SYLLABUS--ENGL 3140
INTERMEDIATE CREATIVE WRITING: FICTION
Spring 2011 Dr. Barbara Rodman
Section 4
M/W 3:00 – 4:20 p.m. Office: AB13C
Classroom: AB 201 Phone: 565-4670
Office hours: M/W 1:30 - 3:00 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:
Writing Fiction, Janet Burroway, 8th Edition
A good college dictionary.
A Writer's Reference, Diana Hacker, or other reliable handbook
Schedule: Most weeks, we will discuss the reading assignment on Monday; bring your book and be prepared for quizzes or writing assignments related to assigned stories. For Wednesday, 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!
Jan. 19: Introductions, Getting Acquainted
Chapter One, Whatever Works: The Writing Process (1-18)
Writing Assignments:
1. Write for at least an hour a day for five days in the next week using items from the list of “firsts”.
2. Choose at least one of the exercises from p. 19 -20
Jan. 24-26: Chapter Two, Seeing is Believing (21-42); “We Didn’t,” Stuart Dybek, 42-51
Writing: #7, p. 72
Jan. 31-Feb. 2: Chapter Eight, Call Me Ishmael (300-316); “Reply All,” Robin Hemley 332-338 and “Bullet in the Brain” by Tobias Wolff, 147-151
Write: construct a 3-page story in the form of diary entries, postcards, messages left on a voice mail system, email, newspaper articles, etc. You may mix ‘n match or use only one genre.
Feb.7- 9: Chapter Three, Building Character (73-89); “Fiesta, 1980,” Junot Diaz, 90-100
Chapter Four, The Flesh Made Word (116-138)
Write a 3-5 page scene from the point of view of an unreliable narrator (a child; drunk; confused, mentally-impaired, blind, or deaf person; animal, etc.)
Feb. 14- 16: Chapter Seven, The Tower and the Net (247-265); “What You Pawn I Will Reedem,” Sherman Alexie, 265-282
Write a complete short story in no more than 3 (double-spaced) pages.
Short Story #1 Due Feb. 18 by noon; please note that this a FRIDAY
(send via email to )
Feb. 21, 23, 28 Mar. 2, 7, 9Workshops
SPRING BREAK: MARCH 14-18 NO CLASS
Mar. 21-23: Chapter Five: Fictional Place, 164-179; Chapter Six: Fictional Time, 208-221; “Mrs. Dutta Writes a Letter,” 228- 243
Mar. 28-30: Chapter Nine: Play it Again, Sam: Revision (340-356); Two Versions of “Keith,” 357-393
Short Story #2 Due April 1 (no joke) by noon; please note that this a FRIDAY
(send via email to )
Workshops: April 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20
April 25, 27, May 3, 5: Student Readings
Wednesday May 11 1:30-3:30 FINAL EXAM: PORTFOLIOS/FINAL PROJECTS DUE AT THIS SESSION; REQUIRED CLASS MEETING
Grades will be computed as follows:
Class Attendance/participation 15%
Includes: Quizzes, Weekly Writing
Short Story #1 20%
Short Story #2 20%
Final Project (Revision) 25%
Portfolio** 15%
Student Reading (Pass/Fail) 5%
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.
Student Readings: Each student will do a 10-15 minute reading of their own work in lieu of a written final at the end of the semester. Though grades are Pass/Fail and are not based on the quality of the performance, the readings are required and will count 5% of your final grade.
**PORTFOLIOS
At the minimum, your portfolio MUST contain:
1. The final graded copy of both stories (please DON’T give me the copies your classmates read and marked)
2. Final Project/Revision (equivalent to one new story)
3. All in-class writing (DATED)
4. All weekly assignments (Should include both graded/shared items and all others)
In addition, you may include:
1. One or more rough drafts of each story
2. Starts, notes, odds and ends relating to stories that never got finished
3. Journal entries, letters, E-mail written this semester (dated; copies okay)
4. Poems, essays, songs, or other creative work written this semester (but not for another class unless it’s clearly identified as such).
Please identify all items. The best format for a portfolio is a large envelope or accordion-type folder. You may use a 3-ring binder if you want. Do NOT include valuable personal journals or diaries (please copy the pages you want included). A portfolio offers you the opportunity to present effort that otherwise might not be seen by the teacher. Save copies of your various drafts for inclusion, including notes and freewriting that provide evidence of your thoughtfulness and work outside of class.
c:\users\barb\documents\classes\3140\spring 2011\3140 04.doc
FORMAT FOR SHORT STORIES
1. All work submitted for a grade must be TYPED and appropriately proofread (does not apply to rough drafts/journals, etc. included in portfolio).
2. Allow a 1" margin on all sides and use a standard typeface or font (do NOT print in ALL CAPS, italics, or other unusual styles).
3Double space and please (PLEASE, PLEASE!!) NUMBER YOUR PAGES.
4. Do NOT attach a separate title page. Put the title at the top of page one.
5. Your name should NOT appear on the manuscript.
6. 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.
7. 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.”
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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 4 absences may result in the lowering of your grade. 7 or 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 time allotted 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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