|
|
JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "CW 350"
COURSE NAME: "Creative Writing Workshop: Fiction"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Summer Session I 2024
|
SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Elizabeth Farren
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MTWTH 9:00 AM 10:50 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 103 or 105 with grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS:
Tuesdays 11-12 by appointment only
|
|
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course aims to develop the creative, editorial, and reading habits needed for the production of literary fiction; to develop self-editing skills; and to foster an aesthetic sensibility for use in writing literary fiction. Students will read both contemporary literary fiction and materials related to analyzing and editing literary fiction and participate in a traditional creative writing workshop through in-class writing exercises, reading classmates' fiction, and producing and workshopping their own fiction. Students will compile a portfolio of the work they produce during the term. Students completing this workshop course will be familiar with the skills needed to produce literary fiction, to self-edit work in progress, and to discern the characteristics that make quality literary fiction.
|
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Classes are a mix writing workshops, traditional lectures, discussions of assigned readings, and in-class writing exercises. Readings will correspond to the topics covered and will help create a foundation for the writing assignments themselves. Dedicated to the philosophy that all writing benefits from careful critique and thoughtful revision, the workshops help students develop critical thinking and editorial skills, while fostering an aesthetic sensibility about their own writing, the writing of their peers, and ultimately a more thorough understanding of the various components of literary fiction.
|
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will become familiar with the basic elements of storytelling, story development, and story revision. The goal for this course is for students to produce, develop, and revise an original portfolio of short fiction. Through the review of their peers’ work, students will learn how to offer thoughtful criticism, as well as gain the editorial skills necessary to self-edit. Students will read examples of literary fiction and have an opportunity to develop their own voice as a writer, with the aim of gaining experience and confidence in the craft.
|
TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Writing Fiction, Tenth Edition: A Guide to Narrative Craft | Janet Burroway | University of Chicago Press | ISBN-10 : 022661669X | | | | The Almost Corner Bookstore | Amazon |
| The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story | John Freeman | Penguin | SBN-10 : 1984877828 | | | | The Almost Corner Bookstore | Amazon |
|
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
|
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Final Portfolio | Around 30 pages of fiction. Students must complete a polished final portfolio which shows growth and development over the course of the class. Guidelines for the specific assignments will be posted in Moodle. | 50 |
| Class Participation, Student Feedback, and attendance | Participation and conscientiousness in peer critiques. Does student do thorough and thoughtful reading of student work? Is the student helpful and doing a close reading of his or her peer work? (Students must not miss more than two classes; each additional absence will cause a 5 percent deduction in the final grade. Students are expected to contribute to discussion and workshop activities. Students who use their phone, surf the internet, or are later than 10 minutes may be counted as absent. ) | 20 |
| Self Editing and Revision toward Development of work in progress | Is the student editing and revising work in a significant way, with thoughtful alterations and improvements? Do the final drafts show significant development through revision, alteration, and re-imagination? Students will be required to submit revised versions of their work and show a thorough understanding of the importance of this writing skill. | 10 |
| Class Preparation and Commentary | Is the student carefully responding in class discussion? Is the student demonstrating a clear understanding of the assigned reading? Is the student applying the knowledge from the assigned texts to the in class discussion?
| 10 |
| Attendance at Creative Writing Institute Events | Has the student attended Creative Writing Institute Events? Students are required to participate in all mandatory readings and lectures as outlined in Moodle.
| 10 |
-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:
Daily attendance and active participation are an invaluable part of the workshop. Students have 3\2 excused absences. Each additional absence will cause a 2 percent deduction in the final grade. Late arrival in class after attendance has been taken may count as an absence. The use of a phone in class, messaging, or unrelated navigation will be counted as an absence. For students who are in virtual learning, failure to be present (face visible) on the live chat will be counted as an absence.
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
·
|
WEEKONE
Monday
|
Introduction to the Fiction Workshop; Introduction to the elements of story
Reading:Burroway Pages 1-22;"Story" by Lydia Davis (pgs 69-72) in MASS;"Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid (pgs 38-39) in MASS;"What the Water Feels Like to the Fishes" by Dave Eggers (attached)
|
|
Tuesday
|
Microfiction discussion and reading, in class writing
Reading:Burroway Pages 22-43;"Pet Milk" by Stuart Dybek (pgs 96-101) in MASS;"Miracles" by Lucy Corin (attached below); "The Outing" by Lydia Davis (attached below)
|
|
Wednesday
|
Continued discussion of Microfiction and storytelling basics; ideating a story;MICROFICTION ASSIGNMENT DUE (see below)
Reading:"Sticks" by George Saunders (pgs 170-171)in MASS; "The Flowers" by Alice Walker (pgs 36-37) in MASS
|
|
Thursday
|
Continued discussion of Microfiction and longer fiction; the construction of an opening paragraph; discussion of beginnings
Reading:"Fiesta, 1980" by Junot Diaz (pgs 172-187) in MASS
|
|
WEEK TWO
Monday
|
Workshop of Microfiction and discussion of story ideation;OPENING PARAGRAPH ASSIGNMENT due
|
|
Tuesday
|
Workshop of opening paragraphs and discussion of setting; discussion of setting as character; in class writing
Reading: "Bullet in the Brain" by Tobias Wolff (pgs 221-226) in MASS
|
|
Wednesday
|
Workshop and discussion of character ideation and transformation; character development and transformation
Reading: Burroway (pgs 44-74)
|
|
Thursday
|
Workshop of Microfiction; in class writing;SHORT STORY DRAFT (1) ASSIGNMENTdue
Reading:Burroway (pgs 75-100);"The Shawl" by Cynthia Ozick (link below)
|
WEEK THREE
|
Monday
|
Discussion of fiction structure: beginnings, middlesand endings; workshop
Reading: "The Reencounter" by Isaac Bashevis Singer (pgs 51-57) in MASS
|
|
Tuesday
|
Discussion of reading (tbd); workshop
Reading: Burroway (pgs 121-133 )
|
|
Wednesday
|
Discussion of setting, and setting as character; workshop;SHORT STORY DRAFT (2) ASSIGNMENT due
|
|
Thursday
|
Discussion of dialogue and construction of character through dialogue; workshop; in class writing
Reading: "Emergency" by Denis Johnson (pgs 157-169) in MASS; Burroway (pgs 44-73)
|
WEEK FOUR
|
Monday
|
Discussion of plot; discussion of reading workshop
Reading:Burroway (pgs 124-152); "Cat Person" by Kristen Roupenian (link below);2NDOPENING PARAGRAPH ASSIGNMENT due
|
|
|
Tuesday
|
Discussion of sentences and paragraphs; discussion of the potency of prose and textual density; workshop
Reading: "The Blood Jet" by Christine Schutt (link below)
|
|
Wednesday
|
Discussion of reading; discussion of language; workshop
|
|
Thursday
|
Discussion of narrative tension and story organization; discussion of point of view; in class writing; workshop;2NDSHORT STORY DRAFT (1) ASSIGNMENTdue
Reading: Burroway (pgs 153-179); "The American Embassy" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (pgs 322-333)
|
|
WEEK FIVE
Monday
|
Discussion of endings, denouement; workshop;STUDENT READING
|
|
Tuesday
|
Discussion of revision and portfolio construction; workshop
Reading:"Water Child" by Edwidge Danticat (pgs 310-321) in MASS
|
|
Wednesday
|
Discussion of revision and final portfolio; workshop;FINAL PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT due
|
|
Thursday
|
Discussion of publication; in class writing activity; last workshop
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|