COURSE
DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:
An introduction to the principles
and practices of creative writing, especially fiction and poetry.
Students will be exposed to a variety of writing modes through exercises
and engagement with literary texts. Emphasis is on using imaginative and
precise language, on developing critical skills through workshops,
and on assembling a portfolio of revised writing. Prerequisites:
ENG 100C or ENG 101C and ENG 120H.
Back
REQUIRED
TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
DeMaria, Robert. The
College Handbook of Creative Writing, 3rd edition
DeMaria, Robert and Ellen Hope
Meyer. A Contemporary Reader for Creative Writing
Hugo, Richard. The
Triggering Town: Lectures and Essays on Poetry and Writing
Note: Students are responsible for providing copies of their
work for other classmates to read or for printing out materials posted
on-line.
Back
COURSE
REQUIREMENTS:
8 Craft Exercises (50%):
Short exercises in poetry or fiction designed to isolate and practice specific
writing or technical skills.
Reading Synopses (15%):
1-page maximum summaries of five (5) of the short stories from A Contemporary
Reader for Creative Writing. You should summarize the plot of the
story and note anything about you find especially interesting or helpful
for your writing, especially the particular fictional element being emphasized
(i.e., point of view, character, etc.)
Poetry Recitation (5%):
Each student will memorize and recite to the class one of the poems from
either of the class texts. Class days have been scheduled for these
recitations beginning 10/25.
Schedule
for MW 2:30-3:45
Schedule
for M 4:00-6:30
Workshop Responses, Short
Writing Assignments, and Participation (15%): Contribution to workshops
and other discussions, oral and posted responses to student work and readings,
short assignments (1, 2,
3, 4, 5,
6) written in class or to be brought to class.
Final Portfolio (15%):
On the last day of class, students will submit a final portfolio consisting
of the following:
-
original drafts of all the writing
done throughout the semester. This includes short writing assignments,
craft exercises, reading synopses, and any in-class writing;
-
a revision of one of the short fiction
pieces (5 pages minimum) written in the first half of the semester into
a complete short story;
-
revisions of two of the poems written
in the second half of the semester;
-
a 1-2-page response to Richard Hugo’s
The Triggering Town. Hugo’s book is a classic text for new
writers, especially poets, and is especially helpful in suggesting ways
to get started and to revise. It has not been assigned on the syllabus,
but you should read it at some point during the semester.
Back
PROCEDURES:
Since this class concentrates
on reading and evaluating student writing, there are several protocols
we will have to follow:
-
All written work should be typed
and double-spaced.
-
Any in-class writing missed because
of absences or lateness cannot be made up. Assignments or Craft Exercises
not handed in or posted by the designated time will not be read and discussed
in class (because people must have time to read them beforehand). If you
miss the deadline for one of the Craft Exercises or Short Daily Assignments,
you may still include it in your final portfolio, though that part of the
total course grade will be affected.
Assignments
written out of class for the whole class to read (all of the craft exercises,
some of the shorter daily assignments) will have to be made available to
other students on the day and time agreed upon. Students will send
me their exercises through the listserv and I will post them on the website
(see posted assignments above). You are responsible for printing
out the exercises written by the class, reading them, and bringing them
to class prepared to discuss them in detail.
Back
Jane
Kuenz's Homepage
English Department
Homepage
