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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CW 352"
COURSE NAME: "Creative Writing Workshop: Creative Nonfiction"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2021
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Elizabeth Geoghegan
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 103 or 105 with grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS:

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.
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.
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.

TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
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-EditingStudents 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%
AttendanceStudents 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.

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.
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.

SCHEDULE

T

Week One | Tues 8/31

Course Intro:
NB: THIS IS A BASIC OVERVIEW ONLY


WHAT IS CREATIVE NONFICTION?

Thurs 9/2
Setting as character, writing about place,

travel essays that are also personal essays/memoir.

Week Two | Tues 9/7

The nonfiction narrative, micro-essay, and flash memoir: compressing your work into bite-sized essays

 

Thurs 9/9

More Micro essays & in class writing

Week Three | Tues 9/14

Snapshot Due: Workshop

Thurs 9/16
Workshop

 

Fri 9/17 (Makeup for 11/25)

Snapshot Take #2 due

+ mini-workshop

 

Week Four | Tues 9/28
OVERVIEW: Travel Essays:

The pilgrimage vs. the “How to __ ”

Thurs 9/30

List of 10 Due +

More Travel Writing

 

Week Five | Tues 10/5
Travel Memoir Due

Workshop (Order TBA)

Thurs 10/7
Workshop

Week Six | Tues 10/12
Workshop

Thurs 10/ 14 Profile Writing

Week Seven | Thurs 10/19

 

Thurs 10/21 Profiles Due

Workshop (order TBA)

Week Eight | Tues 10/26

Workshop

Thurs 10/28

Workshop

Week Nine | Tues 11/2

Modern Love (!)

 

Thurs 11/ 4

More Modern Love

Week Eleven | Tues 11/9

Modern Love essays due
Workshop (order TBA)

Thurs 11/11

Workshop

Week Twelve | Tues 11/16
Intro to MEMOIR

 

Thurs 11/18

Week Thirteen |Tues 11/23
1st Paragraph/Page DUE

+ mini workshop

Thurs 11/25
NO CLASS

Week Fourteen | Tues 11/30
FINAL Q&A for Portfolios

Last Class | Thurs 12/2

Portfolios Due

Final Exam Week

DATE TBD