The Creative Hour

Your goal is to create a minimum of 250-500 words in class on one of the following topics. You may use a dictionary or thesaurus. You must do your best with the time you have! Hand in what you have finished after exactly one class. Write with the highest level of diction (word choice) and creativity that you can!



1. Weave a story that includes this headline: “Giant Flies Invade Norway!”

2. Take the first line of a nursery rhyme to start your story.

3. Write about someone you would love to see put in jail.

4. Erica Jong said, “If you don’t risk anything, you risk more”. Write about what this means to you.

5. Write about a good thing gone bad.

6. Write about a weird day in your workplace.

7. In 250 words, create your ideal place.

8. Use the following words in a story: hypocrite, paperclip, city, telephone, cookie jar

9. List 10 things you can do with Kleenex. Pick one and write about it.

10. Take two people who strongly dislike each other. Stick them both in the backseat of a cab. What happens?

11. What is the worst meal you have had? Write about it as if it is taking place right now.

12. Write about a habit you find hard to break.

13. Use the prompt “I used to think…” as your starter, and write 250 words.

14. The best thing in life is…

15. For 90 seconds, list everything you can think of that would be found in a hospital. Now write a story using every word you have listed, but don’t set your story anywhere near a hospital.

16. List 10 things you will never do. Pick one and expand on it (Or expand on 3 different things to make up 250 words)

17. Cook up your own version of a get rich quick scheme.

18. If an ATM could be custom created for you, what would it spew out instead of money?

19. Complete the statement: “I’d walk a mile for_____________” and continue to write about it.

20. Create a story based on this personification: “love hesitates”.

21. Come up with ten reasons why you should skip bathing for a week.

22. Create a story based on the metaphor: “A plate of fear”

23. I deserve a______________.

24. For 250 words write from the point of view of a strand of hair.

25. Write a story from the perspective of the parents who tried to sell their newborn baby on the Internet for $10,000.

26. In 250 words, describe 3 reasons to turn down a marriage proposal.

27. Write a story that includes the line “behind him/her the noise escalates”

28. List 10 simple pleasures. Describe one of them in detail.

29. Think of the ten worst things to say to a person who has just been dumped. Then write a 

paragraph describing the scene where you talk to that person.

30. Imagine your life is now a book. Write the blurb that people would read on the back cover.

31. Write about what you would cook for an enemy.

32. Write a fictional scary encounter with your hairdresser or barber.

33. Write about how you felt when you discovered you were lied to.

34. List 10 things you are afraid of. Pick one fear and write about it.

35. If you could invent something to help mankind, what would it be?

36. Expand on the phrase “a galaxy of longing”

37. Write a story about a town that ran out of its sugar supply.

38. List 10 things that you plan to do/accomplish in your life. Describe one of them in detail.

39. If your house was about to burn down describe the 5 things you would grab before you left and explain why.

Assignment #2 Top Three List

Today's blog challenge is to choose the top 3 (of anything) and justify your choice. You may choose the top three hockey players of all time, the greatest musicians, the top three reasons to do something...the possibilities are endless. Here is a suggested sequence of events for the blog:

1. Choose your topic

2. Choose the criteria you are using to make your choices, and explain it to the reader. For example, if you are ranking the top three hockey players, how are you choosing to judge them? Points scored? Plus/minus rating? Years in the league? Stanley Cups won?

3. Type your blog out by first explaining the topic you have chosen, and the criteria for your choices. Then state each of your top three choices, and dedicate approximately a paragraph to each one that justifies why it deserves the ranking you gave it. As always, formal language and proper spelling and grammar applies.

Student example:

The Top Three Zombies EVER!!

I will base my criteria these different characteristics:

1. Learning Ability/Intelligence
2. Killing Effectiveness
3. Legitimate Zombiosity (If it stays in the criteria of being a "Zombie")
4. Appearence



#3. Thriller Zombies
The Zombies from Michael Jackson's Thriller get number 3 on my list mostly because of their pure dancing skill. Clearly, because they can dance so well and in unison they must be quite intelligent. They also look quite "zombie" like. That being said, a true zombie craves brains and wants nothing more than to chomp down on someones cranium. These zombies truly lack these cannibalistic qualities. Therefore they are only number 3, because zombies simply cant dance. 



#2. Night Of The Living Dead Zombies



One of the classic zombie movies of all time was definitely Night Of The Living Dead. The zombies in this film also perfectly matched most of the qualities a zombie should have. They were dead. They craved human flesh and stopped at nothing to get it. They also fit the physical requirements for a zombie. All this being said they are not as interesting as they could have been. Zombies that can run instead of lumbering around and are more intelligent are more effective in the killing department. This brings us to our number one zombie.


#1. Dawn Of The Dead Zombie's
For me, nothing beats the vicious, fast and terrifying as the zombies from Dawn of the Dead. They perfectly fit all the criteria of what a zombie should be: Dead, cannibals, scary and they've got the looks too. They are even faster than the classic slow moving zombie which increases their killing effectiveness. They are also quite smart and can adapt to things. Because of these reasons, the zombies from Dawn Of The Dead reached number one on my list.

Blog #1 Changing History

You have the ability to transport yourself to any historical event. Describe that event. You may also choose to become involved in the event and possibly even change the course of history.

Make sure that this composition has a creative idea, interesting diction (word choice), specific detail, varied sentence length, and a dynamic introduction and conclusion.


High level responses will use formal language and proper grammar and punctuation. Make sure you include plenty of detail - this should be a lengthy paragraph.

Most importantly, keep it out of my "Boring Bin." Either dazzle me with your description, entertain me with your humor and creativity, or impress me with profound, thought provoking, and mature ideas.

Top marks will be awarded for those who are able to accomplish all of the above.

Blogging- Read Before Proceeding

Blog Introduction

Blogs offer students a chance to easily read each others' ideas, as well as draw from internet resources. Many students prefer to write on a computer as it allows for more convenient editing and provides the option of using tools such as spellcheck, grammarcheck and thesaurus.

Please remember the following guidelines for blog use:

1. Everything you write on your blog must be considered PUBLIC. Do not include ANY information or opinions on your blog that you would not be comfortable with anyone else (in or outside the class) reading.

2. Please follow the proper expectations for writing in English 11. It is natural for students to become careless in their writing when working in an internet environment. Do not use Facebook or MSN abbreviations and style. Formal grammar, punctuation, and appropriate word choice must be used at all times.

You will be graded on your blogsite thoughout the year. Part of your mark will be based on having all assignments complete. Part of your mark will be based on your writing skills and the effort and detail that you have put into your work.