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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "CW 352"
COURSE NAME: "Creative Writing Workshop: Creative Nonfiction"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2018
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Elizabeth Geoghegan
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 10:00-11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 103 or 105 with grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This creative writing workshop is designed to help students develop their writing and editorial skills, as well as the reading habits necessary for the production of works of creative nonfiction. The class will focus upon the creative process and the generation of several different forms within the nonfiction genre including the personal essay, the memoir, travel writing, and the journalistic or magazine profile. Through the examination of superior examples of creative nonfiction, discussions, and critiques, students will become acquainted with the techniques and tools used to build an excellent portfolio of literary and journalistic pieces within the creative nonfiction genre.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Classes will move between traditional lectures, discussions of the assigned readings, and “writing workshops” or peer reviews. Born of the philosophy that all writing benefits from careful critique and thoughtful revision, the workshops will aid students in the development of critical thinking and editorial skills, helping to foster an aesthetic sensibility about their own writing, the writing of others, and ultimately a more thorough understanding of creative nonfiction.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
--Through the examination of superior examples of creative nonfiction, discussions, and critiques, students will become acquainted with the techniques and tools used to build an excellent portfolio of literary and journalistic pieces within the creative nonfiction genre.
--Students will become proficient in taking their writing projects/assignments through several stages -- including drafts and peer-reviews in workshop, before the revision phase. These steps will aid students in the necessary skills of close reading, editing, offering critiques, as well as revising, polishing, and restructuring a given piece of writing.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Best American Essays 2017 | Robert Atwan, Editor & Leslie Jamison, Series Editor | Mariner Books (Houghton Mifflin) | ISBN 10 0544817338 | | Text available at Anglo American Books, Via delle Vite, 102, Roma 00187 | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Participation & Homework |
Students participate is of the utmost importance; this means having read the assigned material and being prepared to discuss it in an articulate fashion, even to write about it in class. Homework assignments will vary during the term. | 15% |
| Conscientiousness of Peer Reviews | During workshop students will offer peer reviews (critiques) of the works produced by their colleagues in class. | 15% |
| Conscientiousness of Self-Editing | Students will be required to take their work through various drafts until they produce a polished, professional piece of writing for the portfolio. Self-editing will include a written process analysis for each piece. | 20% |
| Attendance | Students who are more than 15 minutes late will be counted as absent. Students who use their phones or other devices during class may be counted as absent. See the JCU attendance policy for further information on excused and unexcused absences. | 10% |
| Final Portfolio | The final portfolio will include the revisions of all the pieces produced during the semester. Portfolios may also include homework assignments, in-class writing, and other pieces. Detailed Guidelines TBA. | 40% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period is TBA; students should not make plans to be away during exam week.
Phones and laptops are not allowed in class without special permission; students caught on their phones will be counted as absent.
Any student who is more than 15 minutes late may be counted absent for the day.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Please note that this is an overview of the class lineup and the units covered. Due dates and assignments are subject to be changed and/or added to. A more detailed breakdown will be provided in class. Textbook is The Best American Essays 2017 (Ed. Jamison & Series Ed. Atwan) & will be referred to as BAE for assignments. Additional readings & guidelines will be posted on Moodle.
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Dates
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Reading Assignments & Homework
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Week One
Mon 1/15
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UNIT ONE: Exploring creative nonfiction, descriptive writing, and the Micro-Essay
Intro to Creative Nonfiction; in class writing
Buy textbook (Anglo-American Book store)
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Wed 1/17
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Bring text + handouts to class; Read “The Fox Who Came to Dinner” (Auvinen) & “Untamed” (Sedaris), choose an image, line or scene from each and be prepared to discuss why you chose them and how the two authors handle like material differently.
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Week Two
Mon 1/22
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Guidelines for Microfictions; Read BAE Into (Jamison,) p. xvi & “The Weight of James Arthur Baldwin” (Ghansah, p. 16 BAE) Prepare your assigned paragraph and be prepared to do a close reading with class.
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Wed 1/24
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Micro-essays due + bring copies (see guidelines, Moodle) Workshop Order TBD
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Week Three
Mon 1/29
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Workshop, Continued
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Wed 1/31
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Workshop, Continued (if nec.)
Readings TBD
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Week Four
Mon 2/5
Wed 2/7
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UNIT TWO: The Personal Essay: voice-driven writing, mining the memory, and incorporating character & dialogue
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Week Five
Mon 2/12
Wed 2/14
Fri 2/16 (Makeup for 4/25)
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Readings BAE
“The Reader is the Protagonist” (Palmer, 192)
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Week Six
Mon 2/19
Wed 2/21
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Essays due; see guidelines (Moodle) + copies due
Workshop order TBD
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Week Seven
Mon 2/26
Wed 2/28
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Workshop
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Week Eight
Mon 3/5
Wed 3/7
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UNIT THREE: Exploring a single topic & research-driven essays; read “ What Came Before the Big Bang” (Lightman, p. 72) & “We Are Orphans Here” (Kushner, p. 60);
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Week Nine
Mon 3/12
Wed 3/14
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Essays due; Workshop order TBD
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Week Ten
Mon 3/19
Wed 3/21
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Workshop
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Week Eleven
Mon 3/26
Wed 3/28
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Workshop;
Unit Four: Exploring culture through travel & food;
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Week Twelve 2-6
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Spring Break: April 2-7 No class Mon 4/2 & Wed 4/4
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Week Thirteen
Mon 4/9
Wed 4/11
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Travel Essays due; Workshop Order TBA
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Week Fourteen
Mon 4/16
Wed 4/18
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Workshop, continued
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Week Fifteen
Mon 4/23
LAST CLASS
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PORTFOLIOS due
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Wed 4/25
NO CLASS
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(Italian holiday)
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Exam Week
April 30-May 4th
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(no exams on 5/1) INFO TBA
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