MLO 8 Creative Writing and Social Action

MLO 8: CREATIVE WRITING AND SOCIAL ACTION

Ability to acquire basic competency in creative writing; ability to apply this skill to the production and presentation of an art project that actively responds to a public issue; ability to sustain the creative process throughout a given project, taking it to completion.

What does this mean?

Many of the MLOs in Human Communication focus on developing the student's analytical skill. The creative writing and social action MLO develops the student's creative skill, as well as her/his ability to respond to a public issue.

The emphasis here is on moving the student to produce creative writing that is aware of its context in and impact on the larger community. The student witnesses her/his experience, communicates to a diverse audience, and links with the interests and needs of that audience. This MLO also develops the student's awareness of what it takes to make creative writing happen. Social action writing/art is a form of critical inquiry; it is writing that breaks silences, that witnesses, and through that representation, transforms lives.

Criteria for Assessment

Is the portfolio original?

Does the portfolio demonstrate basic competency in creative writing?

Does the portfolio demonstrate the student's ability to produce imagery and communicate ideas and intent?

Does the portfolio address the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges?

Does the portfolio represent an informed and ethical reflection of a significant social issue?

Has the student demonstrated the ability to present writing to a diverse audience and engage with the interests and needs of that audience?

In a post-production analysis, has the student demonstrated the ability to recognize and sustain her/his own creative process throughout the project?

Pathways

Course-based Assessment
Because of the technical competency of this MLO, it is recommended that this MLO be fulfilled through a learning experience in Creative Writing. The following introductory-level courses fulfill the Creative Writing and Social Action MLO, and reflect an application of creative craft and socially conscious content:

HCOM 330 - Introduction to Creative Writing
HCOM 330S - Introduction to Creative Writing SL
HCOM 331 - Creative Writing and Visual Art
HCOM 339S - Creative Writing for Teachers SL
HCOM 433 - Life Stories and Life Writing

**NOTE: MLO 8 is fulfilled by HCOM 330, HCOM 330S, HCOM 331, HCOM 399S or HCOM 433. In rare cases, with instructor consent, and when advanced creative writing skills can be demonstrated, MLO 8 may be fulfilled by the following intermediate level courses (330,330S, 331,or 433 are usually prerequisites for these courses):

HCOM 332 - Poetry Writing Workshop
HCOM 333 - Women's Writing Workshop
HCOM 334 - Fiction Writing Workshop
HCOM 432 or 432S- Social Action Writing

Independent Assessment

A portfolio of materials which includes: (a) a collection of ten poems or 3 short stories (25-50 pages) or 3 chapters of a novel; (b) a one hour public presentation of the work to a diverse audience, followed by (c) a one hour discussion of the project to a diverse audience, and (d) a written narrative, in the form of a cover letter, about how the portfolio of writing meets all of the criteria.

For further information, please see Procedures for Independent Assessment.

MLO 8: Creative Writing and Social Action Assessment Standards
(A level of 3 is necessary to fulfill the built-in assessment)

FICTION

5. Exemplary
The short story meets all of the criteria stated above. The work establishes a resonant dramatic situation and an engaging plot. Characters are fully developed. The point of view is cleverly chosen to relate the story. Setting is described to evoke a strong sense of place. The story employs an excellent use of sensory details and concrete language to develop plot and characters. It excludes unnecessary details and inconsistencies. It effectively uses a range of strategies such as dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, and figurative language. The story addresses, excellently, the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. It demonstrates, profoundly, an informed and ethical reflection of a significant social issue. The story has been presented very effectively to a diverse audience and profoundly engaged the interests and needs of that audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage are rare.

4.Very Good
The short story meets all of the criteria stated above. The work establishes a clear dramatic situation and an engaging plot. Characters are developed fairly completely. The point of view is cleverly chosen to relate the story, but may be inconsistent at times. Setting is generally described to evoke an adequate sense of place. The story employs some sensory details and some concrete language. Plot and characters need some development. Few unrelated details and inconsistencies exist. Dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, figurative language are adequately employed. The story addresses, fairly completely, the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. It adequately demonstrates an informed and ethical reflection of a significant social issue. The story has been presented fairly well to a diverse audience and engaged adequately the interests and needs of that audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage do not impede understanding.

3. Satisfactory
The short story meets most of the criteria above. A basic dramatic situation and plot exists in the work. Characters, setting, and point of view chosen to relate the story are discernible. Sensory details and concrete language are adequately used. Several unnecessary details and inconsistencies are present. Dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, and figurative language need further crafting. The story is moving toward addressing the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. Some evidence exists of an informed and ethical reflection of the significant social issue. The story has been presented to a diverse audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage do not impede understanding.

2. Needs Improvement
The short story meets some of the criteria stated above. The work may need a clear dramatic situation and an engaging plot. Characters need development. The point of view chosen to relate the story requires consistency. Setting requires more description. An awareness of sensory details and concrete language is necessary, and plot and characters need development. Dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, and figurative language may need work. The story may need to address the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. Work needs to demonstrate a more informed and ethical reflection of the significant social issue. The story may need to be presented to a diverse audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage impede understanding.

1. Needs Considerable Improvement
The short story meets a few of the criteria stated above. The dramatic situation, characters, plot, setting and point of view need development. Dialogue, dramatic tension, rhythm, and figurative language need extensive work. The story needs to address the social, cultural, historical or political contexts out of which the social action art emerges. The work needs to demonstrate a more informed and ethical reflection of the significant social issue. The story needs to be presented to a diverse audience. Errors in spelling, punctuation, mechanics, and usage impede understanding.