Course Information
ENG 412: Creative Nonfiction
Instructor: Patricia Murphy
Email:
Office Hours: Since this is an online course, I will not hold face to face office hours. I will answer questions through email within 48 hours. I am also happy to call you if you have a question. Simply email me your phone number and an appropriate time to call.
Course Description : Creative Nonfiction has become an increasingly popular genre, with many literary magazines devoting more room and resources to its publication. The journal Creative Nonfiction defines it this way, “Dramatic, true stories using scenes, dialogue, close, detailed descriptions and other techniques usually employed by poets and fiction writers about important subjects - from politics, to economics, to sports, to the arts and sciences, to racial relations, and family relations.” This section of Creative Nonfiction will focus on the composition of essays that combine reflection, research, voice, and storytelling. We will study published essays, discuss issues of craft, and identify markets for publishing polished work.
Course Learning Goals : At the end of the session students will have acquired the following:
1. An understanding of the role of voice in Creative Nonfiction.
2. The ability to incorporate research into creative writing.
3. Mastery of storytelling techniques such as dialogue, character development, narrative pace, and description.
4. The ability to match form to subject matter.
5. Identification of markets for publication.
Required Text : Sondra Perl and Mimi Schwartz. Writing True: The Art and Craft of Creative Nonfiction. Houghton Mifflin: Boston, 2006.
Required Software : Microsoft Word 2003. We will exchange our online comments using the Reviewing Features in Word. Therefore all students must have access to a computer with Microsoft Word 2003. To download a 60-day trial version of the software access the Microsoft website at http://www.microsoft.com/office/trial/default.mspx .
Required Work : The work of this course will include the creation of polished original Creative Nonfiction, as well as writing exercises, peer workshop responses, and a publication packet. Work is due Tuesday night at midnight, Thursday night at midnight, and Sunday night at midnight. I grade early in the morning on Wednesday, Friday, and Monday. The following are summaries of the course assignments.
Reading Responses – Worth 20% of the semester grade. You will be asked to respond to readings during the session in an online Discussion Board. Then you will read and respond to other student responses. Please view this forum as an ongoing class conversation.
Workshop Responses - Worth 20% of the semester grade. Give thoughtful constructive comments to peer work using the reviewing features in Microsoft Word.
Polished Essay One - Worth 20% of the semester grade. Write an 8-10 page essay using techniques of narration, description, dialogue, and scene. Choose a form from the following seven: Memoir, Personal Essay, Portrait, Essay of Place, Literary Journalism, Stories of Craft, or Short Shorts.
Polished Essay Two - Worth 20% of the semester grade. Write an 8-10 page essay using techniques of narration, description, dialogue, and scene. Choose a form from the following seven: Memoir, Personal Essay, Portrait, Essay of Place, Literary Journalism, Stories of Craft, or Short Shorts.
Publication Packet - Worth 20% of the semester grade. Read the webpage “Publishing Creative Nonfiction” at http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/00725127/student_view0/additional_material-999/publishing_creative_nonfiction.html Using techniques discussed on that page, do internet or library research to profile 2 magazines that would potentially be interested in your writing style.
Course Policies :
• Attendance – This class meets online using myASU. You will need to become familar with this software very quickly so that you do not miss early assignments during the semester. The class asks you to complete the same work as other sections, but it has the added benefit of teaching you to communicate electronically with your teacher and classmates. This component is an integral part of your grade. Each missed assignment will result in an absence, and each absence will negatively affect your grade. If you miss more than 2 class assignments you will fail the course. THERE ARE NO EXCUSED ABSENCES, even for emergencies or school-sponsored activities. You have 2 absences to use for emergencies. If you miss more than 2 assignments you will automatically fail the course.
• Protecting Your Work -While there are many benefits that come with using technology to conduct the course, there can also be drawbacks such as system outages, hardware and software failures, inexperience with systems, and those "what-they-hey-just-happened" moments. Technology failures are NOT an excuse for late or missing work. I do not expect you to be an expert with technology, but I do expect you to observe some common sense practices:
1. Never type directly into myASU. Type in Word and then cut and paste your work.
2. Ctrl-S is your best friend. The more you save the less you lose. Make a habit of saving your work several times as you write.
3. My degree is in English, not Computers, so there are many technical questions I am too dumb to answer. If you get stuck with a technical issue, call the computer help desk at 480-965-6500, or log on to the ASU Online information center at http://asuonline.asu.edu/.
4. We use Microsoft Word to exchange work. If you must use some other word processing software, save your file in .rtf format using this tutorial: http://asuonline.asu.edu/studentsupport/index.cfm.
• Late Work - Semesters go quickly; if you miss a deadline email me as soon as you can. I'll help you get it posted at an appropriate time. Yes, your grade will suffer a bit, but you'll still get feedback from the class, and that's the important thing. To save yourself all the hassle, just have your work ready when it's due. It's a good habit to develop.
• Office Hours and Conferences - Because the session is very short, and because some of you will be working remotely, my office hours will be held online. I am happy to set up an appointment to chat on the phone with you about your work, so if you prefer to talk about an issue please let me know through email and we will make arrangements.
• Plagiarism - To plagiarize is to present as your own any work that is not exclusively your own. Plagiarism of all or a portion of any assignment will be strictly penalized. Penalties can range from no credit for the assignment to failing the course. Repeated offenses can lead to your expulsion from the university.
• Be Aware of the Online Environment - You will need to pay attention to a few details in order for your work to be counted. For example, when you post your work online, you have to ensure that it shows up and we can access it or else you won't get credit. Also, be aware of how the things you're posting in online discussions come across--it's easy for something you meant humorously to be taken seriously in an online environment, so be careful. Above all, be kind towards and respectful of your fellow students.
• The Public Nature of Writing and Confidentiality Issues - Part of becoming a good writer is learning to appreciate the ideas and criticisms of others, and in this course our purpose is to come together as a community of writers. Remember that this is a workshop, and you will be getting feedback from others. Avoid writing about things you may not be prepared to subject to public scrutiny or that you feel so strongly about that you are unable or unwilling to listen to perspectives other than your own. In other words, if you can't separate a poem about your grandmother from your grandmother herself, then we can't effectively critique that poem without angering or hurting you. That's not good. Also not good is focusing a discussion on how you might disagree with a political view exposited by the work in question--this class is about discussing the writing, not the subject of the writing. If any of this is unclear, just run it by me before it comes before the class.
• Incomplete Grades - I do not offer incomplete grades.
• Academic Integrity - All students are expected to abide by ASU's policy on academic integrity. Not doing so could result in failure in the course. To read the policy, point your browser to http://www.asu.edu/studentlife/judicial/integrity.html
• Accommodations for Disabilities - Accommodations for disabilities will be made according to the policy of Arizona State University in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you have concerns not addressed by these policies, reasonable accommodations may be made contingent upon circumstances and the approval of the instructors and administrators in the College of Education. For more details about ASU's Disability Resource Center , point your browser to http://www.asu.edu/drc/
Grading Criteria
At the end of the semester your work will calculated based on the Required Work of the course.
In order to succeed in this class, you must do ALL of the following:
• Write to the best of your ability. Try new things, but retain what works for you. Be open to what might not be working, and be willing to do the work to fix it. Listen to and respect peer opinions on your work.
• Edit the work of others with commitment and passion. Be generous and honest with your comments.
• Meet all your deadlines.
• Turn in clean copy all the time.
Grading Scale
For continuity The English Department uses the 4.0 scale as follows.
A / 4
A- / 3.7
B+ / 3.3
B / 3
B- / 2.7
C+ / 2.3
C / 2
C- / 1.7
D+ / 1.3
D / 1
D- / 0.7
E / 0.3
Scale / Lower / Upper
A / 3.70 / 4.00
A- / 3.50 / 3.69
B+ / 3.30 / 3.49
B / 3.00 / 3.29
B- / 2.70 / 2.99
C+ / 2.30 / 2.69
C / 2.00 / 2.29
D / 1.00 / 1.99
E / 0 / .99
To determine your grade, multiply each of your Required Work grades by its weighted percentage. The sum of these numbers equals your final grade.
Final grades are available after the end of the semester at the Registrar's online site.
Email Procedures
I use a very powerful spam filter and therefore I cannot accept emails from non-ASU accounts. The best way for you to get around this is to get used to using your ASU email account. This is preferable for many reasons, including that your email address will be in the global address system so that anyone at ASU can reach you easily. However, if you still want to use an outside email, simply set up your ASU email to forward to your outside account. You can also use the “Email” button on our website to email me, and my reply to your message will get to you at your other address. Here are some other general rules about emailing me:
• Email is not simultaneous. Allow at least 24 hours for an answer to your message, or even more on weekends or holidays. Avoid overloading me with a barrage of messages.
• Email lacks cues that are available in face to face communication. Therefore, always begin each email with a greeting and close each email with a signature.
• Be very careful to phrase your email with a neutral tone so that it does not sound angry or rude. It is very easy for email to be misinterpreted.
• Get to the point quickly and make individual questions or comments clear. If you have several questions or comments, use a list.
• Always include a descriptive subject line with enough information to indicate what your email is about.
• Always use spellcheck, even when you are sending a quick note. Even though email readers are more relaxed, mistakes will still affect the validity and power of your message.
• Never use all caps. It means you are shouting.