Your Own Prompt

Your assignment for today and tomorrow is to come up with your own idea for a writing prompt.  You must include an example to help your classmates. Your post will be graded on the following:

• Clarity of directions
• Proper use of sentence construction, spelling, and punctuation.
• Inclusion of example.

I would like to use your work for potential assignments in future classes, so keep that in mind when you are working on this.

The length of the assignment you create should take no more than two days for the class to complete.

Young Playwright's Competition (optional assignment)

The Theater Project’s 12th Annual Young Playwrights Competition

Now Seeking Submissions from NJ High School Student Playwrights

Open to all NJ secondary school students, ages 13 to 18.

All entries must be received by January 20, 2014

(NJ) -- The Theater Project, an award-winning drama company, is conducting its12th annual Young Playwrights Competition to encourage the next generation of theater practitioners and audiences by honoring student work and bringing it to life. Not many 13-18 year-olds have an opportunity to have a play they wrote performed in a reading by professional actors, but the three of them who win the Competition will get that chance.

 

While performing in Cranford and Maplewood, The Theater Project has been encouraging young writers from around the state over the past dozen years. Past winners have gone on to pursue degrees in theater and playwriting, and they often return to The Theater Project to present prizes and share their journeys with the newest honorees.

 

The competition is open to secondary school students aged 13-18, and will culminate in a performance/awards ceremony in March, 2014.

 

“In tough economic times, the arts sometimes get short shrift as people struggle to make ends meet and schools see their budgets shrink,” says Theater Project producer Daaimah Talley. “But when kids lose out on arts experiences, they miss opportunities to develop critical thinking and reading skills that are needed now more than ever –- we want to make sure that kids know how important their creative endeavors are by showcasing them in front of the community.” Winners and runners-up will see their work presented to an audience and receive prizes in addition to recognition.

 

In addition to having their work performed, the first, second, and third place authors will receive $300, $200 and $100 cash prizes.  Three additional student writers will receive Honorable Mention certificates.

“Putting words together in a meaningful way is not only about communication, but also fosters the critical thinking skills so necessary to success in education and the workplace,” says Theater Project artistic director Mark Spina.

 

The competition was inspired by a generous donation from Linden resident Bill Mesce, Jr., an award-winning playwright and screenwriter, whose recent short story collection, PRECIS, was published by Stephen F. Austin University Press. He is also the author of OVERKILL: THE RISE AND FALL OF THRILLER CINEMA, and writes regularly about film and television for the award-winning website, Sound on Sight.  Mesce says about the competition: "It is not only impressive but inspiring to see these young people applying themselves to an art form that has always been about a command of language, and a bit awesome to see how well they carry it off."

 COMPETITION GUIDELINES (also available at http://www.thetheaterproject.org/young-playwrights-competition.html):

Only one entry per author. Entry fee: $5

Scripts must be typed in play format.

All submissions must be 10 to 25 pages (excerpts of longer work are OK!).

Original work only, no adaptations.

All entrants must be NJ residents in secondary school.

Entries MUST be received by January 20, 2014

HOW TO ENTER: By January 20, 2014, submit a 10 to 25 page script according to the guidelines above to TheaterProject@AOL.COM with a 50-word biography of the author, contact information and the name of school currently attended. The $5 entry fee can be paid at our web site: TheTheaterProject.org.

 All questions can be directed to The Theater Project at 973.763.4029 or by email at THEATERPROJECT@aol.com.

Lie Poem

Write a poem about yourself (or someone else) in which nothing is true. The poem should be a minimum of 15 lines, in any style you want (however, a minimum of 8 words per line are required). Due at the end of the period.

Face

Your assignment is to go online and find a picture of an adult face that interests you. Study it. Then write a piece, in poetic or narrative form, that describes what experiences have shaped that face. Why does it look the way it does? What has this person gone through? Create a story for the individual and the marks upon their face.
Make sure to copy and paste the link to the picture at the top of your response, as a reference (since you cannot post images into the comment section).
Length - 400 words.
Due - Thursday

Hint: Search for "portrait," since the word "face" has some issues.
 

I Can't Believe This Happened...

Make a list of five things you're afraid of happening to you. Then write a story or poem in which one of them happens to your character..

Your story or poem should be a minimum of 500 words and is due at the end of class tomorrow.

Impossible button

Write a 200 word piece in response to the following prompt: if you could design a button that could perform any function, what would it be and why?

Superhero

"If I were a superhero, I would..."

• You may discuss your powers, your motivation, your backstory or origin
• You may describe a day in the life of you as a superhero
• You may describe if/how you would hide your identity and from who
• You may describe your costume and the reasoning behind it

Due at the end of the period on Monday - 400 words total.