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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "CW/ITS 358"
COURSE NAME: "Creative Writing Workshop: The Art of Literary Translation"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2026
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
William Schutt
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 103 or 105 with a grade of C or above; Italian studies majors should also have completed IT 301 to take this course.
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course aims to develop the creative, editorial, and reading habits needed for literary translation; to develop an awareness of the theories associated with the practice of translating a work of literary excellence from one language into another; to foster an aesthetic sensibility for use in literary translation. Students will read and discuss theoretical texts and will create their own translations of works by authors that will be chosen by each student. These translations will be presented to the class in a traditional workshop format, with emphasis on analysis of the difficulties posed by the chosen text(s) and a justification for the choices made in rendering the texts into English. Students will compile a portfolio of the translations they produce during the term, having become familiar with the skills and sensitivities needed to translate works of literary merit and to discern the characteristics of quality literary translation.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Translation is as an imaginative act of criticism; there is rarely any deeper or more sustained reading done than that done by a translator, one that requires a critical awareness of the emotional impact of words, their social and historical context, and their denotative and connotative meanings. Students can expect to read a wide range of practical and theoretical essays on translation, compare different translations of the same text, and put theory into practice by employing different methods to translate texts from languages both familiar and foreign to them. They will also embark on their own translation projects and create a final portfolio which will include a substantial body of literary translations and a translator’s note describing their personal methodology.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
· Analyze and compare works of literature in translation
· Understand the historical and political forces at work in making a translation
· Translate a work of prose
· Translate a work of poetry
· Translate a work of drama
· Develop a personal methodology about translation
· Integrate various academic and theoretical discussions into literary studies and writing
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| In Translation: Translators on Their Work and What It Means | Esther Allen and Susan Bernofsky | Columbia University Press | 978-0-231-1569-2 | | | Hard Copy | Almost Corner Bookshop | Amazon |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Translation Exercises | Timely submission of several low-stakes translation assignments either to complete in-class or at home. Details for each exercise will be provided in class. | 30 |
| Independent Project | A polished translation of a literary work of your choosing from a language you are familiar with and/or for which you have access to a native speaker. You will draft, workshop, and revise your translation over the second half of the course. By literary translation is meant a work of fiction, poetry, drama or graphic novel. | 30 |
| Translator's Introduction | 1000-word introduction to your independent project that includes:
1. Reasons for choosing the author and work (reasons may be personal, aesthetic, cultural, political) including relevant background information about the author and/or specific work/s
2. Method of translation, including a reference to at least two (2) of our craft/theory readings and an explanation of how they inform your practice
3. Examples of representative challenges that you encountered while translating and an explanation of your solutions to them
4. The intended audience of your translation | 10 |
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| Participation | Regular attendance, considerate observations about readings, frequent presentations of translations in progress, enthusiastic engagement in in-class exercises, and constructive commentary on classmates’ work during workshop. | 25 |
| Project Proposal | 500-word translation project proposal outlining the relevance of project, problems your text may present and how the course readings will help you address them. | 5 |
-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 runs until ____________
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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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Week 1: What Is Translation? Translation as Artistic Practice and Ethical Practice
Week 2: Forms of Translation--Drama
Week 3: Methods of Translation: Domestication
Week 4: First Workshop--Dramatic Scene
Week 5: Forms of Translation--Poetry
Week 6: Methods of Translation--Foreignization
Week 7: Second Workshop--Poetry
Week 8: Forms of Translation--Fiction
Week 9: The Task of the Translator
Week 10: Third Workshop--Fiction
Week 11: Independent Project Starts/Conferences
Week 12: Translators' Introductions
Week 13: Subtitling Interlude
Week 14: Fourth Workshop--Independent Projects
No Final Exam. Revised independent projects and translator’s intro due on the date of the final
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