Writing
301: Introduction to Creative Writing
Online
Format Units:4.0
General
Education:
This
Course fulfills:
--the
Experiential Arts GEFAb Requirement
--an
elective for the English Major
--a
core requirement for the Writing Minor
--a
core requirement for the Certificate in Writing
COURSE
INFORMATION
Instructor:
Professor Kirsten Ogden, MFA Email:
kogden@ulv.edu
Office
Location: MH 108-Main Campus
Course Location: Online
Office:
909-593-3511 Ext. 4363 Office hrs: Tuesday 2-4p PST
A
Note on Office Hours: I will try to keep the online chat window
"open" on Tuesdays
from
2-4 pm. However, you can also call me and we can have a telephone chat for
office
hours.
CATALOGUE
DESCRIPTION:
Workshop
in the writing of fiction, poetry, and plays. Not challengeable. (Formerly ENG
301)
COURSE
DESCRIPTION:
Introduction
to creative writing and analytical reading of diverse poetry and prose with
application
of creative writing theories.
COURSE
INTRODUCTION:
Welcome
to Introduction to Creative Writing! In this course we will work on
experimenting
with our creative writing skills by reading and writing various short and
mid-length
creative exercises, using published literature as our models. The course will
become
an interactive workshop as you begin to read and analyze creative literature,
and
then
write your own compositions. You will investigate your writing process through
various
drafts of your work, applying editing and critiquing skills to your work and
the
work
of your peers. By the end of the term you will have completed a portfolio of
work
from
which you will select pieces to incorporate into the class-produced university
literary
journal PRISM, or the "publication" of your own collection of
writings into a
small
book called a "chapbook."
REQUIRED
TEXTS (available at the bookstore)
Goldberg,
Bonni. Room to Write.
Lamott,
Anne. Bird by Bird.
*Access
to online readings
Required
Materials:
1.
A spiral notebook to use for writing assignments (yes, I want you to write by
hand, on
paper,
with a pen or a pencil).
2.
Access to computer (Word) program for typing required assignments.
3.
Regular and consistent internet access for course work and
class"room" meetings.
4.
Access to computer capable of receiving Podcasts or other audible/visual
materials.
COURSE
GRADES
*Points
and percentages subject to change with beginning of assignment notice
Total
Points Possible: 100
Grade
Possibilities:
A+:
100-97 A: 96-93 A- 92-90
B+:
89-87 B: 86-83 B-: 82-20
C+:
79-77 C: 76-73 C-: 72-70
Below
a C- cannot be applied to the minor in creative writing
*Writing
Portfolio and 75% of Weekly Writing Assignments and Position Papers must be
completed
in order to receive a passing grade in the course
COURSE
ASSIGNMENT CATEGORY WEIGHTS
Attendance
& Discussion: 20/100
Oral
Report/Mini Lecture: 7/100
Weekly
writing assignments: 25/100
Theoretical
Response paper: 10/100
Final
Portfolio: 15/100
Literary
Journal Review: 5/100
Position
Papers: 8/100
Journal
Writing: 5/100
Revision
Critique 5/100
MISSION
STATEMENT: A COMMUNITY OF
WRITERS
We
are a community of writers. We read, we write, we share in class, we listen, we
praise,
we evaluate, we question, we analyze, we wonder, we journey, we respect
(ourselves,
our peers, our instructor, our own writing, the writing of others), we argue
with
ourselves and not with others, we prefer communication to competition, we
prefer
careful
attention to negative criticism, we create, we experiment, we take risks.
Course
Activity Outline
Week
One:
Orientations
to the Course; Syllabus; Autobiographies; What You Are Good At?
(Send
Professor Ogden your mailing address to receive the "chapbook"
sample)
Week
Two:
Stories:
What are they? Where do they come from?
Ghosts;
Generations
Week
Three:
Challenging
Texts & Analytical Reading
(Perhaps
complete your first Literary Review this week?)
Week
Four:
Characters
(Short Stories and Postcards)
Week
Five:
Film
Viewing On Your Own and Character Dialogue
(Perhaps
complete your second Literary Review this week?
Week
Six:
Collage
and Poetry
Week
Seven:
Revision-Critique
Workshop
Week
Eight:
Writer's
Sketchwalk
Optional
Conferences
Week
Nine:
Optional
Conferences
The
5-minute play or film
Week
Ten:
Letters
to Self; Evaluations; Prism Submissions;
*Final
Portfolio/Chapbook due on 11:59pm PST last day of Final Exam Week and
postmarked
today. (Upload to Blackboard and Snail Mail 5 copies to: Kirsten Ogden,
Miller
Hall, Humanities, 1950 Third Street; La Verne, CA 91750)
Summary
Assignment Explanations:
Attendance
& Discussion: You must log in to Blackboard at least once per week in order
to
keep current with the course, although twice per week is suggested in order for
you to
get
the full benefit from the course. If you miss a week, you will receive a 0 for
that
week.
On weeks you do "attend" class, you will receive an A, B or C grade
for your
discussion
contributions. Each week you should "arrive" to "class"
with questions
formulated
about the readings and the writing assignments, and should post these
questions
and responses appropriately. You should also read the posts of your peers and
respond
to what they've had to say about readings and class writing assignments. Your
responses
can be casual or formal, as you would respond in an oral discussion in a
traditional
classroom. You must come prepared to take multiple approaches to a text and
to
your own writingand you must be prepared to hear differences of opinion and
various
viewpoints. You don't have to agree with everyone, but understand that in the
spirit
of inquiry we must respect the opinions and views of others, and contextualize
our
own
opinions and values appropriately.
Oral
Report: You will give a brief presentation on an element or idea in Creative
Writing,
or on a modern or contemporary author. You should plan on creating a power
point
presentation and a 1-page handout for your peers. Please sign up and get your
topic
approved.
These will begin in Week 3.
Weekly
Writing Assignments: You will receive one formal Weekly Writing Assignment.
These
are usually creative writing "prompts" after reading models. You
should aim to
draft
these assignments in your paper journals first, and then transfer them to the
computer
for upload and grading. You will receive a A, B or C on these assignments, not
on
the quality of the writing, but on your attempt to incorporate the ideas we've
been
discussing
in class. Effort and risk-taking is more important than the final product for
these
brief, weekly writing assignments. Sometimes the writing assignment will be the
beginning
of a piece that you could work on longer, on your own, for the final Writing
Portfolio.
You must complete at least 75% of the weekly writing assignments in order to
pass
the course (7 out of 9).
Theoretical
Response Paper: Over the course of this semester we will read various
theoretical
articles by academics and writers on creative writing. At the end of the
semester
you'll write your own treatise on an aspect of Creative Writing, using your own
revision
process and creative work, as well as the work we've read this semester, as
grounds
for discussion. You will turn this paper in with your Final Writing
Portfolio/Chapbook.
2
Literary Journal Reviews: These reviews are informal, 250 word responses to a
single
issue
of a literary journal, either online or in-print. These will give you an idea
of the type
of
work being written by contemporary writers, and will give you the opportunity
to
place
yourself within or outside of these journals. This link will take you to a list
of
numerous
journals: http://www.litline.org/illinks/journals.html Also
usually
available at your local Barnes & Noble or Bookstar: Poetry; Zoetrope; The
Sun;
The
Paris Review. Reviews can be done at any time in the first 5 weeks of the
semester.
After
the first five weeks, you can earn up to 5% extra credit (1% per literary
review) for
doing
an extra literary journal. Cite in MLA format and make specific references to
material
in the journal.
Weekly
Position Papers: Each week you will be required to write a brief, 250-500 word
response
to something weve read the previous week. Consider this as an opportunity for
direct
discussion between you and me. Occasionally I may have a directed question for
you,
but when I don't post one, you should develop your own question and respond to
that.
Use specific quotes and paraphrases from the read material, and try to bridge
all of
the
material with a thematic idea rather than write an "I agree, I disagree"
response to a
single
critical essay or piece of creative work. These should balance the informal and
formal.
That is to say, Id like to hear your natural voice, but Id like your commentary
to
remain
academic and inquisitive in spirit. American English writing standards apply.
Proofread
and edit before turning in.
Journal
Writing: This is an online class, so I can't be in class and write in my paper
journal
while you write in yours; however, I the Room to Write book should be utilized
at
least
2-3 times a week, for at least 10 minutes per writing session. I cannot stress
enough
how
this little 30-minutes a week activity will enliven your creativity, better
your general
academic
writing skills, and further your love of writing and thinking--but you have to
be
a
task master and make yourself do it since I won't be there. For the first 5
weeks I will
ask
you to post one Journal Entry per week, just to be sure that you're completing
the
assignments.
This is also a good way to see everyone's rough drafts and to see what
others
are doing. I'll post mine too! After the 5 weeks, you can continue to post, or
post
anonymously.
Revision-Critique:
We will have one-two formal critique sessions. You will be assigned
to
read your own or someone else's work and to follow a pre-determined critique
process
to
offer ideas for revision.
Course
Activities and Expectations:
Discussion:
For
this course to be valuable and useful for you, you should engage the work we do
with
vigor
and enthusiasm. Online classes are often more difficult because of the lack of
real-
time
community, so creating community through active and consistent commentary and
participation
is necessary. Make a schedule for yourself, and when you sit down to
participate
in class, have materials and your ideas ready. Multiple contacts (2-3 times a
week)
are encouraged over marathon sessions once per week; this allows
"discussion"
rather
than reaction.
Reading
a lot:
In
order to become a better writer, you must become an excellent reader. Writing
and
reading
are skills you'll need in every career and in every possible life endeavor;
understanding
how to analyze a piece of text, react to it, and assess it, help you see the
ways
in which you can improve your own writing. Set aside the necessary and
appropriate
time to read and to write. Together we will learn how to have a dialogue with
text
to engage it in discussion in order to discover how and why a writer achieves
certain
effects in her writing. In this course you will apprentice the art of creative
writing
by
studying other excellent, published writers and by reading the reflections of
writers.
Criticism:
Criticism
in creative writing is not "this is wrong; do this to fix it."
Rather, it's a means of
allowing
readers to react to your work in ways that give you valuable insight for
revision.
There
is no "right" way to execute a poem or compose a story; it's
different for each
writer
and for each piece of writing. What you can use as a basis for revision is how
your
readers
respond to your work. This is the type of criticism we will engage in together.
You
will have to opportunity to react to my work as well, and we'll figure out
what's
working
and what's not working for each piece we read. You must be able to talk openly
about
your own work. Writing workshop is not for work you consider finished and
perfect.
If you approach the workshop from that angle, you will be disheartened.
Workshop
is also not a place for ego or superiority. Workshop is a safe environment in
which
you can get feedback and ideas from peers about your work. No matter who the
responder
is, the opinion will be valid because the opinion will come from a careful,
considered
perspective. When reading the work of others in class, you should approach
the
text with careful attention. This is not a place for I liked it or I thought it
was good
or
its perfect the way it is. This is a place for consideration, questions,
attention to
detail.
You wont be doing your peers any favors if your responses are Its great. Were
all
here for validation and support, yes, but were here also for help in our
processes. In
critiquing
your own work and the work of others, you will perform close readings,
attending
to the choice of individual words and phrases, turns and ideas, purposes and
outcomes.
Excellence:
I
will reserve As for excellence. Your grade will not be determined by your
effort, but
rather
by your achievement in the execution and application of learned concepts in the
course
(although I maintain the right to weigh a students progress over the course of
the
term
into the final grade at my discretion.) As will be reserved for students who
have
excellent
class participation, excellent effort, excellent preparation, and excellent
final
projects.
Feel free to chat with me at any time about your current grade.
Attendance/Absences:
Attendance/absences will affect your grade. You will lose points
for
not "logging in" to class and "posting" each week. After 3
"absences" you should drop
the
course.
Late
Work: Late work is unacceptable and will not receive point value, although I
encourage
you to finish assignments, late or not, in an effort to build foundation skills
for
later,
more complex assignments.
A
note for students with special needs or disabilities: If you require
specialassistance or consideration, and have a formal document on file with the
university,
please
contact Alene Harrison and myself and we'll come up with a contract foryour
success in this course.
MEASURABLE
LEARNING OUTCOMES (MLO's):
a.
define and identify varied genre traits in creative compositions
b.
compose creative texts in varied genres by applying methods of creative writing
production
c.
examine and analyze varied modern and contemporary literary works through careful
study
of and discussion about the processes by which writers compose their texts
d.
identify and define revision strategies at work in professional literary
compositions and
apply
this knowledge to revision of novice creative compositions
e.
identify and then apply the steps of varied revision processes to your own work
and to
the
work of your peers after critique discussions in order to develop creatively
f.
read and critically analyze and interpret modern and contemporary literary
texts (theory
based
and creative); reflect upon personal processes of theory application to
creative
compositions
after appreciating the practices of others.
g.
Interpret and analyze how literature and literature-making can illuminate the
human
condition;
recognize how context contributes to the content of creative compositions and
the
methods involved in producing literary texts.
h.
Demonstrate an understanding of cultural expression and the importance of
cultural
expression
by composing works that communicate personal assumptions about the human
experience
i.
Utilize appropriate technology and research methodologies to incorporate
information
into
critical and creative texts, paying attention to the arguments and assertions
being
made
in the texts, and whether these arguments and assertions are fact or opinion
based.
ASSESSMENTS:
1.
Brief reflective writings in which you identify and discuss elements of varied
published
writings (MLO-a; MLO-c)
2.
Weekly journal writing assignments from scripted prompts that allow you to
experiment
in varied writing forms and that apply elements of creative compositions
discussed
in class (MLO-b; MLO-h;
3.
Final reflection paper discussing revision choices of a specific piece of
creative writing
(MLO-d;
MLO-e;
4.
Literary Journal Reviews (MLO-f;)
5.
Position Papers in which you write about what we're reading, and assess the
merit of
the
compositions. (MLO-f; MLO-g;
8.
1 oral report/mini lecture for the class on a particular writer or type of
creative writing
(MLO-h;
MLO-i; MLO-c;)
A
note on this syllabus: Its impossible for an instructor to foresee everything.
Therefore,
I reserve the right to alter and change this syllabus, including classroom
expectations,
if I feel it necessary. If any change affects your grade, you will be notified
via
class announcement in class or on blackboard. At any time if you have any
questions
regarding
anything, you should speak with me immediately.