Explores possible intersections between composition and creative writing. Suggests that one practice in which creative writers engage (discussing the craft of writing) is worthy of compositionists' attention, because it establishes a broad area of shared concern between the two groups. Concludes that "it should seem quite evident" that…

Explores the use of conceptual combination in Stephen Donaldson's development of ideas for his fantasy books. Uses Donaldson's own account to illustrate the general principles of a creative cognition approach to understanding creativity and the role of the process of conceptual combination. Assesses links between Donaldson's and others' anecdotal…

This dynamic poet never has to look any further than her own backyard for inspiration. April is a wondrous month for poetry. Alice Schertle was born in April and Young People's Poetry Week is celebrated from the 11th through the 17th this year. Kristine O'Connell George was born on May 6, 1954, in Denver, CO. She is a great admirer of teachers;…

Often we find great ideas around the artroom. One day, the author spotted several pieces of construction paper that had gotten wet near the sink. They had stained the white paper they were lying on. He noticed a design of strong contrast exhibited by the stains. Layers of transparent color had created textural nuances resembling a multicolored…

Merging science and writing to enhance both subjects was the objective of a venture known as "Plant Notes." At first, teacher-written notes served as the inspiration for this writing assignment. Later, eclectic student-written novellas, poems, song lyrics, mnemonic devices, and field trip recollections made their way into "Plant Notes" and stole…

Since 2004, the author has been facilitating a creative writing program for teenagers at the historic Paul Robeson House, centrally located in the urban community of West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Begun as an intensive five-day summer workshop, Teen Writers Academy has expanded to offer ten-session Saturday workshops during the spring, two…

The author argues that 20th-century children's poetry is often ignored and that the emphasis on teaching the adult poetry canon can give children mistaken ideas about what poetry is. Poetry is not a collection of "classics" whose meanings must be explained but something written to capture thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Ideas for teaching…

This article presents a public speaking assignment that takes the study of rhetoric seriously. First, it shifts the approach from the common typology of informative, persuasive, and ceremonial speeches toward forensic, deliberative, and epideictic rhetoric. Second, this assignment takes rhetoric seriously by generating the understanding that all…

The stereotype of the poet or novelist working in unappreciated solitude got a workout recently at the Carbondale campus of Southern Illinois University. The 9th annual Young Writer's Workshop brought 30 high-school students onto the campus for four intense days of poetry and fiction writing, critiques, panels and readings. The workshop is one of…

Applying his experiences teaching photography to teaching English, high school teacher J. Scott Shields cultivates students' original writing by promoting imitation. Students learn to develop their literary voices by crafting verse-narratives that mimic the character, plot, and stylistic devices of Dante and Chaucer.

In this paper we explore how primary school children "learn to collaborate" and "collaborate to learn" on creative writing projects by using diverse cultural artefacts--including oracy, literacy and ICT. We begin by reviewing some key sociocultural concepts which serve as a theoretical framework for the research reported. Secondly, we describe the…

A priori criteria are pressing playwrights to be conservative, to unify their total experience so that everything is regimented and predictable, consciously or subconsciously. The danger, joy, and mystery of life is under the aesthetic gun. Do playwrights, and theater practitioners in general, repress and thus betray their inner voices, or do they…

Nina Bawden recalls incidents from her childhood that influenced her writing efforts and shaped her attitudes as a writer of childrens literature. (RB)