what is creative writing in high school

what is creative writing in high school

The Importance of Creative Writing in High School

1. Introduction

Creative writing paves the way for students who exhibit talent in writing. When we encourage writing at home, there is an added incentive to do well in school. Throughout the state of the art technology and mass communication, the present generation will be expected to write much more in every job. Future generations will have to compete with the fast-paced society, which is quickly increasing in complexity. It is imperative that our students are well-equipped for the future and all possible opportunities. The student, through thorough writing, will also gain a better understanding of the written English language. Most importantly, we will expect student work to reflect a higher level of thinking, whether it be critical, speculative, or creative.

The importance of creative writing in high schools is tremendous. Schools, with their emphasis on a higher level of education, demand high level of creative writing skills. Creative writing is an indelible part of writing which high school students are expected to master. This would be more important in the near future when seminars, presentations, proposals, and report writing will be part of each and every subject. But those who do not have ample creative writing skills tend to fall behind during their college. These days, college applications are much more than just writing an essay. They may require a student to express themselves in a writing style such as poetry, a letter, or a business proposal. So it becomes mandatory to have creative writing skills to sell yourself at the right time.

2. Benefits of Creative Writing

Creative writing can provide a new means of self-expression. Students can often become very passionate discussing their stories and ideas. They will enjoy experimenting with language as they develop their own expression. Students can write for a personal audience, developing a sense of independence. Instructors often say that students should write to a wider audience than just the teacher. Many creative writing assignments actually fulfill this requirement. Writing stories for children or letters to an editor are great ways that allow students to feel that their writing has a sense of worth. More importantly, students can write about issues that concern them, which can often be a cathartic experience. Writing stories about real-life situations can help students deal with and understand their circumstances. In the globalized economy of the 21st century, communication skills are more important than ever, regardless of the occupation. Heavily text-based, the Internet and email have revolutionized the way we communicate. Never has it been more crucial that people can read and write effectively. Creative writing can strengthen these abilities.

Firstly, creative writing develops the intellectual and analytical abilities of students. When writing creatively, students are forced to think and use their imagination. They must make decisions, plan, and understand the reasons for their decisions – important concepts in developing critical thinking and analysis are always essential. Each word or phrase must be carefully thought out and chosen for a specific reason. This type of thinking and analysis provides a solid foundation for creative and intelligent thought. Creative writing uses different ways of knowing; it is a subjective area which allows diverse answers to the same question. This mode of thinking can help students make sense of the world around them. The ability to write creatively can help excel in other areas of study. For example, in a science class, a student might be asked to write a short creative piece from the perspective of an atom in a solid to a liquid. Such an assignment results in a greater understanding of an abstract concept. Simulation and role-playing are great ways to educate. Creative writing allows for this to happen in any area of study.

3. Incorporating Creative Writing in High School Curriculum

A second benefit is the development of new skills via an activity that students enjoy. Obviously, any form of writing that students take to with enthusiasm is advantageous to their learning. Here, there are also specific skills that can be pinpointed, setting creative writing apart from other forms of literacy. The construction and thought behind poetry is a very effective way of developing a concise style, which is applicable to other forms of writing. Creating a character and working on stories involving that character provides a good way to develop character description, an area today noted as a common weakness. An overall increased passion for literacy and expression is the benefit of the aforementioned, something that is greatly needed in today’s generation.

Introducing creative writing into the curriculum can be beneficial in several ways. The first of these is the chance to develop more varied writing styles. Teachers could use the freedom that creative writing offers to develop distinct writing styles. It is no use to just ensure that basic writing skills are up to scratch if the same formulaic writing is all that is ever asked of those skills. By presenting a variety of exercises, including collaborative writing, these improved writing skills will be stretched and refined in a way that affects overall ability and confidence in literacy and writing.

4. Strategies for Developing Creative Writing Skills

The final strategy is to create automaticity in handwriting and typing. Often times with handwriting and typing, students know what they want to write but it is slowed by their inability to get words on paper. If a student can increase the speed of their writing by improving these skills, they will be less likely to abandon stories because they become bored with the physical act of writing it down.

The fourth strategy is teaching how to problem solve in writing. Teachers should encourage students to write in great detail and take problem-solving steps to correct misunderstood text or enhance the clarity of a story.

The third strategy is teaching students how to break down writing into manageable parts. Teachers should show students a variety of pre-writing techniques such as brainstorming, making a list, or creating an outline. They should also teach how to write with a clear progression from beginning to end, as well as how to revise and make edits after a first draft has been completed.

The second strategy is embracing fluency in idea generation. To do this, teachers should allow students to write about things that interest them, practice specific writing skills without fear of making errors, try out pre-writing techniques to plan the direction of their free writing, and write regularly in a stress-free environment.

By and large, developing five fundamental strategies will increase the success rate of a student’s creative writing. The first strategy is nurturing self-esteem, which helps to create a conducive learning environment. Teachers can promote a safe learning environment by showing appreciation for student work, having a positive and accepting attitude towards all students, having realistic and high expectations for all students, and allowing students to participate in decisions that affect them.

5. Conclusion

The last benefit from creative writing is open-mindedness. This may sound a bit far-fetched, but being creative helps a person to think more out of the box and from that, more unconventionally. From learning to think in this way, students will question things and be more interested in the loose ends of things. This intellectual curiosity is what makes a good learner, and this is the kind of student that every high school teacher would like to have.

Another benefit creative writing has is improving vocabulary. The more a student writes, the more words they will be exposed to and the more words they will learn. Vocabulary is vital in today’s society, as with a better choice of words, one can earn a more powerful persona and get further in life. High school is not the end for students, and it’s clearly not the end for learning. The workplace is a constant environment of learning and knowing. This is where the vocabulary from high school would be put to best use and from that, improve even more.

Creative writing has several benefits to both the writer and the reader. The benefits acquired would be utilized throughout high school and even in the workplace. Writing is a form of communication, and the better a student communicates, the better they will do in whatever career they choose. All workplaces need employees to communicate effectively and knowledgeably.