JCU Logo
JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 585"
COURSE NAME: "Graduate Creative Writing and Literature: How to Read Like a Writer"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2015
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Elizabeth Geoghegan
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 2:00 PM 3:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment, after class
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS: Current enrollment in an accredited graduate program in Creative Writing OR, for students not currently pursuing a graduate program in creative writing but who wish to receive graduate credit, a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution (transcripts required) and assessment of a significant writing sample or previous publications (See website for application procedures).

COURSE DESCRIPTION: To supplement their traditional university study of literary analysis, this course provides students with the opportunity to develop graduate-level skills at reading literature as a source of improving their own writing, whether academic or creative. Designed primary for graduate students interested in creative writing, this course focuses on the reading of literature from the point of view of the craft, or practice, of fiction writing.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

Along with seminal examples of the short story, essay, and novel, students will study Flannery O’Connor’s essays on the craft from Mystery & Manners along with Francine Prose’s Reading Like A Writer as key components to help develop their skills as readers of literary fiction with an eye to emulating the skills of accomplished writers. We will also look closely at several works of fiction in short and long forms, in particular several works that “reinvent” traditional ideas about form.

This course is based on the assumption that writers, out of necessity, read literature differently from critics. While critics, scholars, and students of literature typically read to understand or interpret a text, writers read with an eye to emulation of craft. Writers, to learn from their successful predecessors, read meticulously--letter by letter, word by word, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph, line of dialogue by line of dialogue, page by page.


PREREQUISITES / ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

For undergraduate students, JCU or otherwise:  Junior Standing and TWO previous creative writing courses with a grade of B or higher.

For American University (D.C.) students: current enrollment in AU's MFA in Creative Writing program.

For non-JCU/non-AU students who wish to receive graduate credit: a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution (transcripts required) and an assessment of a significant writing sample or previous publications (fiction: 20 pages minimum; poetry: 10 poems or twenty pages of poetry minimum).
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

 Through the use of the technique of slow, meticulous reading, students completing this course will have developed the reading skills necessary to learn how to improve their own creative writing by the analysis of literary fiction and be able to describe the unique stylistic and craft characteristics of the fiction they read.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Jeff in Venice, Death in VaranasiDyer, GeoffVintage ISBN: 0307390306. Available at The Almost Corner Bookshop in Trastevere   
A Visit from The Goon SquadEgan, JenniferAnchorISBN 9781780330969 Available at The Almost Corner Bookshop in Trastevere   
Death in Venice & Other Stories Mann, Thomas - DAVID LUKE TRANSLATIONBantamISBN 9781847672711 Students are required to use the DAVID LUKE TRANSLATION of MANN, in particular the story "Death in Venice." Books are available at The Almost corner Bookshop in Trastevere.    
Collected Works of Flannery O’Connor.O'Connor, Flanner The Library of AmericaISBN 9780571245789  Available at The Almost Corner Bookshop in Trastevere.   
Reading Like a WriterProse, FrancineUnionISBN 9781908526076 Available at The Almost Corner Bookstore in Trastevere   
Giovanni's RoomBaldwin, JamesVintage Intl.ISBN 97801410329948 Available at The Almost Corner Bookshop in Trastevere   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Midterm Paper Students will do a "close reading" midterm paper. The text will be assigned by the professor. Papers will be a minimum of 1500 words. 25%
Creative Response - Final PaperStudents will write a work of fiction that exemplifies the close reading skills garnered in class. Text will be chosen by the student. Further details on text selection, length of paper, etc. TBA25%
Oral PresentationStudents will present a “close reading” of a selected story from within the assigned readings for class. Guidelines TBA. 25%
Literary Events AttendanceStudents will be required to attend a specified number of literary events and write a brief response. 10%
Preparation & ParticipationStudent participation in the class is graded along with preparedness for our discussions. See JCU attendance guidelines for further information.15%

-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 cours
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.

Students are required to attend all scheduled class meetings and to participate in all classroom activities. In addition to this weighting of attendance, students are allowed only two absences (no questions asked, no excuses needed). However, each additional absence beyond the two allowed will result in the reduction of the final grade for the course by 5%. Students with more than five absences will fail the course. Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.   

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

COURSE SCHEDULE

Note:  Please note that this schedule is provisional. Detailed guidelines, class dates & assignments are forthcoming. Note: assigned readings should be done before the first day of the week if a class date is not specified. The actual schedule for the term will be provided via Moodle during the first week of classes.

 

Abbreviations for textbooks titles:

 Reading Like a Writer RLW

Collected Works OCW

Death in Venice DV

Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi JVDV

A Visit from the Goon Squad GOON

Giovanni's Room ROOM

Week 1:

 Syllabus distribution & Course Intro – Focus on the Short Story. Course Intro to Close Reading

 Readings: RLW Ch. 1 “Close Reading,” and Ch. 2 “Words”; OCW: “Some Aspects of the Grotesque in Southern Fiction” & “The Fiction Writer and His Country” & A Good Man is Hard To Find” & “Good Country People” – Be prepared to discuss and apply to the techniques from RLW

 

Week 2: 

 Sentences and Paragraphs – Focus on the Short Story

Reading: RLW Ch. 3 “Sentences” and Ch. 4 “Paragraphs”; OCW The Nature and Aim of Fiction” & “Writing Short Stories”  & “Revelation” & Parker’s Back” & TBD

 

Presentations (last half of week): Each student will give an oral presentation of a close reading of an O’Connor story from the collection. Students will present on different stories & stories not covered in class as a group.

 

Week 3: 

 Narration and Character, interlocking stories as novella

Reading: RLW Ch. 5 “Narration” and Ch. 6“Character”; GOON

Midterm Papers Due

 

Week 4: 

 Dialogue and Details –  Focus on novella or stories as inspiration for novel 

Reading: Text Ch. 6, “Dialogue” and Ch. 7 “Details”; DV & JVDV

 

Week 5:

 Focus on the Novel & Turning Close Reading into Fiction Writing

Reading: Ch. 5-9 & ROOM

Final Papers Due