A ContractYou will earn an A in this class if you:

1. Attend class regularly and on time, not missing more than 2 class periods or homework assignments. You must be in class to turn in homework.

2. Meet due dates and criteria for all major papers, class presentations, and peer review. 3. Participate thoughtfully in all in-class activities, including journal writing, class and group

discussions and peer review. Earning an A in this course, you should strive to be a leader in these conversations.

4. Invest time and effort into each draft you write and make substantive revisions for the final portfolio – considering concerns like the plot, characters, dialogue, imagery, symbolism, and other literary devices, not just editing.

5. Present a 2-3 minute biography about one author covered in class including major works.6. Visit me during my office hours at least twice with a draft of your writing.7. Turn in a Final Portfolio containing:

1. Five revised drafts of creative work (one from each of the major genres covered in class and two additional works). These works must be heavily revised from the original drafts submitted to me for comments and approval. They should be edited and free from major errors.

2. The three original drafts you turned in during the semester (one from each of the major genres covered in class).

3. A final reflection that addresses your journaling, revision, and learning throughout the semester. You may use any genre or media you like to address the reflective questions.

4. A review of a community reading or literary/ art event. You may use any genre or media you like to compose the review.

By fulfilling this contract, you earn an A. Your grade is, thus, based entirely on the effort you put into this class and your writing and not my judgment about the quality of your writing or your completion of my specific revision suggestions. You must sign a contract at the beginning of the semester, but you can always sign a new contract or renegotiate aspects of your current contract. Stay in touch.

This contract grading system is based on Peter Elbow’s “B” contract, and influenced by the contract systems of Ira Shor, William Thelin, and Isabel Moreno-Lopez as well.