HSPVA’S CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAM
RULES AND REGULATIONS
2013-2014
Department Paperwork
The Creative Writing Program periodically sends home important documents for parents, including Report Cards
and Progress Reports. At the beginning of the year, there is a variety of papers that need to be returned, some
from the program and some from HISD. Students will receive a motivational grade to encourage their prompt
return.
This year, all beginning of the year paperwork is due on or before Wednesday, September 4. Paperwork will be
checked and graded according to when it is turned in. We give an easy grade of 100% as an incentive to return
these papers in a timely manner. This grade will be averaged into the Daily Grades. If it is not returned on time, the
normal Department Late Work schedule applies.
Supplies
The following supplies are standard for all students in the creative writing program:
A 2-inch binder that they leave at school
A flash drive (at least 2 GB)
Blue or black pen
Pencil
Green Pen
Paper
Folder with pockets and brads
Journal that is at least 5”x7”big
Students will likely need additional supplies as specified on individual policies and procedures.
Students are expected to bring these supplies to class every day. Failure to do so may negatively affect their P and
P grade.
FEES
Though HSPVA is a public institution, the need for private support is unquestionable. The Creative Writing Program
has a $100 supply fee that the department uses to buy equipment for the growing program. Checks should be
made out to “HSPVA Friends” with “creative writing” in the memo line.
PLANNER
To be successful at HSPVA, it is imperative that students stay organized. Students are expected to write all
assignment for their art and academic classes in their planner. There will be planner checks in each six-week
grading period; some scheduled, some unscheduled.
TARDIES
Students are expected to arrive in class on time, prepared to work. Breaks are for the bathroom, going to a locker,
small snack or drink. There is not enough time to play basketball!
HSPVA gives the students a level of trust in choosing not to use bells. Students must not abuse that privilege.
Tardy Policy:
3 tardies = detention
4 tardies = conduct cut
5 tardies = office conference
6 tardies = 6 week conduct grade “U”
nd
(note: 2 semester juniors and all seniors = loss of senior show and Art Dept. Cert)
GRADING
Grades will fall into the following categories:
Classwork and First Drafts- These are assignments that students complete during class time or in
preparation for a larger project. This includes, but is not limited to, in-class writing, storyboarding, close
reading responses, journals.
Writing and projects- These are assignments that the students complete over a longer period of time. This
includes, but is not limited to, revised writing, literary critiques, projects, speeches.
Participation and productivity: A weekly grade based behaviors in the classroom. Students can only be
successful if they come to class prepared and ready to participate. They will receive a weekly grade based
on their participation in class- are they taking part in discussions? Did they complete their
assignments/readings? The participation (p & p in gradespeed) is calculated as follows:
4: Student performance was at the highest level attainable. The student was consistently productive. They
accomplished ALL and MORE than was expected (It can’t get any better! This is an EXCEPTION, not the norm.).
[100%]
3: Student performance was at an acceptable and appropriate level. The student was productive during most of
the
class and met assignment expectations. (This is a typical level of p & p. It is a good grade reflecting that the student
is doing well.) [90%]
2: Student performance was slightly below expectations. The student was not as self-motivated as required and
needed additional prompting and redirecting. Desired expectations were not fully met. (Not quite acceptable.)
[79%]
1: Student performance was poor. The student was rarely productive and had a disregard for instructor’s
direction/redirection. Student did not complete tasks or did not complete them appropriately. Very few
expectations were met. (Unacceptable.) [70%]
0: Student made little or no attempt even with added direction and instruction and produced nothing or almost
nothing. Even minimal expectations were not met. (Totally unacceptable.) [0 – 69%]
Each week, the students will receive a grade on their P & P gradesheet that they keep in their in-class writing
folder. If the student has any questions as to why they were given a particular grade, they should arrange for a
conference with their instructor within three days of receiving the grade.
ELECTRONICS
Students may bring their laptops or tablets to school for research or writing purposes only, and to be used at the
discretion of the teacher. If a student is off-task when using an electronic device, the device will be taken up and
given to Mr. Trout, and the students will need to buy it back for $15. Absolutely no texting, games, youtube, social
media allowed.
Please note that HSPVA is not responsible for these items, and students should be careful not to leave these items
unattended.
Understand that the use of electronics during any testing is strictly prohibited and violation of this is considered a
breach of discipline which can have serious adverse effects on the school as a whole.
TECHNOLOGY
Students will regularly use school computers for writing and research. Students may NEVER download anything to
a computer without permission. Students should not add anything or change wallpaper on the computer. Students
should never save their work to a hard drive on a computer, unless they have gotten consent from an instructor.
Surfing the web, checking social media, or otherwise being off-task at the computers will result in a lower
participation and productivity grade.
TURN IT IN
Students must submit any creative writing assignments to turnitin.com by 7:50 on the day the assignment is due in
order to receive full credit (unless the format of the assignment somehow impedes downloading). Any assignment
not submitted to turnitin.com by this time will receive late credit for the work.
PRINTING AND COPIES
Students will often need a class set of copies of his or her work to distribute for workshop. They may print oneand ONLY ONE- copy of their work in the classroom and use the Copy Request form to ask for the copies they
need. Students must place the request 24 hours in advance to ensure all of the copies can be made. If the student
does not place this request 24 hours in advance, it is his or her responsibility to make copies outside of school. The
forms can be found on either Ms Switek or Ms Apte’s desk.
FOOD AND DRINK
Students may bring water in a bottle or cup that has a lid. Students should not have any other food or drink in the
classroom. Breaking this rule will result in a conduct cut. Three or more offenses will result in detention.
ADULT THEMES AND CONTENT
Please know that our faculty takes the sensitive nature of developing students seriously, and we make every effort
to honor parental discretion in all of our classes and activities. The students will read a variety of poems, stories,
plays, and essays in their creative writing courses. Each selection is chosen with much thought and to demonstrate
a particular literary element or theme. If we are away in any such content in a reading, film, or exhibit, we will
make every effort to notify parents at least a week in advance and will provide an alternative assignment when
requested to do so.