Evan's Creative Writing

A few weeks ago Evan attended a student writing intensive put out by the Institute for Excellence in Writing. It was taught by Andrew Pudewa, who although he is a national speaker and teacher for classical education, just happens to live in our neck of the woods. Evan was challenged but had a lot of fun. Mr. Pudewa tells lots of jokes and is a very entertaining and captivating speaker. We have been using his approach a little this year, and will now incorporate more that we learned at the writing intensive.

The writing intensive is geared for 3-5 graders. If you are looking for a way to teach writing or incorporate a more classical model you can buy the same class that Evan went to on a DVD and do at your own pace. For Evan it was very beneficial to be with other kids for a few days and see that what I require him to do at home is really not too much compared to what Mr. Pudewa expected. He was required to do a paper a day. He could either write out a final draft in pen, type it or pay for someone else to type it out for him. It was great, I got both bathrooms cleaned, and several loads of laundry folded and put away!

This has been an area of huge growth for Evan. When he was in 1st grade, he would just cry over having to write (actually just copy) one sentence! Here is Evan's final (and favorite) paper: his own creative story.

The Demise of the Fetts

By

Evan Gillham

Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda flew into the Jedi Temple and found that a difficult mission was awaiting them. They immediately took off and flew to Tatooine to look for Jango Fett who was a bounty hunter. Jango was “wanted” because he had been killing many Jedi. They spotted him at the Mas Espa Cantina while he was having a drink. They snuck up behind Jango Fett, but he whirled around with his blasters ready. “The Dark Side of the force I sense in you!” declared Yoda.

Jango activated his jet pack and fired his missile at Yoda, but Yoda quickly jumped out of the way just in time. Jango fired a burst of plasmic energy bolts at Obi Wan, who deflected it back at Jango with his light saber. And that was the end of Jango Fett because the bullets went flying back at him which pierced his armor, and killed him. While Boba Fett was watching, he screamed, “I shall have revenge!”


Five years later, Boba Fett, who was the son of Jango Fett, quietly snuck up to the back of the Jedi Temple. He planted and activated a holographic projector which projected an image of a Sith Lord. He did it because he wanted to trick the Jedi. When they noticed it, they ran out of the temple toward the frightening image.

While the Jedi were outside, Boba Fett planted a bomb in the counsel chamber, and quietly snuck back into the courtyard. Then suddenly, the entire Jedi Temple blew up. The hologram ceased and everyone beheld Boba Fett who was trying to quietly get back to his ship. Boba Fett and the Jedi began to fight fiercely. Boba fired his missile into the throng of Jedi killing one council member and three younglings. Because he also threw a thermal detonator, Boba Fett was able to escape aboard his slave I attack ship.

A new temple was built and Boba Fett was eventually killed by Han Solo.