I believe that all writings are, in a way, creative. Whether the writing is a topic assigned or a research writing, it is �gcreated�h from nothing to something. But here, we are talking about �gcreative writing,�h and it means writing in multiple genres but doesn�ft mean unstructured. I believe that writings reveal the writer well. Expressing oneself in words on a piece of paper is creative writing.

Susan and Stephen Tchudi write in their book, The English Language Arts Handbook that they �gbelieve that helping students use language to explore the world in which they live is a central responsibility of the English classroom�h (117). Students can develop their own world in writings. They can even look for their identity and form it by writing too.

A creative writing unit plan that I would like to try out in my classroom is called �gDear Diary.�h It has ten-day lessons and is recommended for 9th to 12th grade English classrooms. Although creative writing can be taught by itself (meaning it doesn�ft have to follow reading), this unit plan moves along with reading of the book, The Diary of Latoya Hunter. Students will read Latoya�fs diary and compare her daily life and situation with theirs by keeping their own diary. The audience for their writings are themselves in the future. During this unit, students will not only learn a life of an urban student but also re-recognize and think about themselves. By the end of this unit, students will learn that keeping diary is an effective and meaningful way to see themselves.

For the first eight days of this unit, students will be participating in various compare/contrast activities along the reading. They will also be writing eight diary entries (an entry per day). Day 1. Myself, Day 2. My School, Friends, and Teachers, Day 3. My Parents and Guardians, Day 4. My Family, Day 5. My Neighborhood and Environment, Day 6. My Love and Boyfriend/Girlfriend, Day 7. My Heritage and Background, and Day 8. My Dreams and Future

For the ninth day of this unit, students will learn how to revise their writings. It is a good time to teach them grammar within the context too. For the last day of this unit, students will bring in their picture and bury their diaries and the picture in their school yard.

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Absolut English: Creative Writing (11/17/01)

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