C.S. Lewis. We have found that even reluctant readers and writers can learn to love to be creative when the projects are fun and inspiring!
For a little taste of the fun, check out the adapted APA-style research paper assignment!
Want to have some fun with Lewis studies and creative writing?
One creative writing project is to create your own subcreation such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien use as the backstory to Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. As you know, they create detailed worlds as a background to their stories. The richer the background, the more richness to the actual stories. (You can see some of Tolkien’s in his book, Silmarillion.)
When you create your Myth-Fantasy short story with 7Sisters Myth-Fantasy Short Story Writing Guide, you will have WAY more fun if you have a rich backstory!
That means, you will enjoy creating your own subcreation. A useful way to do this, is to create a fictional APA-style research paper.
In order to do this, we are going to use the framework of the 7Sisters APA writing guide and follow the APA writing style as much as possible. (In other words, the writing will feel more formal than when you use the information to create your myth-fantasy short story later on.)
Here’s how to work it:
Week 1: Introduction to APA-Style Research Papers
In this week, you will follow the APA Guide like this:
- Week 1, Lesson 1– follow the text and answer questions exactly (this part is not fictional for you, it is showing you APA style).
- Week 1, Lesson 2– Choose your topic. In this lesson, you will name your fictional world and start thinking about it.
- Week 1, Lesson 3– Read the section about choosing reliable sources. This is an important life skill. After reading the section, you will make up some fictional sources. (Remember Mr. Tumnus’ bookshelves? Lucy saw the names of some books there: Nymphs and Their Ways, Is Man a Myth? Naming these fictional books lends a little verisimilitude the the story.)
- Invent an internet resource or two: (follow the instructions for the “information” you will need to provide). Remember- have fun with this! You are creating things!
- Week 1, Lesson 4– Invent a book resource and a periodical resource. Write the information down according to directions in your workbook. Remember- have fun with this! You are creating things!
Week 2: Note-taking
Week 2, Lessons 1-4– Read the information in this week’s lessons. Now, use your imagination.
However, instead of note-taking from your fictional resources this week, we are going to invent a map of your subcreation. Remember the maps of Narnia or the maps in Tolkien’s books? You may create a map that looks:
- Historic- use parchment-like paper and a black Sharpie or ink to draw your map
- OR Modern- on white paper with lots of color (colored pencils are good for this- or create it on your computer)
On the map, label:
- Waterways or oceans
- Mountains
- Important land formations like deserts
- Any important forests
- Any important towns
Week 3: Outlining & Section Titles
Week 3, Lesson 1– Use the information in the chapter on how to create an outline for your paper. Create your outline for your subcreation APA paper. This will help you think about the peoples and history of your subcreation.
In your outline you will use this format:
I. Geography of …(the name of your world or county)
II. People groups (these, of course, do not need to be human). You will need at least 2 groups, not more than 4 groups for our purposes.
A. People Group 1
B. People Group 2
III. Notable Persons and Relationships. (You will need at least 3 people, no more than 5 people for our purposes.)
A. Person 1
B. Person 2
C. Person 3
D. Relationships between any of those notable persons
IV. Major Historic Events (These happened BEFORE your myth-fantasy short story that you will write- they are the backstory for your short story.) You will need 2 historic events.
A. Historic event 1
B. Historic event 2
Week 4: Research
- Week 4, Lessons 1-4 Read the information in your APA guide. Then create some information about the first two topics (I. Geography and II. People Groups in your outline.)
- Write that information down, along with the citation it is from (refer to your work in Week 1).
Week 5: More Research
- Week 5, Lessons 1-4 Read the information in your APA guide. Then create some information about the first two topics (III. Notable Persons and Relationships and IV. Major Historic Events in your outline.)
- Write that information down, along with the citation it is from (refer to your work in Week 1).
Week 6: Introductory Paragraph
- Week 6, Lessons 1-4 Read the information in your APA guide. Write the introduction to your fictional subcreation paper according to APA style.
Week 7: In-Text Citations and Rough Draft Part 1
- Week 7, Lessons 1-4 Read the information in your APA guide. Begin your rough draft.
- For this paper, follow APA format with
- Section titles
- Subsection titles
- In-text citations that you invented (from your invented references in Week 1)
- For this paper, follow APA format with
Week 8: Formatting and Rough Draft Part 2
- Week 8, Lessons 1-4 Read the information in your APA guide. Complete the body of your rough draft- aim for as little as 3 pages to as long 10 pages, according to your writing goals for the year.
- According to the instructions, add:
- 1 short quote (with citation)
- 1 longer quote (with citation)
- Optional- Create a “herald” or flag for at least one people group and/or create an illustration of at least one people group.
- According to the instructions, add:
Week 9: Conclusion, Reference Page, and Abstract
- Week 9, Lesson 1– Read the information in your APA guide. Write the conclusion to your fictional subcreation paper according to APA style.
- Week 9, Lesson 2 and 3– Read the information in your APA guide. Create a reference page to your fictional subcreation paper according to APA style.
- Week 9, Lesson 4– Read the information in your APA guide. Create an abstract to your fictional subcreation paper according to APA style.
WEEK 10: Revising & Grading
- Week 10, Lesson 1– This is read-over day. Print a copy of the paper. Follow the instructions in your APA guide for the read-over.
- Week 10, Lesson 2– Make any changes you need, then read-over again. Use the checklist in the APA guide to help find editing errors.
- Week 10, Lesson 3– Create your title page according the APA guide.
- Week 10, Lesson 4– Using the rubric in the guide, grade your own paper, then deliver it to your parents or teacher for their grading.
Congratulations! You have created a subcreation, APA-style!
Isn’t that fun?! Keep your eyes open. C.S. Lewis ELA is coming soon!
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