middle school creative writing activities

“Just what I was looking for to get my students fully engaged. In this era of instagram and snapchat, this tool is going to be a great addition to my lessons! Thanks!”

3. GRAMMAR THAT TRANSFERS TO WRITING

Students: When are we ever going to use this?!

You: Now, we are going to use this now. Because…grammar transfers to writing. That’s why we study it!

Grammar is most meaningful when students can both see and apply grammar lessons in their daily writing. A few of my favorite grammar lessons to teach (because they are interactive and provide multiple, scaffolded learning angles) are commas , prepositional phrases , and sentence types .

And, if you want students to go back and apply grammar to writing they’ve already completed, this free grammar in writing game is perfect for revision sessions!

There’s just something rewarding about working your patootie off, knowing you have learned a challenging skill, and then observing the growth as you apply the skill to something that matters.

4. POETRY Visuals

Reading poetry with students allows us to address several standards. For example, we can analyze complex texts, determine theme, evaluate mood and tone, and assess figurative language.

Unfortunately, the fact that we can address standards doesn’t impress students. So, what can we do to help them enjoy writing poetry or writing in response to it?

One way we can lure them in is by incorporating music and color. Think about tone and mood as being symbolic. What if we put them through a musical equalizer? I use a graphic organizer to help them visualize the mood and tone at different points throughout the text. Because of the color and the visual nature of the organizer, students can see how mood and tone change. Next? They write in response. What causes these fluctuations? How do the literary elements work together and influence one another?

Students DO enjoy poetry-related writing assignments. Try texting couplets (great for practicing rhythm and rhyme!), picture-inspired poetry (visuals are the best), and nonfiction-inspired poetry (because bringing a little creativity to informational texts changes everything).

5. VOCABULARY IN WRITING

The source said the health effects are good. [Sigh]

Tired of reading trite sentences? Helping students to bring life to their word choice in writing is inspiring for all. When I teach word choice lessons using class vocabulary, students experience one of the main reasons we study language. Plus, developing an appreciation for words results in a more curious life that connects to reading and writing.

One of my favorite word choice mini lessons involves bell ringers, word walls, and replacing cliches and colloquialisms with more formal, academic vocabulary.

Plus, you can have students use their vocabulary words in a variety of short creative and informative writing assignments that are not overwhelming for students or teachers but that allow for integration of vocabulary study with writing.

I can 100% relate to what this teacher shared after using these vocabulary in writing activities:

“I love how these activities get the students writing, and isn't that the whole purpose of teaching vocabulary…to ultimately get the students to use the words in their writing? Great activities and my students are enjoying using them.”

Out with the moans, groans, frustration, and suddenly urgent trips to the moon or anywhere outside of the classroom. Meaningful and engaging writing assignments include a dash of real-world, relevant writing opportunities, a pinch of skill transfer, and a sprinkling of creative freedom.

Let’s elevate students’ writing experiences while meeting standards. But, don’t forget to balance tough, academic-style writing with some more flexible options that will engage students and keep them thinking outside the box.

20 ways to engage middle and high school students, 3 high-interest writing assignments, 9 writing activities to use with any shakespeare play , spotlight resource:.

Teach students how to integrate all four sentence structures purposefully in writing with these engaging grammar and writing lessons . Perfect for scaffolding!

Engaging Sentence Types Grammar and Writing Unit

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa is the author of Reading and Writing Haven and a collaborative blogger on Teachwriting.org .

A middle and high school English teacher for over a decade now turned instructional coach, Melissa is an avid reader and writer, and she loves sharing ideas and collaborating with fellow educators. Melissa use her degrees in English, Curriculum & Instruction, and Reading as well as her Reading Specialist certification to ponder today’s educational issues while developing resources to help teachers, students, and parents make learning more relevant, meaningful, and engaging.

Visit Melissa on Instagram , Facebook , or Twitter for English teacher camaraderie and practical, engaging teaching ideas.

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55 Creative Writing Activities and Exercises

Have you ever heard these questions or statements from your students?

If so, you won’t want to miss these creative writing activities.

What Are Creative Writing Activities?

Activities that teach creative writing serve as drills to exercise your student’s writing muscle. When used effectively, they help reluctant writers get past that intimidating blank paper and encourage the words to flow.

When I think of creative writing exercises , writing prompts immediately come to mind. And, yes, writing from a prompt is certainly an example of a creative writing activity (a highly effective one).

However, writing prompts are only one way to teach creative writing. Other types of activities include games, collaboration with others, sensory activities, and comic strip creation to name a few.

Unlike writing assignments, creative writing activities aren’t necessarily meant to create a perfectly polished finished project.

Instead, they serve as more of a warmup and imagination boost.

Picture-based writing exercises are especially fun. You can download one for free below!

get this picture prompt printable for free!

How to use creative writing exercises effectively.

When teaching creative writing , the most effective exercises inspire and engage the student.

Remember that worn-out prompt your teacher probably hauled out every year?

“What I Did This Summer…”

Cue the groaning.

Instead of presenting your student with lackluster topics like that one, let’s talk about ways to engage and excite them.

For Kids or Beginners

Early writers tend to possess misconceptions about writing. Many picture sitting down for hours straight, polishing a story from beginning to end.

Even for experienced writers, this is next-to-impossible to do. It’s preconceived ideas like these that overwhelm and discourage students before they’ve even started.

Instead of assigning an essay to complete, start with simple, short writing exercises for elementary students such as:

Creative writing exercises don’t have to end in a finished piece of work. If the exercise encouraged creative thinking and helped the student put pen to paper, it’s done its job.

For Middle School

Creative writing activities for middle school can be a little more inventive. They now have the fundamental reading and writing skills to wield their words properly.

Here are some ideas for middle school writing exercises you can try at home:

For High School

Your high school student may be starting to prepare for college essays and other important creative writing assignments.

It’s more critical than ever for her to exercise her writing skills on a regular basis.

One great way to keep your high schooler’s mind thinking creatively is to have her make “listicles” of tips or facts about something she’s interested in already.

Another fun and effective creative writing exercise for high school is to have your student retell classic stories with a twist.

List of 55 Creative Writing Activities for Students of All Ages

No matter what age range your students may be, I think you’ll find something that suits their personality and interests in this list of creative writing ideas. Enjoy!

One of the best ways to encourage students to write regularly is by providing fun creative writing activities .

They serve to encourage both the habit and mindset of writing with imagination. If you need extra help with that, check out Creative Freewriting Adventure :

bring excitement into your student’s writing – no prep required!

About the author.

Jordan Mitchell

7 fun writing activities for the reluctant writer

7 FUN WRITING ACTIVITIES FOR THE RELUCTANT WRITER

No doubt about it – writing isn’t easy. It is no wonder that many of our students could be described as ‘reluctant writers’ at best. It has been estimated by the National Association of Educational Progress that only about 27% of 8th and 12th Grade students can write proficiently.

As educators, we know that regular practice would go a long way to helping our students correct this underachievement, and sometimes, writing prompts just aren’t enough to light the fire.

But how do we get students, who have long since been turned off writing, to put pen to paper and log in the requisite time to develop their writing chops?

The answer is to make writing fun! In this article, we will look at some creative writing activities where we can inject a little enjoyment into the writing game.

1. Poetry Scavenger Hunt

The Purpose: This activity encourages students to see the poetry in the everyday language around them while helpfully reinforcing their understanding of some of the conventions of the genre.

The Process: Encourage students to ‘scavenge’ their school, home, and outside the community for snippets of language they can compile into a piece of poetry or a poetic collage. They may copy down or photograph words, phrases, and sentences from signs, magazines, leaflets or even snippets of conversations they overhear while out and about.

Examples of language they collect may range from the Keep Out sign on private property to the destination on the front of a local bus.

Once students have gathered their language together, they can work to build a poem out of the scraps, usually choosing a central theme to give the piece cohesion. They can even include corresponding artwork to enhance the visual appeal of their work, too, if they wish.

The Prize: If poetry serves one purpose, it is to encourage us to look at the world anew with the fresh eyes of a young child. This activity challenges our students to read new meanings into familiar things and to put their own spin on the language they encounter in the world around them, all while reinforcing the student’s grasp on poetic conventions.

2. Story Chains

The Purpose: Writing is often thought of as a solitary pursuit, and for this reason alone, it can be seen as a particularly unattractive activity by many of our more gregarious students. This fun activity exercises students’ understanding of writing structures and engages them in some fun, creative collaboration.

The Process: Each student starts with a blank piece of paper and pen. The teacher writes a story prompt on the whiteboard. You’ll find some excellent narrative writing prompts here . For example, each student spends two minutes using the writing prompt to kick start their writing.

When they have completed this part of the task, they will then pass their piece of paper to the student next to them. Students then continue the story from where the previous student left off for a given number of words, paragraphs, or length of time.

If organized correctly, you can ensure students receive their own initial story back at the end for the writing of the story’s conclusion .

The Prize: This fun writing activity can be used effectively to reinforce student understanding of narrative writing structures, but it can also be fun to try with other writing genres too.

Working collaboratively can really motivate students to engage with the task as no one wants to be the ‘weak link’ in the finished piece. But, more than that, this activity encourages students to see writing as a communicative and creative task where there needn’t be a ‘right’ answer. This encourages students to be more willing to take on creative risks in their work.

COMPLETE DIGITAL AND PRINT FUN WRITING UNIT

25 FUN and ENGAGING writing tasks your students can complete INDEPENDENTLY with NO PREP REQUIRED that they will absolutely love.

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3. Acrostic Associations

Writing Activities,fun writing | acrostic poems for teachers and students | 7 fun writing activities for the reluctant writer | literacyideas.com

The Purpose: This is another great way to get students to try writing poetry – a genre that many students find the most daunting.

The Process: Acrostics are simple poems whereby each letter of a word or phrase begins a new line in the poem. Younger students can start off with something very simple, like their own name or their favorite pet and write this vertically down the page.

Older students can take a word or phrase related to a topic they have been working on or that they have a particular interest in and write this down on the page before beginning to write.

The Prize: This activity has much in common with the old psychiatrist’s word association technique. Students should be encouraged to riff on ideas and themes generated by the focus word or phrase. They needn’t worry about rhyme and meter and such here, but the preset letter for each line will give them some structure to their meanderings and require them to impose some discipline on their wordsmithery, albeit in a fun and loose manner.

4. The What If Challenge

Writing Activities,fun writing | fun writing tasks 1 | 7 fun writing activities for the reluctant writer | literacyideas.com

The Purpose: This challenge helps encourage students to see the link between posing interesting hypothetical questions and creating an entertaining piece of writing.

The Process: To begin this exercise, have the students come up with a single What If question, which they can then write down on a piece of paper. The more off-the-wall, the better!

For example, ‘What if everyone in the world knew what you were thinking?’ or ‘What if your pet dog could talk?’ Students fold up their questions and drop them into a hat. Each student picks one out of the hat before writing on that question for a suitable set amount of time.

The Prize: Students are most likely to face the terror of the dreaded Writer’s Block when they are faced with open-ended creative writing tasks.

This activity encourages the students to see the usefulness of posing hypothetical What If questions, even random off-the-wall ones, for kick-starting their writing motors.

Though students begin by answering the questions set for them by others, encourage them to see how they can set these questions for themselves the next time they suffer from a stalled writing engine.

5. The Most Disgusting Sandwich in the World

Writing Activities,fun writing | disgusting sandwich writing task | 7 fun writing activities for the reluctant writer | literacyideas.com

The Purpose: Up until now, we have looked at activities encouraging our students to have fun with genres such as fiction and poetry. These genres being imaginative in nature, more easily lend themselves to being enjoyable than some of the nonfiction genres.

But what about descriptive writing activities? In this activity, we endeavor to bring that same level of enjoyment to instruction writing while also cleverly reinforcing the criteria of this genre.

The Process: Undoubtedly, when teaching instruction writing, you will at some point cover the specific criteria of the genre with your students.

These will include things like the use of a title, numbered or bulleted points, time connectives, imperatives, diagrams with captions etc. You will then want the students to produce their own piece of instruction writing or procedural text to display their understanding of how the genre works.

But, why not try a fun topic such as How to Make the Most Disgusting Sandwich in the World rather than more obvious (and drier!) topics such as How to Tie Your Shoelaces or How to Make a Paper Airplane when choosing a topic for your students to practice their instruction writing chops?

The Prize: As mentioned, with nonfiction genres, in particular, we tend to suggest more banal topics for our students to work on while internalizing the genre’s criteria. Enjoyment and acquiring practical writing skills need not be mutually exclusive.

Our students can just as quickly, if not more easily, absorb and internalize the necessary writing conventions while engaged in writing about whimsical and even nonsensical topics.

if your sandwich is entering the realm of horror, be sure to check our complete guide to writing a scary story here as well.

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Our FUN TEN-MINUTE DAILY WRITING TASKS will teach your students the fundamentals of creative writing across all text types. 52 INDEPENDENT TASKS are perfect for DISTANCE LEARNING.

These EDITABLE Journals are purpose-built for DIGITAL DEVICES on platforms such as Google Classroom, SeeSaw and Office 365. Alternatively, you can print them out and use them as a traditional writing activity.

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6. Diary Entry of a Future Self

Writing Activities,fun writing | future self writing task | 7 fun writing activities for the reluctant writer | literacyideas.com

The Purpose: This activity allows students to practice personal writing within the conventions of diary/journal writing. It also challenges them to consider what their world will be like in the future, perhaps stepping a foot into the realm of science fiction.

The Process: Straightforwardly, after working through some examples of diary or journal writing, and reviewing the various criteria of the genre, challenge the students to write an entry at a given milestone in the future.

This may be when they leave school, begin work, go to university, get married, have kids, retire etc. You may even wish to get the students to write an entry for a series of future milestones as part of a more extended project.

The Prize: Students will get a chance here to exercise their understanding of this type of writing , but, more than that, they will also get an opportunity to exercise their imaginative muscles too. They will get to consider what shape their future world will take in this engaging thought experiment that will afford opportunities for them to improve their writing too.

7. Comic Strip Script

The Purpose: Give your students the chance to improve their dialogue writing skills and to work on their understanding of character development in this fun activity which combines writing with the use of a series of visual elements.

The Process: There are two ways to do this activity. The first requires you to source, or create, a comic strip minus the dialogue the characters are speaking. This may be as straightforward as using whiteout to erase the words in speech bubbles and making copies for your students to complete.

Alternatively, provide the students with photographs/pictures and strips of cards for them to form their own action sequences . When students have their ‘mute’ strips, they can begin to write the dialogue/script to link the panels together.

The Prize: When it comes to writing, comic strips are probably one of the easier sells to reluctant students! This activity also allows students to write for speech. This will stand to them later when they come to produce sections of dialogue in their narrative writing or when producing play or film scripts.

They will also develop their visual literacy skills as they scan the pictures for clues of tone and context before they begin their writing.

Keep It Fun

Just as we should encourage our students to read for fun and wider educational benefits, we should also work to instil similar attitudes towards writing. To do this means we must work to avoid always framing writing in the context of a chore, that bitter pill that must be swallowed for the good of our health.

There is no getting away from the fact that writing can, at times, be laborious. It is time-consuming and, for most of us, difficult at the best of times. There is a certain, inescapable amount of work involved in becoming a competent writer.

That said, as we have seen in the activities above, with a bit of creative thought, we can inject fun into even the most practical of writing activities . All that is required is a dash of imagination and a sprinkling of effort.

MORE FUN WRITING ACTIVITIES FOR YOU

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10 Fun Classroom Writing Games to Improve Literacy Skills

The Writing Process

7 Evergreen Writing Activities for Elementary Students

9 Fun First Day at School Writing Activities

Short Story Writing for Students and Teachers

The content for this page has been written by Shane Mac Donnchaidh. A former principal of an international school and English university lecturer with 15 years of teaching and administration experience. Shane’s latest Book, The Complete Guide to Nonfiction Writing , can be found here. Editing and support for this article have been provided by the literacyideas team.

AN ENTIRE YEAR of engaging writing tasks awaits you.

8 Engaging Writing Activities For Middle School & High School

Writing skills are pivotal for students. As the learner passes through grades from elementary to high school, they may need some additional skill sets and brush up on their writing abilities. As the academic responsibility also increases, transforming learning sessions into interesting activities can be a viable option for them.

Reading through this post, you will be able to understand where writing skills can be eminent for these young adults. In this post, you can find out a list of activities that can be employed either as an icebreaker, brain-breaks , or an after-school practice of writing.

How do writing activities help in the development of students?

Activities in general offer a real-time experience for the students to learn new concepts. When it comes to writing, specialized writing activities can assist schoolers on the following grounds:

Fun activities to practice writing

1. a poetry maker.

In this activity, the students need to make a poem impromptu, with the help of the words given by the teacher.

This exercise has multiple edges apart from stipulating the youngsters to write. They learn new words every time and also discern how to write down a verse.

2. Story Chains

Before starting the activity, students are divided into teams of 3. Each member of the team will write either an Intro, Body and Conclusion. These members would basically decide the introduction, body, and conclusion of the story.

Writing as a solitary activity is adorned with teamwork here. This way, students get a chance to exchange insights and prepare a better piece of writing, ensuring a learning session.

3. Relationships with an Acrostic Form

Acrostics are simple poetry in which each letter of a word or phrase begins a new line in the poem. Younger adults can start by writing anything simple, like their name or a favorite pet, vertically down the page.

For example:

A piece of fruit. P ainted red or green. P erfect for a snack. L ovely with peanut butter. E xcellent in taste. Here, if you notice, the letters in bold are A, P, P, L, and E, which make up APPLE; and that is the fruit being talked about!

4. The ‘ What if game‘

This activity focuses on asking the most basic question like ‘what if.’

This assignment allows students to see the link between posing interesting hypothetical questions and generating pleasant writing.

5. Piece of motivation

Writing with a purpose is often exciting. In this activity, feedback is the central motive.

Through this activity, the writing is evaluated, and only the writer can know their score. Moreover, a motivating message is sent to a peer, encouraging them to perform better.

6. Color with Words

A picture can be colored with paints, but using words for the same makes an interesting writing activity.

Once the child has successfully described each and every element of the picture, they now need to write the picture composition. For example, the picture has a hut, which is brown in color. The sun is shining bright and is peaking and gazing through the clouds. The children must remember to use good vocabulary and be as creative while writing as possible.

7. Express With Words

This activity would be one in which the students have to read the expressions of their classmates, and based on that; they need to write a story. The story should be exactly as per the expressions of the student.

This game is somewhat like dumb charades, but with expressions and words. This game allows students to understand emotions based on expressions. At the same time, this game encourages students to get involved in making an impromptu story and use their words wisely so that their team can guess the story.

8. Embed the Quotation

We see and hear quotes on a daily basis. These quotes now need to be explained along with real-life examples on paper by the students to boost their writing skills.

In this activity, the teacher can set up a word limit of say, 200 words and 10 minutes which can make this activity more effective. This activity will not only help students understand specific quotes or phrases but also, they would now be able to relate them to real-life examples and situations.

By now, we may infer that polishing writing skills with activities can be exciting and engaging. The choices stated above are classroom-based activities. But, most of them can be employed at a personal level at home as well. Also, gaining expertise in writing can help children for better academic results as they can better present their answers on sheets effortlessly. Indulge in these activities; do not forget to mail us or comment down below if you have such a striking activity that we can include in this post for all your fellow readers!

Middle School Writing (33 Ideas!)

Middle School Writing— Throughout every stage of their education, students should be encouraged to hone and improve their writing skills. By the time students begin middle school, they should be able to use writing in order to express an idea, create an argument, and expand on specific topics.

Regardless of the subject area they teach, all middle school teachers should incorporate writing into their curriculum. In addition to helping them with their academics, middle school students can use writing to help maneuver through personal issues that they may be having.

Middle school students are standing at the precipice of their teenage years, stuck between childhood and adulthood. They are filled with new and different feelings on a daily basis, and writing can help them manage those feelings.

These new writing ideas can be used to help middle school students improve their skills and better express their own ideas and feelings!

33 Middle School Writing Ideas & Prompts

Links & Resources

These writing ideas should help get your middle school students started. As always, keep on writing!

Until next time, write on…

If you enjoyed these Middle School Writing Ideas, please share them on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest. I appreciate it!

Sincerely, Jill journalbuddies.com creator and curator

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Tap to See Prompts 162 Creative Writing Topics and Ideas (Updated!) 27 Amazing Picture Writing Prompts for Kids Personal Narrative Prompts by Grade (K-12) Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7-8 Grade 9-12 All Ages ------------End of Om Added --------- Tags help manage feeling , ideas , improve writing , Middle School , new writing , New Writing Ideas , students , use writing , write ideas , writing , writing can help , writing ideas , Writing Ideas for Middle Schoolers , Writing Ideas Middle School div#postbottom { margin-top: 12px; } Featured Posts

Creative Writing Lesson Plans: Week One

Week on of creative writing lesson plans: free lesson plan for creative writing. Creative writing lessons can be scaffolded.

Looking for creative writing lesson plans? I am developing creative writing lesson ideas!

I’ve written and revamped my creative writing lesson plans. This semester marks the second time I have taught this particular writing class, and I beginning to bump near that tranquility-confidence-spot that teachers crave.

You know what I mean: I’m working the kinks out of these creative writing activities and plans. I am developing a vision for the class and am more confident in teaching it. Since I am happy with the first week of lesson plans, I wanted to share them with you all. These plans require lots of discussion and encouragement. I’ve found students are shy about writing creatively, about sharing pieces of themselves. A large part of the first week of class is setting the atmosphere, of showing students they are free to create. And! I believe these concepts will apply to most writing lesson plans for secondary students.

Feel free to give me feedback and borrow all that you need! Below, I’ve detailed my day-by-day progression for c reative writing lesson plans for week one.

Build the community in a creative writing class. A creative writing lesson can build young writers' confidence.

Creative Writing Lesson Day One: Sharing my vision

When I created my first lesson plan for creative writing, I knew that students had to be comfortable. I’m not a huge “ice breaker” type of teacher—I build relationships slowly. Still, to get student writing, I knew I needed to have them comfortable.

For day one with any lesson plan for creative writing, I think it is important to set the tone, to immediately establish what I want from my creative writing students. And I want…

them not to write for me, but for them. I don’t want them writing what they think I want them to write.

Does that make sense? I don’t want to place limitations on them. I specifically outline what I believe they can produce in a presentation. (Sometimes I show it to parents, too!) As their writing coach, I plan to provide ideas and tools for use. Their job is to decide what tools work for their creative endeavors.

After covering classroom procedures and rules, I show students a TED Talk. We watch The Danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Adichie. My goal is to show students that I don’t have a predetermined idea concerning what they should write. This discussion takes the rest of the class period.

Establishing comfort and excitement precedents my other creative writing activities. I image you can personalize your “vision” activities for your lessons in creative writing. Honestly, doing this pre-work builds relationships with students and creates a positive classroom atmosphere.

Activate prior knowledge when building a creative writing course. When building creative writing lesson plans, build off what students know.

Creative Writing Lesson Day Two: Activating prior knowledge

Students possess prior knowledge concerning creative writing, but they might not consider that. Students should realize that they know what constitutes a great story. They might not realize that yet. An easy lesson plan for creative writing that will pay off later is to activate prior knowledge. Brainstorm creative, memorable, unforgettable stories with students. Share your thoughts too! You will start to build relationships with students who share the same tastes as you (and those that are completely different!).

During this activity, I want to see how students work together, and I want to build a rapport with students. Additionally, activating prior knowledge provides a smooth transition into other creative writing activities.

This creative writing activity is simple:

I ask students to tell me memorable stories—books, play, tv shows, movies—and I write them on the board. I add and veto as appropriate. Normally doing these classroom discussions, we dive deeper into comedies and creative nonfiction. Sometimes as we work, I ask students to research certain stories and definitions. I normally take a picture of our work so that I can build creative writing lessons from students’ interests.

This takes longer than you might think, but I like that aspect. This information can help me shape my future lessons.

Creative writing lesson plans: free download for creative writing activities for your secondary writing classes. Creative writing lessons should provide a variety of writing activities.

With about twenty minutes left in class, I ask students to form small groups. I want them to derive what makes these stories memorable. Since students complete group and partner activities in this class, I also watch and see how they interact.

Students often draw conclusions about what makes a story memorable:

All of this information will be used later as students work on their own writing. Many times, my creative writing lessons overlap, especially the more times that I teach the class.

Use pictures to enhance creative writing lesson plans. With older students, they can participate in the lesson plan for creative writing.

Creative Writing Lesson Day Three: Brainstorming and drafts and lists and more

From building creative writing activities and implementing them for a semester, I now realize that students think they will sit and write. Ta-da! After all, this isn’t academic writing. Coaching creative writing students is part of the process.

That is not the writing process I want them to implement. Building a creative project requires thought and mistakes. (Any writing endeavor does, really.) Students hear ‘creative writing’ and they think… easy. Therefore, a first week lesson plan for creative writing should touch on the writing process.

I’ve learned to provide students with plenty of opportunities to stretch their imaginations. For instance, one of the first activities we do is analyze a person from class. We do this with characterization questions. (You can download these question for free in my library .) I connect that activity to the list of memorable stories we previously brainstormed. What makes a character memorable? Can we weave together a story that allows characters to shine?

The characterization questions force students to consider people in unique ways. For instance, what can you learn from a person by their ice-cream toppings? At first, that might seem silly. Really though, if a person has a standard order, that reveals a characteristic, as does a person who mixes five flavors. It is fun for students, and they have the tools to create dynamic characters.

Build a community of creative writers. An impactful creative writing lesson should empower young writers.

Creative Writing Lesson, Days Four and Five: Writing and more writing

Students need practice writing, and they need to understand that they will not use every word they write. Cutting out lines is painful for them! Often, a lesson plan for creative writing involves providing time for meaningful writing.

For two days, we develop these character sketches. I don’t provide a ton of guidelines; I want to see what students create. I spend lots of time writing with them and modeling sentences.

This is our first large project. As we continue, students are responsible for smaller projects as well. This keeps students writing most days.

On Fridays, we are producing “quick writes.” Students write about a goofy topic that implements a creative side. For instance, students might write about Batman and character motivation. (You can also download those “quick writes” in my membership library .)

Overall, my students and I work together during the first week of any creative writing class. I encourage students to write, and I cheer on their progress. My message to students is that their writing has value, and I want to read what they create.

And that is my week one! The quick recap:

Week One Creative Writing Lesson Plans

Monday: Rules, procedures, TED Talk, discussion.

Tuesday: Prior knowledge—brainstorm the modeling of memorable stories. Build community through common knowledge.

Wednesday: Review of memorable traits. Characterization activity. Download it for free in my library .

Thursday: Review characterization activity and practice implementing it into a written format.

Friday: Quick writing prompt, character writing continues. (Again, download the writing prompts in my library.)

For the second week of creative writing, I begin with narratives. I outline expectations with a narrative presentation that contains key elements and move onto developing the setting and creating a character. Narratives are perfect for the first assignment because students have typically written these before, and they are willing to share details. We are not out of our comfort zones, and I can build classroom community by encouraging collaborations.

Students do well with this small assignment for the second week, and then we move to longer creative writing assignments . When students experience success with their first assignment, you can start constructive editing and revising with them as the class continues.

Lesson plan for creative writing: free creative writing lesson plans for week one of ELA class. Add creative writing activities to your high school language arts classes.

These creative writing activities should be easy implement and personalize for your students. If you want the characterization sheets for your creative writing lesson plans, snag them here:

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Creative writing lessons can connect to students' lives. A creative writing lesson like a superhero creation will encourager high school writers.

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100 Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School

By middle school, students have the skills and ability to write complex pieces. However, they may be lacking inspiration and not know where to start. Check out this list of 100 Common Core-aligned writing prompts that are adaptable for all writing levels in middle school.

Narrative Writing Prompts

Narrative writing is what most people think of when they hear " creative writing ." Narrative writing includes fiction writing, like short stories and novels, as well as the writer's true personal stories.

Story Starters

Need some inspirational prompts for middle school? Get those creative juices flowing with intriguing ways to start fictional stories.

Mystery, science fiction, and romance fans can choose from more genre-specific story starters as well.

Personal Narrative Prompts

A personal narrative is a creative way to tell a true story. This form of autobiographical writing usually describes one event from a first-person perspective. Here are some ideas for middle schoolers to write about their own experiences.

You can read examples of narrative essays , as well as examples of famous autobiographies , for more inspiration.

Reflective Writing Prompts

Reflective writing is the process where a writer records their thoughts about an experience. Like personal narratives, reflective writing is nonfiction. The difference is that it is not meant for other readers. It also does not use formal writing. Keeping a journal is one type of reflective writing.

Check out some helpful tips for bringing reflective writing and journaling into the classroom.

Informational Writing Prompts

Informational text gets the point across clearly and concisely. Expository writing is a type of informational writing that explains who, what, where, when, and why something occurred. Research writing and procedural writing are other ways to convey information.

Expository Prompts

Meant to explain or expose a topic, expository writing is a common style for school essays . It's also found in most newspaper articles and magazine features .

Research Prompts

Research writing is a type of expository writing that involves choosing a topic , asking a question about that topic, and finding credible sources to answer the question. Look through these research writing prompts for ideas.

You can include a problem statement in your research process as well as primary and secondary sources . Just be sure to avoid plagiarism !

Procedural Prompts

Procedural text tells the reader how to do something. Technical writing and user manuals are two examples of procedural writing.

Argument Writing Prompts

Argumentative essays are meant to convince the reader to agree with the writer. They include formal arguments and persuasive writing.

Argument Essay Prompts

Formal argumentative essays use logic and evidence to prove their point. They use research to address both sides of the argument but ultimately support only one position. You could also use middle school debate topics for this type of essay.

Persuasive Prompts

A persuasive piece of writing includes emotional appeals to bring a reader to the writer's opinion. Letters to the editor and newspaper editorials are examples of persuasive writing that don't necessarily include evidence-based arguments.

For additional persuasive writing ideas, learn how to write a one-minute persuasive speech or explore more persuasive writing samples .

Poetry Prompts for Middle School

Not every middle schooler loves to write poetry , but most middle schoolers enjoy talking about themselves. Poetry is a great way to write creatively, whether it's a fictional story that rhymes or a personal narrative in free verse .

More Creative Writing Tips

Now that you've got 100 ways to get started, take a look at some writing strategy tips for middle schoolers or additional writing samples . If you've got a poem in your mind, you can find poetry tips as well. Happy writing!

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Sell this Haunted House- Middle School Halloween Writing Activity

Also included in: Middle School English Language Arts Halloween Bundle

Holiday Writing Activity for Middle School Gingerbread House for Sale

Also included in: Christmas Reading & Writing Bundle for Middle School

Argumentative Essay Writing Sample Analysis Worksheet Activity Middle School

Also included in: Argumentative / Persuasive Writing Tutorial Bundle Resources Mini-Lessons

Descriptive Writing Unit | Middle School Writing Activities | No Prep Writing

Easel Activity

Also included in: Middle School ELA Emergency Sub Plans - No Prep English Sub Plans - March

Halloween Activities Narrative Story Writing | Printable Digital | Middle School

Persuasive Writing Workshop Mini Lesson Activities Middle School

Also included in: Writing Workshop Mini Lesson Activities Whole Year Bundle Grade 8 Virtual Print

Halloween Descriptive Writing Activity for Middle School DIGITAL and PRINT

Also included in: Halloween Reading & Writing Activities Bundle for Middle School

Halloween Writing & Art Activities for Middle School - Zombie Project

Also included in: Halloween Activities for Middle School - Halloween Close Reading - Writing - Art

DIGITAL ELA Reading and Writing Activities for Middle School Distance Learning

Writing Assignments for Any Novel|Middle School Writing Activities

Also included in: DIGITAL ELA Reading and Writing Activities for Middle School Distance Learning

Top 10 End of the Year Writing Activities- Middle School- Distance Learning

Also included in: Beginning and End the Year Writing Activities- Digital- Distance Learning

Emergency Sub Plans - Independent Writing Activities for Middle School Snow Day

Middle School English ELA Valentine's Day Fun Writing Activity: “Mad Libs!”

Also included in: Middle School English ELA Fun Valentine's Day Activities Bundle! 5 Resources!

Christmas Activities for Middle School Narrative Writing Unit PRINT and DIGITAL

Creative Writing Activities Unit - Middle + High School - Writing with Purpose

Fun Essay Hooks Writing Game and Activity for Middle School ELA

Also included in: ELA Games for Middle School BUNDLE

Middle School Halloween Activities - Halloween Writing Activity - Project

Edgar Allan Poe Halloween Reading & Writing Activities for Middle School

All About Me Projects for Middle School - Back to School Art Writing Activities

Halloween Reading & Writing Activities Bundle for Middle School

Middle School Science Writing Prompt Activities MEGA Bundle - Print or Digital

Fun Persuasive Writing Activity for Middle School & High School

Lindsay Ann Learning - Secondary English Resources

Also included in: Fun Persuasive Activities BUNDLE: Rhetoric, Argumentative Writing, Speaking

Middle School English ELA Fun Halloween Activity | Writing a Spooky Short Story

Also included in: Middle School English ELA Fun Halloween Activities | BUNDLE of 5 Resources!

Argumentative Essay Writing Middle School Challenge Activity | Printable

Also included in: Argumentative Essay Writing BIG BUNDLE for Embedded Counterclaims

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Ripe Fruit Writing

School of Creative Writing

2023 ONE-WEEK CREATIVE WRITING SUMMER CAMPS FOR TEENS: MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS -

All camps are in-person with zoom option, discover your writing voice, a week of exploration, instruction, creativity & fun, winner: best teen focused summer camps in san francisco, see review in bay area parent - camps for creative teens , love to write join us feel blocked about writing join us.

Middle School and High School students: Come explore poetry, composition, fiction & personal stories!! Learn the six qualities it takes to be a great writer: perception, imagination, love of language, courage, compassion, and commitment. Put these qualities into immediate practice in a safe and intimate environment. Fire up your imagination! Experience encouragement, inspiration, and new friendships!!

AFTER THIS CAMP, YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO WORDS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME …This foundational training is designed to catalyze your inherent talents and catapult your writing to a new level of originality and impact. For more info See the Ripe Fruit Experience

A FRUIT-ful Experience: Students Speak!

I learned the six most needed qualities of writing and I know these qualities will be SUPER helpful with writing in the future. It is an awesome camp! Evelyn Kim, 11 ————– It was fun! And I was able to get outside my shell! Miranda Bustos, 13 – Middle School ————– I love this camp. I liked all the fun exercises and how we paired up and met new people. I like that its really small so you dont just feel like another kid. The snacks are great! Sofia McDonald, 13 ————– This camp has really made me a better writer, and has instilled in me very important values that I hadnt had before, such as respect, trust,loyalty, and kindness. Melissa Hua, 11 ————– I learned how to be more descriptive in my writing such as using all the senses and six qualities of writing with new vocabulary and how to use them. The collaborative poem was awesome. Shinee Batsaikhan, 12 ————– I learned how to steal words form poetry to expand my vocabulary. I loved looking at a piece of art and writing about it. The camp was perfect! Hana Rudoff. 12 ————– I learned that there is no good and bad writing. There are only words with energy. You always need the writing faith: you will always write what you need to write. Cate Wang, 11 ————– What I liked best were the fun exercises that helped us improve a certain writing skill. Ava Elizabeth Jo, 13 ————– I am in love with this camp! Arianna Love, 13

I enjoyed writing different types of fiction and sharing important details with the group. It was fun discovering how each person had their ways of writing and I enjoyed hearing all of it. I feel like I’ve learned a lot of things the past week. From ways to improve your short stories to making poems out of fragments in free writing! As the school year starts, I’ll be sure to think back to the things I learned in camp. I’ve gotten so many ideas in my head, I don’t think it’ll be too hard to think of something to write about for a story. This experience was different from other experiences I’ve had because some of the things taught I’ve never done before. Such as the activity we did with cutting out fragments and arranging them into poems. Also the first thing we did, when we put all of our phrases together and made one poem. (I thought those were pretty fun) I loved meeting and gathering with the people there, and getting to know them. Overall, it was a fun and FRUIT-ful experience! NANCY LIU, will be a freshman at Lowell 8/2013

University Health Services

Faculty/staff work/life.

Summer Camps 2023

Academic talent development program (atdp).

Academic Talent Development Program (ATDP) 70 University Hall #1160, Berkeley CA 94720-1160 Phone (510) 642-8308 Fax (510) 642-0510 atdp.berkeley.edu

Elementary Division ATDP’s Elementary Division offers exciting three-week academic enrichment courses in mathematics, science, writing, computers, and more for students completing grades K-6.

Dates: July 10 - July 28 Location: Choose in-person at Washington Elementary School in Point Richmond OR online Times: Morning (8:30 am - noon) or afternoon (1 - 4:30 pm.) For an extra fee, ATDP students can also attend an on-site half-day sports camp sponsored by Rec Sports. Level: Grades K-6 Tuition and Program Fees: $710 - 760*

Application deadlines Early applications due: Wed., Mar. 1* Standard applications due: Wed., Mar. 29* Extended applications accepted on a rolling basis through June 1**

Secondary Division ATDP’s SD offers 6-week enrichment and accelerated academic courses in writing, fine arts, languages, math, computer science, social science, and natural science for students completing grades 7-11. Courses are equivalent to a half year or full year of high school curricula. Many courses are approved to count towards UC & CSU A-G college entrance requirements. Tailor-made programs are also offered for international groups.

Dates: June 20 - July 28 Level: Grades 7 - 11 Location: Choose in-person on the UC Berkeley campus OR online Times: Morning (8:30 am - noon) or afternoon (1 - 4:30 pm) Weekly schedule: 2 or 3 days a week (varied) Tuition and Program Fee: $710 - $1,190*

Application deadlines Early applications due: Wed., Feb. 15* Standard applications due : Wed., Mar. 15* Extended applications accepted on a rolling basis through May 26**

*ATDP offers limited need-based financial aid to qualified candidates. ** No financial aid is available for extended applications.

CAL Youth Camps

Registration opens Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. for Summer Camps 2023 (June 5 - Aug. 11)

We offer an entire summer’s worth of choices, from day camps to specialized sport and activity camps, led by experienced instructors. Pick camps and times that work for your family, whether it’s half-day camps or two-week sessions. Our extended care options, payment plans, easy re-enrollment and financial assistance program help families stress less and enjoy summer more.

Multi-Activity Day Camps

With our comprehensive recreational day camps, campers get to sample an array of activities appropriate for their age and interests, with lots of time for fun, silliness and time with friends.

Specialized Sports and Activity Camps

From screen time to hangtime, campers can try a new experience or advance from beginner to expert in our specialized camps.

Cal Adventures Outdoor Camps

For campers who describe their summers with action verbs…Play. Climb. Sail. Explore. These camps are all about new adventures, getting outside, moving, and exploring the Bay Area’s natural wonders.

EmbARC Summer Design Academy

Wurster Hall, College of Environmental Design, UC Berkeley, CA 94720 Phone : (510) 643-1188 Fax: (510) 643-4752

embARC Summer Design Academy (link is external) Email: [email protected] (link sends e-mail) Web: https://bit.ly/embarc_summer2023

embARC is an immersive summer design program at UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design that brings together high school students from diverse backgrounds to explore architecture, urban design and sustainable city planning through integrated components: an Architecture + Urban Design Studio, a Sustainable City Planning Workshop, a Digital Design Workshop, an Environmental Design Conversation Series and a Materials Exploration Workshop.

Why Should I Attend?

Ages: Students entering their junior or senior year of high school

Format: In-person

Dates: July 3 - July 28, 2023

To Apply To be considered for the program, you must submit the following by May 1st, 2023:

Completed embARC online application with essay $75 application fee High school transcripts that include all grades from 9th grade through the fall semester preceding your application Letter of recommendation from a high school guidance counselor, teacher, principal or community leader We will review applications on a rolling basis beginning in mid-February, and welcome early submissions. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

Summer Tuition and Fees:

Domestic: $4,885 International: $7,665

Scholarships are available for domestic students.

“Thank you all for creating such a dynamic summer program. The [embARC] staff was nothing short of fantastic. Each day they arrived fully vested with awesome energy. Each week they continued to mentor and find ways to listen, help and motivate our student...Fabulous program! We hope you continue to expand, help, motivate, and enrich the summers for future students."

- Parent of embARC student

DISC (Design and Innovation for Sustainable Cities) Email: [email protected] Web: https://bit.ly/UCBerkeley_DISC2022

DISC is an immersive five-week summer program for undergraduates that explores an interdisciplinary and multi-scalar approach to design and analysis in the urban environment. Disc* participants engage in the discourses of urban innovation, and develop creative solutions to tackle the urgent challenges global cities face today. Disc* is open to eligible students from any college or university. No prior experience in design is necessary.

Ages: Current college students (must be 18 or older) Dates: July 3 - August 1, 2023

Format: In-person To Apply To be considered for the program, you must submit the following by May 23, 2023:

Completed DISC online application with essay $75 application fee Resume or Curriculum Vitae Current college transcripts We will review applications on a rolling basis beginning in mid-February. Applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received; early submissions are encouraged. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

Domestic: $4,885 International Students: $7,665

Summer [IN]STITUTE in Environmental Design Email: [email protected] Web: https://bit.ly/UCBerkeleyCED_SummerInstitute_2023

The Summer [IN]STITUTE gives students the opportunity to test their enthusiasm for the material and culture of environmental design. The Institute consists of [IN]ARCH, [IN]LAND and [IN]CITY, three introductory programs in architecture, landscape architecture and sustainable city planning for post-baccalaureate students or senior-level undergraduates, as well as [IN]DESIGN, an an online eight-week architectural design studio program with a focus on architecture, landscape architecture and urbanism.

Students in the Summer Institute explore the methods and theories of the fields, experience the culture of design and planning studios, connect to top faculty and practitioners, and build a portfolio for graduate school application.

Ages: Participants must hold a Bachelors Degree

Dates: [IN]ARCH, [IN]LAND & [IN]CITY - July 3 - August 11, 2023

[IN]DESIGN - June 20, 2023 - August 11, 2023

Format: [IN]ARCH, [IN]LAND & [IN]CITY - In-person [IN]DESIGN - Virtual only

To Apply To be considered for the program, you must submit the following by May 15, 2023

Completed Summer [IN]STITUTE online application with essay $75 application fee Resume or Curriculum Vitae Copy of most recent undergraduate transcript

We will review applications on a rolling basis beginning in mid-February. Applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received; early submissions are encouraged. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

Summer Tuition and Fees

iD Tech Summer STEM Campus

Phone: (888) 709-8324 Email: [email protected] Register Online : https://www.idtech.com/locations/california-summer-camps/uc-berkeley (link is external)

Lawrence Hall of Science Camps

Summer Camps at The Lawrence

Calling all young scientists! Enriching hands-on camps are available for children entering first through sixth grade. Campers become budding engineers, biologists, and astronomers when they immerse themselves in our classrooms, exhibits, Planetarium, and other learning spaces. Each two-week camp session is jam-packed with fun projects and activities to inspire and engage. Register now to secure your spot.

[email protected]

Phone: (888) 709-8324 Email: [email protected] Register Online : https://www.idtech.com/locations/california-summer- camps /uc-berkeley (link is external) (link is external)

Berkeley Business Academy for Youth

Email: [email protected] www.haas.berkeley.edu/businessacademy

For more information, please visit the web site www.haas.berkelehy.edu/businessacademy (link is external) . Students are required to fill out an application, write an essay, provide teachers recommendation and two years of unofficial transcript.

Middle School Session: June 13 - June 24, 2023; 9 am - 3:30 pm Level: Rising 7th-9th graders Program Fee: see website Application deadline: March 1

High School Session:

Session 1: July 10 - July 22

Session 2: July 22 - Aug. 5; 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Level: Rising 10th-12th graders Residential Program Fee: see website Application deadline: March 17, 2023

BBAY Academy Year High School Online Sessions:

Fall 2023 - Spring 2023

Monday/Wednesday 3:30 - 4:30 pm PST

Tuesday/Thursday 3:30 - 4:30 pm PST

Saturdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PST

Level: Rising 10th-12th graders Residential Program Fee: see website Application deadline: TBD

Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Summer Commuter Program

Virtual Advising: See our virtual advising options

Email: [email protected]

Website: Precollege.berkeley.edu (link is external)

The Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Summer Program offers international and domestic high school students the opportunity to join a community of scholars and pursue your academic goals at the world’s No. 1 public institution. Our Summer 2023 courses will allow you to earn Berkeley college credit and learn with Berkeley students and visitors from around the world. Choose from lower-division courses in Humanities, Social Sciences, ESL, STEM, and much more! Virtual, residential, commuter, and non-credit tracks are available.

The 2023 application period will open on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 for the Residential and Non-credit Tracks.

The 2023 application period will open on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 for the Commuter & Virtual Tracks.

For information on eligibility, activities, costs, and more visit our Pre-College webpage https://precollege.berkeley.edu/

Summer Camps at University Village

1123 Jackson St., Albany, CA 94706 Phone: (510) 524-4926 Fax: (510) 527-9934 Email: [email protected] Website: villagerecreation.berkeley.edu

Bay'r Explorers | Basketball | Baseball | Berkeley Chess School | Circus | Lego Engineering | Pacific Soccer Training | Skateboard | SummerBears | Stop-Motion Animation!

& More!

Plus Mini Camps for ages 3-7

Space is limited and early registration is highly recommended!

Ages: Generally 3-15 years Dates: Summer 2022 Fees: Varies

Full Details & Registration At: villagerecreation.berkeley.edu/summer-camps

UC Botanical Garden Green Stuff Day Camp

200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA 94720-5045 Phone: (510) 643-2755 Email: [email protected] (link sends e-mail) Website: http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/education/green-stuff (link is external)

Have your child spend a magical week at the UC Botanical Garden’s award-winning nature camp. Green Stuff camp is a fun hands-on science day camp for children entering Grades 1 to 4, with a special mixed ages “Sibling Week,” and “Alumni Week” for returning campers entering Grades 5 and 6. Examples of activities campers enjoy include:

Green Stuff is a wonderfully small camp, limited to 10 children per week with 2 counselors, where each child gets very personal attention. The two counselors are a team of one lead staff with a degree and experience in childhood education paired with a well-trained UC Berkeley undergraduate or graduate student in Plant Sciences, both of whom have experience and a love for sharing with young children the wonders of the natural world.

Ages: Sessions are grouped by Fall Grade Level Times: Grades 1-2 hours 9:00 am - 2:00 pm; Grades 3-4, and 5-6 hours 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Dates: Week long sessions, June 5 - Aug. 11, check for Grade Levels

Bay Area Writing Project - Youth Summer Programming

Other camp resources, berkeley parents network summer camp information forums.

Moderated, parent-run online forum for local parents; subscribe to receive information on camps. as well as schools and pre-schools.

JCC Overnight and Day Camps

Bay area kid fun.

There is only one English major, but within that major you can emphasize either Literature (ENGL) or Creative Writing (CRWT) (and because these are emphases of one major students may not double major with ENGL and CRWT, but note that students may double major with either ENGL or CRWT and our interdisciplinary Narrative Studies major if desired). All English majors share aspects of their program and are encouraged to take courses in both emphases.

Requirements

All students take a minimum of 40 units (almost always ten 4-unit courses). Students take seminars in English literature and American literature, early English literature and contemporary prose, and workshops in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.

Download sample course plan

Three Introductory Courses (12 units)

All majors take three introductory courses:

All three courses should be done or in progress of being done before enrolling in upper-division courses or workshops.

Seven Upper-Division Courses (28 units)

All majors take at least seven upper-division courses in specific categories, based on the major emphasis. Select an emphasis to see the upper-division requirements.

English Literature (ENGL)

Creative Writing (CRWT)

Two courses in literature written before 1800

Choose from the following:

One course in 19th-century literature

One course in American literature

Two upper-division electives

Complete eight additional units numbered 300-499 chosen from courses in the English department. One class may be a creative writing workshop.

One senior seminar

ENGL-491 "Senior Seminar in Literary Studies"

One introductory prose workshop

One introductory poetry workshop

ENGL-304 "Introduction to Poetry Writing"

One 400-level workshop

One course in literature written before 1900

One course in literature written after 1900

One upper-division elective

Complete four additional units numbered 300-499 chosen from courses in the English department.

Overseas Studies

Students in the English major participate in overseas studies through USC Dornsife to study Anglophone literature on many continents in many countries. In recent semesters, students have taken classes like “Satire, Scandal, and Society, 1700-1740” at Queen Mary University of London, “Twentieth-Century Children’s Fiction” at the National University of Ireland in Galway, and “Romance to Realism” at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

As part of your application to study abroad, you will select courses to be pre-approved by your academic adviser to meet your major requirements.

Visit dornsife.usc.edu/english-overseas/ to explore your opportunities abroad.

Honors Thesis Program

The English Honors Program is open to students in English Literature and in Creative Writing. The program provides a unique opportunity to pursue in depth a critical project of your own design. If you are thinking about applying to graduate school or professional school (such as law school) you will find the program especially rewarding. The Honors Thesis is a critical research project and typically runs upwards of 40 pages. Upon successful completion of a critical Senior Honors Thesis your USC transcript will record departmental honors.

Learn more about the Honors Thesis Program

Careers, Internships, or Volunteerships

Our students complete internships and volunteerships tutoring students at neighborhood elementary schools with the Joint Education Project, assisting with faculty research and research at USC Libraries, volunteering on political campaigns, and working in publishing, marketing, and media. These opportunities complement the intensive study and professionalization on campus in classes and co-curricular activities, and they guide students toward the diverse set of careers open to those with liberal arts educations.

Students can find these opportunities through the USC Career Center at careers.usc.edu , and students majoring in English are eligible to apply for the USC Dornsife Gateway Internship Program .

Progressive Degree Program

Students majoring in English are eligible to apply to our progressive degree program in Literary Editing and Publishing and earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from USC Dornsife in just five years.

Learn more about the progressive degree program

Graduates of our programs in English Literature and Creative Writing have pursued graduate school; published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry; worked in publishing and social media; pursued law school; and worked at film and television production companies in Los Angeles. Alumni who pursue graduate school have enrolled in education programs, the top MFA programs across the country, and research-based programs overseas.

Please share your stories, updates, and projects with us by contacting our undergraduate student coordinators .

Honors Thesis

Progressive Degree

For advisement and to declare a major in the Department of English, please contact one of our undergraduate student coordinators .

Additional Resources

USC Catalogue Frequently Asked Questions

IMAGES

Most Creative Middle School Writing Prompts
Fun Creative Writing Activities Middle School
Worksheets For Creative Writing
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Middle School Creative Writing Prompts: This yearlong creative writing bundle will keep y
Writing Ideas for Middle Schoolers

VIDEO

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Eugene Pistilli
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TGS_Creative Writing Session for Grade VII and IX by Swadha Mam
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COMMENTS

150 Writing Prompts For Middle School (+Free Printable)
150 Writing Prompts For Middle School Students This list of prompts is great for whenever your middle-schooler is bored and needs some quick ideas to write about: Make a list of at least three different opening lines for this story idea: A space knight living in outer space wants to fight a real fire-breathing dragon.
Fun Writing Activities for Middle School
Descriptive Writing Activities for MIddle School As the name implies, descriptive writing describes something. You want to create mental pictures for your reader, so they can see in their mind's eye exactly what you are describing. This writing style can be a delight to compose if you like the topic, so pick one that resonates with your student.
Creative Writing Activities To Help Students Tell Their Story
These 10 creative writing activities can work in every subject you teach: Here are 10 of our favorite story telling activities that inspire students: 1. Write an "I am from" poem Students read the poem "I am From" by George Ella Lyon. Then, they draft a poem about their own identity in the same format Lyon used.
22 Writing Activities To Help Kids Hone Their Writing Skills
Creative writing activities Once students start getting in the habit of writing, these creative writing activities can pull new ideas out of their heads and encourage them to experiment with different genres. 5. Acrostics Great for: Grades 3 to 8 Acrostic poems are a great way to introduce your students to poetry!
6 Fun Writing Activities For Middle Schoolers
Inspire your middle school kid to write with these activities We've rounded up writing activities aimed at middle-school age kids to get them to practice writing and to channel their creativity. Try out a writing activity yourself too! Practice your argumentative writing. Read this paragraph about it:
16 Meaningful Writing Activities that Engage Students
2. RELEVANT WRITING. Picture this. Energetic lyrics fill the air as students listen, think critically, and analyze them. Or, students snap a photo of a page from an independent reading book, grinning as they annotate it with gifs, text, emojis, and more.
55 Creative Writing Activities for All Ages
Creative writing activities for middle school can be a little more inventive. They now have the fundamental reading and writing skills to wield their words properly. Here are some ideas for middle school writing exercises you can try at home: Creating Mad Lib-style stories by changing out nouns, verbs, and adjectives in their favorite tales
7 Fun Writing Activities for Reluctant Writers
Our FUN TEN-MINUTE DAILY WRITING TASKS will teach your students the fundamentals of creative writing across all text types. 52 INDEPENDENT TASKS are perfect for DISTANCE LEARNING. These EDITABLE Journals are purpose-built for DIGITAL DEVICES on platforms such as Google Classroom, SeeSaw and Office 365.
8 Engaging Writing Activities For Middle School & High School
Fun activities to practice writing 1. A Poetry Maker In this activity, the students need to make a poem impromptu, with the help of the words given by the teacher. The teacher starts by listing out a set of new words and writes them on chits and later puts them down in a box. Now each student in the class is asked to pick one chit.
Middle School Writing (33 Ideas!)
33 Middle School Writing Ideas & Prompts Students should consider a recent history lesson, and then write a short story based on the perspective of a historical figure that they learned about in class. Encourage students to flip through a magazine or newspaper, and cut out one photograph.
PDF 1,000 Word Creative Writing Workbook
• practice writing their own descriptive sentences and paragraphs • read "Among the Stars," from Bluefire 2014 and discuss the story through the lens of descriptive language • begin to develop a creative writing piece from a series of prompts • share pieces of their own writing, receive feedback on their work, and offer advice and
Creative Writing Lesson Plans: Week One
Many times, my creative writing lessons overlap, especially the more times that I teach the class. Creative Writing Lesson Day Three: Brainstorming and drafts and lists and more. From building creative writing activities and implementing them for a semester, I now realize that students think they will sit and write. Ta-da!
Creative Writing Exercises for Middle School
Creative writing exercises are a fun and interesting way to improve your writing skill. Keep reading to find exercises for middle school students that will inspire poetry, plays and short...
100 Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School
Lacking inspiration for a middle school writing project? Get your pencil moving with 100 varied creative prompts for narrative, informational, argument, and poetry writing.
Creative Writing Unit Plan for Middle School
Group Writing Activities Folding Story Activities Chain Writing Lesson Plan Journaling Once students have warmed up their writing muscles, teach them about journal writing. This can be...
Free Sub Plans Template Middle School Teaching Resources
This product includes 3 days of ready-to-print, NO PREP, emergency sub plans that are great for middle school students. Each day of sub plans include multiple activities. Most activities are copy free as they require only paper and pencils / coloring supplies. A blank crossword template, teacher-created example crossword, and 2 styles of choice ...
Middle School Writing Activities Teaching Resources
Halloween Art and Writing Activities for Middle School Students - Illustrated Zombie Survival Guides - These Halloween art and writing activities will fit seamlessly into your existing curriculum, and are a fun way to celebrate the season in your classroom. ... Creative Writing Activities Unit for Grades 5-12 with a focus on Purpose in Writing ...
Teen Writing Workshop & Summer Camp for Middle School and High School
Greenhouse of the Imagination Noe Valley, San Francisco. SESSION III: ONE-WEEK CREATIVE WRITING SUMMER CAMPS FOR TEENS - Middle School III (in-person with zoom option) DATE: July 24 - 28, 2023. TIME: M-F 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM. FEE: $295 Registration requires $100 non-refundable deposit.
Summer Camps
Includes activities such as kayaking and stand up paddleboarding on the Bay, designing and flying your own kite, building and testing your own cardboard sailboat, and much more all packed into a half-day of adventure. ... Middle School Session: June 13 - June 24, 2023; 9 am - 3:30 pm ... In-Person: Creative Writing Lab: Taking Our Writing to ...
English Major > Department of English > USC Dana and David Dornsife
The English Honors Program is open to students in English Literature and in Creative Writing. The program provides a unique opportunity to pursue in depth a critical project of your own design. If you are thinking about applying to graduate school or professional school (such as law school) you will find the program especially rewarding.