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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 285"
COURSE NAME: "Literature and Creative Writing: How to Read Like a Writer"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Elizabeth Farren
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS: TBD by appointment only
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
To supplement their traditional university study of composition and literary analysis, this course provides students with the opportunity to develop skills at reading literature as a source of help in improving their own writing. Designed primarily for students interested in creative writing, this course focuses on the reading of literature from the point of view of the practice, or craft, of fiction writing. This is a reading and writing intensive course. Students in 200-level literature classes are required to produce 4-5,000 words of critical writing.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This class consists of writing workshops, peer reviews, lectures, discussions of assigned readings, in-class writing exercises, and possible excursions to literary events. The readings will correspond to the writing genre of interest, and will provide a foundation and model for the writing assignments themselves. The workshop process allows students to develop critical thinking skills, editorial awareness, and pushes students toward self-improvement along with the adaptation of literary techniques. The workshop process assists students with the discovery of their own aesthetic sensibilities and principles, and allows students to hone in on their writing strengths, their weaknesses, and the way their work and words are interpreted by their contemporaries. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of the course, students will be familiar  with writing techniques specific to the production of fiction. Students will learn the habits of daily writing, will gain ability and fluency in the creation of ideas, will have improved their imaginative reach, their editorial skillset, as well as their critical thinking abilities. Students will gain in confidence as they improve their knowledge of the foundations of fiction writing. 
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
A Swim in the Pond in the RainGeorge SaundersBloomsburyISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1526624249     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Creative AssignmentStudents are required to write one piece of short fiction.25%
Midterm PresentationsStudents are required to give presentations to the class as a means of showcasing their close reading skills 25%
Final Term PaperStudents are required to write a final paper for the class.25%
ParticipationStudents are required to participate in daily discussions of the selected works and to participate in all classroom activities, as well as complete all in-class and out-of-class (homework) exercises and assignments.. Quizzes may also apply.25%

-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

This course provides an introduction to the creative practice of writing fiction, while probing major issues of literary aesthetics. This course satisfies the General Distribution requirement in English Literature. Students who are more than 15 minutes late may be counted as absent. Students who use their phone or surf the internet during class may be counted as absent. Students have 3 unexcused absences. Any absence beyond the first 3 will render a 2 percent deduction in the final grade. Laptops are permissible if the course is hybrid.

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

Syllabus is tentative and subject to change--final syllabus will be available on Moodle on the first day of class

 

Week 1: Syllabus distribution & Course Intro to Close Reading, Setting the story, creating a compelling world

Read:  Chekhov’s “The Cart” Pages 1-35 SPR

Week 2:   Suspense and Expectation; language and desire  

Read pages 36-60 SPR, read Roald Dahl’s “Pig”

Week 3:   Sentences: the power of saying and the power of omission

Read Amy Hempel’s “In the Cemetery where Al Jolson is buried,” Christine Schutt’s “Blood Jet”

Week 4:  Paragraphs: the organization of space and time 

Read Chekhov’s “Gooseberries” and “A Swim in the Pond in the Rain” in SPR pages 311-346

Week 5: Dialogue: the construction of plot and character through speech

Read Denis Johnson’s “Emergency”; Junot Diaz’ “Drown”

Week 6: Surrealism: Read Dino Buzzati’s “The Elevator” and "The Falling Girl"

Week 7: Student Presentations: on a selected text from one of our readings. Those not presenting must read the stories and participate in presentation by asking questions. Guidelines TBA.

Week 8 Spring Break

Week 9 : Student Presentations: on a selected text from one of our readings. Those not presenting must read the stories and participate in presentation by asking questions. Guidelines TBA.

Week 10 Character: Read SPR 349-378 Tolstoy’s “Aloysha the Pot

Week 11: Details & the Poetry of Prose: 

Read Patricia Lockwood “A Winged Thing”

Week 12: TBA

Week 13:  Voice, Music & Style: in class writing

Read Toni Morrison “Sweetness”  and Cynthia Ozick’s “The Shawl”

Week 14: Reading and rereading, the storyteller’s tasks

Read Nabokov’s “Signs and Symbols” and essay “Good Readers and Good Writers”; Creative assignment due (up to 2000 words)
Week 15:  Imitation…lessons learned. Student workshop and critique.

Reading Student Work; Final Critiques Due (1500 words)