Thank you for all your hard work this year.   Next year we will work even harder. But it’s time to de-stress, relax, catch up on your sleep and get some fresh air.  Read what you want to read, swim, see movies, see plays, keep your journal and stay well. As always you should read if you want to become a better writer.  Travel is good too.  Talking to other people is beneficial and I mean outside the teen world.  Broaden and deepen, okay?

            We were short circuited on the environmental theme we wanted to follow a few years ago so I would like to re-visit it and also explore ethics and logic.  Many of you will be getting ready for college this year so I would also like to stress publication issues.

           Read at will and freely.  However, since you are in the NESA Creative Writing program, it would be really good if you were to also follow these guidelines and read and write constructively so that we can start the new school year with lots of material to workshop and revise.  So, without further ado...here are the writing and reading assignments for returning CW students:

THOSE GOING INTO THE SECOND YEAR OF CW

Read and write a report on each of the following:

Ø       two books [one fiction, one non-fiction]

Ø       one poetry collection or anthology

Ø       one play

Ø       one short story collection

Ø       one movie

Present a minimum of five pages of original writing in workshop-ready mode

Attached is a  reading list which is, by no means, comprehensive.

Those going into third year of CW

Read and write a report on each of the following.  In addition write a minimum of five pages  of original work and present it in workshop-ready mode

v     two books[one fiction, one non-fiction]

v     two poetry anthologies or single poet collections

v     two plays

v     one screenplay [these can be found at Borders, B&N, libraries, Internet

v     see a movie write a review

Those going into 4^th year

Read and write a report on each of the following.  In addition, write a minimum of ten pages of original material and present it in workshop-ready mode.

q       two books [either 2 fiction, two non-fiction or one of each

q       two poetry anthologies or collections

q       one collection of essays

q       two plays

q       see a movie, write a review

Reports should be:

1.Two pages, double-spaced on each book selection, two pages per play, one page on short stories and essays.

2. Error-free – that means grammar, spelling, punctuation.

3. Coherent and concise

4. Reflective of a comprehensive understanding of the material and the style in which each selection is written.

5. Original. [I am familiar with Cliff Notes®, Spark Notes® etc.]

Refer to grading guidelines.

FRESHMEN

Those very wonderful incoming students who will be starting the CW program are obliged to do some summer work also.  Here it is:

o      one book [fiction or non-fiction]

o      one poetry anthology or collection

o      one play

o      three short stories

REPORTS ARE DUE FIRST DAY OF CLASS IN AUGUST

SUPPLIES NEEDED ARE:

 2 inch binder, pens, pencils, 1 spiral notebook, 1 roll of scotch tape,  1 baby picture, 1 pencil box