LITR 3731: Creative Writing
Student Drama Submission 2003

“Incredible Excuses”

Concept Sentence: The first day of an honors creative writing course turns out to be a blast for nervous students.

Theme Sentence:
Writing is universal and it can be cultivated in the most unusual and creative ways.

CHARACTERS:
(Setting:  The first day of school in an Honors English classroom)

Will, president of the student council

Jennifer, cheerleader captain

Reani, captain of the tennis team

Enrique, quarterback

Mr. White, Honors English teacher

[several students are already seated prior to the beginning of class, Will and Reani walk in nonchalantly and sit down]

Enrique: I can’t believe the counselor put me in this class.  I don’t need another heavy subject during football season.

Jennifer: Don’t worry about it Enrique, we can work on assignments during study hall.

Enrique (disgusted):  I plan to break down game film during study period!  This is just great!

Will (overhears the conversation):  Game film! Who cares about game film!  I’m supposed to tutor elementary students during my study period.

Reani (to all):  Will you guys just relax! If we stick together and get on the teacher’s good side we’ll have it made.  Don’t stress.

[everyone shoots Reani a look of disbelief]
All in unison: Good side!

Jennifer: Reani, the teacher is Mr. White.

Reani (with a defeated look):  Oh.

Will:  Yeah, and if we’re lucky we’ll only get a ten page research paper.  

Jennifer: Well, I certainly don’t have time for research.  I’m getting ready for cheer competition and I have to practice three hours every day.

Reani (proudly):  I have team tennis and district starts next week.  I am playing doubles and singles.  I’ll barely have time for homework.

Enrique (panicking):  You guys don’t have to defend a state championship like me.  I have real pressure.

Will (sarcastically):  Athletics is not real pressure!  I’m the top student in our senior class and I have to make excellent grades for college entrance.

Reani:  But we balance books and athletics.

Will:  I balance books and community service.

Jennifer: This is so not fun!

Enrique (stands up to leave):  I’ve got to talk to coach.

[Mr. White enters classroom]

Will:  Too late!

[Enrique sits back down heavily]

Mr. White (enthusiastically):  Good morning class and welcome back to school!

All:  Good morning, Mr. White.

Mr. White: I hope that you all had an active and eventful summer vacation with lots of interesting things to write about.

Reani (mumbles to herself):  Here we go!

Jennifer:  Mr. White are you going to actually teach us to write?  I have only written book reports.

Reani:  Yeah, like I always choose to write about my favorite tennis pros.

Mr. White: Well, this class goes beyond just responding to something that you have read.

Enrique (shaking his head):  I don’t understand.

Will:  Neither do I.

Mr. White: Creative writing is a process.

Jennifer (looking confused):  A process?

Mr. White: Yes, just like any other activity. You learn by doing.

Enrique: Doing what?

Mr.  White:  Writing.

Reani: Writing what?

Mr. White: We will write about topics that we discuss as we read and explore poetry, fiction and drama.

Will:  That sounds pretty complicated.

Mr. White: I realize that writing can be a challenge at times but if we get into the habit of a daily writing routine then half the battle is won.

Enrique:  It will be a battle all right.

Jennifer:  How will we know what to write about?

Mr. White: I will give you a writing prompt each day.

Will:  That doesn’t sound too hard.

Mr. White (turns to write on chalkboard):  This morning’s prompt is “Incredible Excuses.” I want you to pretend that you are a parent and that you have to write a note to your child’s teacher explaining why your child does not have his / her homework.

Enrique (smiling):  That’s a pretty cool idea!

Will:  Yeah, that sounds like a fun topic!

Reani:  When do we have to turn it in?

Mr. White: I will need to see your rough draft before you leave class today.  The final polished copy will be due at the end of the week.

Jennifer: Wow, I guess it’s always better to learn about the details of a class before panicking.