Integrating Technology Across the Curriculum: Internet/Computer Writing Resources for a Content-Based Curriculum, Michael Krauss, ISALC, Lewis & Clark College
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Fostering Creative Writing

In academic programs, preparation for undergraduate study requires heavy doses of academic writing assignments. Encouraging students to explore writing as an expressive, exploratory activity also has its place in that it not only improves students' writing fluency but also encourages them to be open to new ideas and ways of expressing themselves in English. When creative writing activities are coupled with a content focus (ie student expression is motivated and centered around the content of the course they are taking) the result may be not only an increased motivation to write, but also a deeper understanding of the course content. The resources below provide a wealth of ideas and activities which can be used in any language classroom.

Internet Resources:

These two cites by Leslie Opp-Beckman are the perfect place to start when looking for creative writing activities. In many cases, handouts are on-line (and available for reproduction). Everything you need to carry out inventive, interesting classroom writing activities (without hours of prep time) is here.
Pizzaz - People Interested in Zippy and ZAny Zcribbling, Leslie Opp-Beckman, includes sections on Poetry, Fiction, Bag of Tricks, Publishing Opportunities, Other Teacher Resources. Ideas and lesson plans available for you to use. For high beginner and up. http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~leslieob/pizzaz.html

Leslie Opp-Beckman's "Writing with a Creative Twist" presentation at Computers and Writing Conference 1996. Wonderful resource includes Directly Interactive Writing Websites, Multi-authored Writing Activities (with or without the Web), Non-Writing Websites as Prompts, Web Publishing Possibilities, and Writing Resource Websites. http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~leslieob/CWC96.html

Write Environment - This site came on-line in January '98. Tons of ideas for creative writing assignments (designed for native speakers, but easily modifiable for ESL students) in the "Brain Cell Buzzers" section linked here. This site also serves as a forum for research on writing and has extensive links to writing resources at http://www.writeenvironment.com/ThinkAndWrite.html

Action Mazes - Larry Davies demonstrates the use of an inexpensive shareware program, ButtonTalk, with which students write branching stories (the reader chooses a link to determine how the story ends) The output is HTML files ready for Web publishing. There is a link to download ButtonTalk at http://www.webcom.com/lbdavies/text/maze/98tesol.html

Non-Internet Resources

Theatrix Interactive's Hollywood and Hollywood High are CD ROM animation programs for Mac or Windows platforms. The program comes with a teacher's manual and ideas for projects. A lab pack of 5 CD's is available for under $100. Student-produced movies can be posted to the Theatrix website and your students instantly have a wide audience for their work. http://www.theatrix.com/theatrix.html

HyperShelf by Stephen Marcus, UCSB - This HyperCard stack is a collection of "story starters" found in virtual "books" which students open and read. Assignments prompt students to develop skills in expository, narrative, autobiographical, and persuasive writing. Available from Intellimation at 800-346-8355. Single Copy: $29; Site License: $119

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Some Places to Publish:

Exchange- publishes ESL students' work from around the world at http://deil.lang.uiuc.edu/exchange

Wings Electronic Magazine - for students participating in the SL-Lists at Latrobe University, but also open to others. http://weber.u.washington.edu/d36/wings/wings.html

Dave's ESL Graffiti Wall - Splash your ideas on the wall for everyone to see at http://www.pacificnet.net/~sperling/wall.html

Free Electronic Postcards - Express yourself to that special person on that special occasion with these free electronic postcards.

  • World Wildlife Fund ECards - All sorts of Email cards available: holidays, animals, indigenous peoples. Also "V" cards (Internet camera postcards). For every free card you send, a contribution is made to the World Wildlife Fund by sponsors of the site. Definitely a "feel good" site at http://www.e-cards.com/e-cards1/index.pl

  • Free WWW Animated Musical Cards for the Web - I have received many of these from students. It's really a kick to watch the animations, listen to the music, and read personal messages!

  • GFME Postcard Center- postcards can be sent in sixteen different languages at http://www.gfme.com/postcard.html

  • Free Electronic Scottish postcards- send your message accompanied by photos of lovely Scottish landmarks at http://www.castles.org/Chatelaine/postcard.htm

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Sample Assignments/Student Work:

Poetry
Diamantes (Diamond Poems) - Advanced students - An example of a quick, one day assignment which can gets students' work on the Web (or published in a traditional forum) very quickly. This example contains poems with a content focus around slavery, a topic being studied in an advanced reading/writing course, "Diversity and Civil Rights in the U.S." http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/diversity98 /diamondpoems.html The lesson plan for this assignment and all materials needed to carry it out come from Opp-Beckman's Pizzaz site described above. http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~leslieob/diamantes.html This lesson works well for students of varying language proficiency. See an abbreviated version with a beginning level class. http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/Short_Poems.html

Using Graphics to Stimulate Creativity/Inquiry - Regardless of language ability, graphics (either student-created or supplied by the teacher) can foster creative and exploratory writing.

Michael Feldman's web-based writing assignment provides links to famous museums and students use these graphics resources when completing a descriptive essay at http://www.bu.edu/mfeldman/Art/

Greg Kaminski's use of graphics in a collaborative environment encourages students to make predictions and evaluations from teacher provided (and sometimes manipulated) graphics. These assignments and student work were produced by an intermediate level class using a program called PacerForum (no longer available-but any graphics-capable conferencing or Web-based instruction tool could be used).

Deborah Anholt has her students create a graphic of their choice and use this as a springboard for writing. This activity would work with any graphics program and word processor. The same technique can be used if students want to write a story and illustrate it with graphics they create.

KidPix is a very popular graphics program (also allows kids to record their voices and create slide shows). At this site, one can draw with KidPix online. Marcia Goudie's web site has lots of ideas and lesson plans for incorporating KidPix into the classroom.

Animation and Screenplays - Allows students to create animated "movies" with a rich variety of settings, characters, voices, actions, and sounds. Students work collaboratively to integrate all these resources and to write the dialogue needed to bring their movies to life. Theatrix Interactive's Hollywood and Hollywood High are animation programs for Mac or Windows platforms. Student-produced movies can be posted to the Theatrix website and your students instantly have a wide audience for their work. http://www.theatrix.com/theatrix.html

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Created by: krauss@lclark.edu
Updated: 7/5/99