SYLLABUS--ENGL 4100
ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING: FICTION
Fall2011 Dr. BarbaraRodman
Section2
Th3:30-6:20 p.m. Office: AB 213C
Classroom: LB 211 Phone: 940-565-4670
Office Hours: M 1:30-2:30, W 3-5, Th. 1-3, and by appt.
Course Description: This course is designed to develop skills in writing short fiction. Discussions and assignments will include finding a subject and getting started, identifying the elements of a short story, critiquing stories in a workshop setting, and revising and polishing a completed story. Active participation in writing, discussion, and group activities is required. Final grades will be based upon individual progress in writing, willingness and ability to critique others, and class attendance and participation.
Required Texts:
Best American Short Stories 2010, ed. Richard Russo
A Writer's Reference, Diana Hacker, or other reliable handbook
Schedule:Most weeks,we will discuss the reading assignment during the first part of class; bring your book and be prepared for quizzes or writing assignments related to assigned stories. For the second half, bring 3-5 pages TYPEWRITTEN of your own work to share in small groups (4 copies). You may bring an exercise or part of a draft of a story you are working on. You should be writing about 10-20 pages each week in the form of journal entries, story drafts, writing exercises, freewriting, etc. SAVE EVERYTHING FOR YOUR PORTFOLIO!
Aug. 25: Introductions, Getting Acquainted
Sept. 1:How to Start a Story
Read: Ron Rash, “The Ascent,” 279
Write: Bring to class 4 copies of a scene (3-5 pages) that might begin a story. Include details that establish time and place as well as introducing your main characters and setting up the plot or conflict/problem.
Sept. 8: How to Bring a Character to Life
Read: EITHER Maggie Shipstead, “The Cowboy Tango,” 337 or Jennifer Egan, “Safari,” 63
Write: Bring to class 4 copies of a scene (3-5 pages) that establishes one or more characters through dialogue, action, thoughts, and appearance. Avoid telling the reader that someone is angry, lonely, untrustworthy, etc. Show us.
Sept. 14: Using Time and Place Effectively
Read: Choose EITHER Wells Tower’s “Raw Water,” 360 OR Jim Shepard’s “The Netherlands Lives with Water,” 312
Write: Bring to class 4 copies of a scene that clearly establishes time and place through description, speech, details, character development etc. Try to avoid stating the year, month, etc. specifically; use political references, pop culture references, clothing, idioms, etc. to do the work.
Sept. 21: Finding the Story’s Voice
Read: EITHERSteve Almond, “Donkey Greedy, Donkey Gets Punched,” OR Jill McCorkle, “PS,” 213
Write : Bring to class 4 copies of a 3-5 page scene with a distinctive “voice.” This does not refer merely to how a particular character talks, but to the metaphors, similes, and images used throughout the piece in description, action, and exposition. You might want to write in letters, emails, voice messages, news articles, etc. or some combination of them.
Short Story #1 Due Sept. 23 by noon; please note that this a FRIDAY
(send via email to )
Sept. 28, Oct. 5, 12, 19Workshops
Short Story #2 Due Oct. 21 by noon; please note that this a FRIDAY
(send via email to )
Oct. 26, Nov. 3, 10, 16: Workshops
Nov. 24: Thanksgiving—No Class
Dec. 8-15: Student ReadingsStudent Readings PORTFOLIOS/FINAL PROJECTS DUE AT THIS SESSION; REQUIRED CLASS MEETING
Grades will be computed as follows:
Class Attendance/participation 20%
Includes: Quizzes, Weekly Writing
Short Story #120%
Short Story #220%
Final Project (Revision)20%
Book Review10%
Student Reading (Pass/Fail) 10%
Remember--it is the teacher who assigns grades, not your classmates. If you are in doubt regarding my standards, please see me early in the semester.
Note: Work that meets the minimum requirements is graded as a C. Work must EXCEED minimum requirements to earn an A or a B. This includes attendance and participation. Above average work is characterized by its quality and is always turned in on time.
FORMAT FOR SHORT STORIES
- All work submitted to class must be TYPED and appropriately proofread (does not apply to rough drafts/journals, etc. included in portfolio).
- Allow a 1" margin on all sides and use a standard typeface or font (do NOT print in ALL CAPS, italics, or otherunusualstyles unless your story’s format requires email or other such formatting).
3Double space and please (PLEASE, PLEASE!!) NUMBER YOUR PAGES.
- Do NOT attach a separate title page. Put the title at the top of page one.
- Your name should NOT appear on the manuscript.
- Please send your story by email to by the time specified on the syllabus. Make sure you’re sending the correct draft—it causes all sorts of problems if you send several versions. Submit stories in word.doc or word.docx format unless you’ve made other arrangements with me ahead of time.
- In the email message itself, please make sure that YOUR NAME and the course/section you’re taking is included. For example: This is “Crazy Girls” from Sarah Crispin in your 3140-015 class.
- Work submitted should be serious (which doesn't mean it can't be funny), ambitious, and as polished as you can make it. Please do not submit work that is clearly defined as "genre" or formulaic fiction, such as historical romances, pulp detectives or science fiction, or children's stories. If in doubt, see me.
- I encourage you to experiment with form and structure, but experimentation is never an excuse for sloppy spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Grades will be SUBSTANTIALLY lowered for sloppy mechanics or careless proofreading. If you have a spell-checker, use it--but remember that it won't catch some errors, including inappropriate apostrophes (its vs. it’s) or the misuse of words that sound alike (i.e., there,they’re, and their). If you don't already own one, buy a good handbook.
- PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD.
11. Grades for short stories will be based on the following criteria:
-length (as required, but usually a minimum of 8-12 pages unless you’re doing a “short short” story; no more than 20 without my permission.
-interesting beginning and appropriate conclusion
-character development
-appropriate and interesting dialogue
-use of appropriate details to establish credible scenes
-attention to style (diction, syntax, use of figurative language)
-appropriate and interesting title
-mature and interesting subject matter (theme)
-evidence of rewriting and revision
-overall: evidence of creativity and effort (what I called ambition above)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES
1. Attendance is MANDATORY. More than 2absences may result in the lowering of your grade. 4or more may result in an F. Being absent is NOT an acceptable reason for missing a due date. If you are absent for religious or university-related purposes, you must comply with university policies regarding notification and making up of work.
2. All students are expected to participate in class discussions and other activities. Class attendance and participation are a significant part of your grade in this course. If writing is assigned, it is due AT THE BEGINNING of the class period and in appropriate form and number.
3. Plagiarism is the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of published or unpublished writing of another person without giving full and clear acknowledgment. It includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by a person or agency engaged in the selling of academic materials as well as the paid or unpaid assistance of a "friend" who wants to "help" you out. Plagiarism is defined on p. 27 of the Student Handbook as misconduct that might result in discipline. The minimum punishment will be an F for the course; the maximum might include expulsion from the university.
4. I do not grade "on a curve" or compare one student's work with another's. Work that meets the minimum requirements of the course will receive a C. An A or B represents levels of achievement well above the minimum. Your work must be exceptional, not merely adequate, to earn an A.
5. In lieu of a written final, students are required to do a 15- to 20-minute reading from their own writing, usually from their semester’s revisions.
6. Please note that this is a WRITING course offered for upper-division English credit. I expect students to know fundamental rules of grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, and the other "mechanics" of writing. We do not spend class time on such topics and I will lower grades SUBSTANTIALLY for excessive errors. If you are concerned about your abilities in this area, please see me early in the semester to discuss ways you can work on your problems. If you cannot write correctly, you will have difficulty receiving above a C or a D on your assignments no matter how creative they are. I also reserve the right to withhold manuscripts from class discussion (i.e., workshop presentation) if they do not meet minimum requirements.
7. A significant aspect of this class is peer evaluation and critiquing. If you are writing only for your own satisfaction and aren't interested in constructive criticism, you're in the wrong place.
8. Class begins promptly at the time stated on your schedule and continues until the end of the period. I expect all students to be present for the entire timeallotted and will lower your class attendance grade for excessive tardiness or early departures.
9. Essential competencies for this course include the abilities to read and interpret literature, to respond extemporaneously orally and/or in writing to specific questions about the reading, to read aloud in class, to write extended and grammatically correct prose pieces as assigned, and to participate in class discussions about stories and other assignments.
10. In accordance with the provisions of the American Disabilities Act, students with disabilities requiring accommodation must present requests to me in writing. Your request should describe the nature of the disability so I can determine appropriate actions to assist you. In accordance with the terms and spirit of the ADA and Section 504, Rehabilitation Act, I will cooperate fully with qualified students to meet your needs. If you have not already registered with ODA, I urge you to so as soon as possible.
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