Introduction to High School Vocabulary and Writing Challenges

 Greetings! Over the next few weeks, I will be posting vocabulary and writing challenges primarily for high school students, though middle school students who like a challenge can try these assignments as well. These posts will offer you options for both creative and academic writing that will take you through one entire school year if you complete all the writing options. Here are a few things that may be helpful before you explore the other posts as they are released.

These writing prompts and assignments will vary. Some writing challenges may seem difficult for certain writers, while others may seem ridiculously easy. Each assignment has a purpose, however. If a student is asked to write a poem one week, that doesn’t mean every student will go on to be a poet. However, practicing a variety of writing styles helps students think through creative options for other assignments and strengthens their overall writing skills. 



Why do I offer both creative and academic writing assignments to students? Creative writing strengthens academic writing skills and introduces students to a variety of creative options when approaching an assignment. Academic writing teaches the student to hone their research skills and analyze material to be woven into a paper. 

When studying creative writing, students learn about the keys to freelance and academic writing (imagination, observation, language). They can then apply these skills to school assignments or personal writing objectives. Students learn about creative nonfiction (memoir and essay) and the creative forms of journalism (feature articles and profiles). These writing forms give insight on how to compose a great college application essay, write professionally, or create a family history book.

I will walk you through some of the essay styles and what’s expected with each one. Remember this: everything you write should be a first draft. Don’t be careless when you write, but you also shouldn’t stress about grammar or spelling. You can ask someone to help you revise, edit, and proofread each assignment after you have completed a draft. I suggest completing all your work in one online document or in a notebook of your choosing. 

Have fun with these assignments. 


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