Course Syllabus

Syllabus Creative Writing

Mizzou Academy

 Welcome

We are pleased that you selected this course to fulfill your unique educational needs. You are now a member of the Mizzou Academy's global student body.

Although the freedom to choose when and where to study is a privilege, it is also a responsibility that requires motivation and self-discipline. To succeed at learning, you will need to develop a study plan by setting realistic goals and working toward them. 

 Course Description

Storytelling is a strong human urge. We seem to feel compelled to create and then share worlds and situations and characters, and as writers, we do that with words. This ability—language—and this drive toward creative, fictional artistry is a big part of what separates us from other creatures of the earth. Imaginative writing is a rewarding, valuable activity—one that you can enjoy for a lifetime, not just during your school years. This joy of creation can enhance our lives, helping us to grow and perhaps even discover more about who we really are.

Whatever your personal goals for this course may be, what we know for sure is that the more you write, the better you write. In this way, the fictional story-writing that you do for this class should help you succeed not only here, but in all of your classes and situations that require writing. Communication skills are in great demand in our world because our world runs on words. And, let's be honest, as AI continues to grow and threaten human artistry, imaginative, creative people and original thinking and writing are more important than ever. Your ability to create, to see the world in unique ways, and to imagine new ways to explore and resolve conflict is a uniquely human quality. It is also a valuable skill that will serve you well in the future, no matter what career you pursue.

This course is designed to improve your creative writing skills by giving you lots of writing practice. You will learn concrete strategies for generating ideas and working purposefully and productively through each stage of the writing process. By the end of this course, you will have written three complete, fully developed, and polished short stories.

 Pacing

This course can be completed in as few as six weeks or take up to 6 months (180 calendar days). The six weeks are counted from the date of the first lesson submission and not the date of enrollment.

As you think about your pacing, keep in mind that writing is a process. You will need time to read the instructional material in each lesson module; to work thoughtfully through the brainstorming and prewriting exercises; to draft; to evaluate what you've written; to revise; and to edit and polish your stories. In short: procrastination and/or rushing are a writer's worst enemies. The best thing you can do is plan to write each day, even it's just a short session. If you allow--on average--about one hour each weekday (just like a regular class period) plus a little bit of extra "homework" time for the bigger writing assignments when necessary, that will set you up for success.

 Required Materials

All readings and instructional content are available within the course.

 Technical Requirements

The most up-to-date requirements can be found here: 

•   Computer Requirements
•   Browser Requirements
•   Proctoring Requirements
• Microphone (external or internal)
• Webcam

Additional requirements for the course are below: 

• audio and video recording capabilities (e.g. smartphone, camera)

 Accessibility

If you anticipate barriers related to the format or requirements of this course, please let   Mizzou Academy know as soon as possible. If disability-related accommodations are necessary (for example, a scribe, reader, extended time on exams, captioning), please   contact Mizzou Academy.

 Grades

Your final grade will be based on the number of points you earn on quizzes, assignments and exams. 

The following grading scale applies:

After completing the course, you will receive a grade report that gives your percentage and your letter grade for the course.

 Canvas and Technical Support

Canvas will be used as the primary platform for accessing course materials and assignments for this class.

• Access Canvas through the Tiger Portal   https://mizzouacademy.missouri.edu/
• For assistance with Canvas, passwords, or other technical issues, submit a ticket by selecting Help from the Global Navigation menu on the left in Canvas. Additional information is provided in the following Canvas Guide:   How do I get help with Canvas as a student?
• For questions about enrollment, access to courses, exam proctoring, or billing, contact our Support Services Team at (855) 256-4975 or   mizzouacademy@missouri.edu. 

 Credit

Course writer Karen Scales joined the staff of the University of Missouri's Center for Distance and Independent Study (now Mizzou Academy) in 1994, where she currently works as the Educational Program Coordinator and the Division Chair for Global High School English Language Arts. She graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1993, and currently teaches 10th Grade English, Information Literacy, AP English Literature Composition, and AP English Language and Composition, in addition to serving as Lead Teacher for this Creative Writing course. Mrs. Scales also serves as a faculty co-sponsor for Mizzou Academy CAST: Creative Alliance for Student Talent.