Here are talent-developing ways to create Honors Level Creative Writing credit.
Talent-Developing Ways to Create Honors Level Creative Writing Credit
One of my teens was a born author. He created short stories and poems before he could write (which meant dictation with illustrations when he was very young). At high school level, his love of writing was still there. He needed to write. When God gives a gift to a young person, it should be developed- so we did LOTS of writing in homeschool high school.
Do you have a teen who loves to write? Teens who have a love of creative writing and want to build their skills and power-up their transcripts can create an Honors Level Creative Writing Credit. Here’s how to create an Honors-level Creative Writing credit.
Honors-level Creative Writing credits are Language Arts electives. These should be above and beyond the writing required for Language Arts. Language Arts electives are useful for any teen heading to college and planning on a major in:
- English
- Humanities
- Writing
- Communications
- History
If you are not familiar with levels (Honors level of this elective) for the homeschool transcript, this post will help. Also, listen to this episode of the Homeschool Highschool Podcast.
While there’s not ONE right way to create an Honors-level Creative Writing credit, here are some suggestions. Mix and match projects that catch your homeschool high schooler’s interests. Work on this together. Develop a syllabus with due dates so that your teen doesn’t flounder. (A syllabus is always adjustable if a teen finds a project they love so much that they are producing LOTS of material.)
Aim for a Carnegie Unit credit (240-360 hours, according to your state requirements). That’s a lot of hours, but not too much for Honors-level work.
A Creative Writing elective can be broken into units. Here are 5 units we suggest.
Unit #1: Myth-Fantasy
Use 7Sisters Myth-Fantasy short-story writing curriculum for this project. This is a fun project teens. Even if your teen has written one myth-fantasy, allow them to write another. Log those hours (on all the projects). You might want to assign page minimums and maximums (for a Creative Writing elective, you’d expect more of your homeschool high schooler if this is a second story: maybe 10-50 pages). Depending on the number of extra assignments, this unit might last a full semester.
Other creative assignments based on their Myth-Fantasy short story:
- Create an APA-style *research paper* based on their subcreation. They get to make up the whole totally fiction, research paper (even the *resources*)!
- Write a *biography* of one of the characters in their story.
- Write a collection of 5-10 poems/songs that their characters might have written.
Read more about writing a myth-fantasy short story.
Unit #2: Creative Chronicling
Now try something completely different: a personal chronicle. This is a creative project that is easy, meaningful and fun! Use 7Sisters’ Creative Chronicling Writing Guide for a great project.
Depending on the interest-level of your homeschool high schooler, this project could last 1 week to 1 month.
Unit #3: Family Narrative (Holiday version)
A family narrative story is a meaningful and quick creative writing exercise for the holiday season. Allow 1 week for this quick project using 7Sisters’ Family Narrative Holiday Story.
If interest is greater, this exercise can include:
- A personal or family biography 5-10 pages.
- A family tree (do some family/ancestor research).
- A tall-tale version of the story. (If you need help, use 7Sisters’ Tall Tale Writing Guide.)
Unit #4: Poetry
Creative Writing electives should include a unit of poetry. Poetry is important for the development of creative word-usage and vocabulary. This unit could last 5 weeks- a full semester according to the interest of your teen.
If your teen has no experience with poetry, start with 7Sisters’ Introduction to Poetry. If your teen has a little experience with poetry, start with 7Sisters’ Intermediate Guide to Poetry.
If your homeschool high schooler has some experience hop to Advanced Guide to Poetry and add 7Sisters’ American Poetry Reading and Writing. (You can even use poetry as a springboard for an ELA credit.)
Unit #5: Tall Tale
By the end of the year, your teen may be ready for a simple, easy project. Tall-tale writing is a great choice. Use 7Sisters’ Tall Tale Writing Guide. Give this project 1 week-5 weeks, according to the interest and experience of your teen.
Read more about writing a tall tale short story.
Because Creative Writing Elective is an elective, you and your homeschool high schooler have choice on which projects to include and the time frame to assign for each project. At the end of the year, you may want to write a course description, in case you need that for a college application portfolio or other opportunity.
Teens who love writing will love a Creative Writing elective. It is worth the investment! Check our our Authoritative Guide on High School Writing Requirements and for a in-depth discussion on goals and grading writing assignments for homeschool high school, check out this post.
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