ADVANCED PROSE WRITING / SHORT STORY WRITING
ENGL 4301(Fall 2007) section 01 (CRN 85426)
MW 4:30-5:45pm—U262 (University Center Bldg)
Dr. Brigitte Byrd
Office: A&S 210M
brigittebyrd@clayton.edu
Office Phone: (678) 466-4556
http://a-s.clayton.edu/langlit/faculty/Byrd.htm Office hours: TBA
(and by appointment)
Texts:
Writing Fiction Step by Step, Josip Novakovich
Short Fiction by 33 Writers, ed. Mark Winegardner
New Sudden Fiction, ed. Robert Shapard & James Thomas
Live Cargo, Pauls Toutonghi
Additional Required Materials:
A notebook
2 manila folders in which you will turn your midterm and final portfolios
$25 for copying expenses
Notebook Computer Requirement:
Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access. For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm.
In-class Use of Student Notebook Computers:
Student notebook computers will not be used in the classroom except for presentations (if needed). Computers are required to access course materials and to communicate with me.
Catalog Description:
Advanced instruction in writing prose. Students may work on novels in progress, short fiction, and creative nonfiction. Pre-Requisites: ENGL 3800 with a minimum US grade of C.
Course Objectives:
This course focuses on short story writing, including short-short story writing. Students will study the elements of fiction (i.e. characterization, conflict, point of view, tone, and image) and sharpen their writing skills through a series of exercises in the form of short-short stories which may build upon each other. The idea is to connect the exercises, play with the assignments, and watch stories come alive. As reading is most essential to writing, students will read from an array of texts which will not only provide material for discussion and analysis of the elements of fiction but also models of short story and short-short story writing.
The midterm portfolio will be a body of work including journal responses to the assigned reading and exercises.
The final portfolio will be a body of work including journal responses to the assigned reading, the first draft of a short story or two short-short stories (which will be brought to the workshop), a thoroughly revised version of this or these works (which we will have workshopped during the second half of the semester), a process memo, and peer evaluation of your comments on their work (based on the quality of your feedback). You will also include an evaluation of your peers’ comments on your work.
In order for you to spend time on your revisions, the last week of class will be devoted to group presentations/performances. Each group will select a short story or a short-short story we have read over the course of the semester and perform it creatively in a medium of your choice.
NOTE: I will provide you with a schedule of literary events taking place during the semester. Check the link on the Language & Literature webpage for a schedule of the Clayton State University Visiting Writers Fall 2007.
Reading Response Journals:
You will respond to each reading assigned. I am looking for an engagement with the text, and most particularly for a study of the technique employed by the author (actually, I recommend that you focus on the specific element of technique scheduled for study at the time we read that story). I do not want a synopsis of the text: we all read the text thus know what it is about. Length: half a page single-spaced.
Exercises:
After starting most of the exercises in class, you will finish them at home, type and edit them before placing them in your folder. Ideally, each exercise will be crafted into a short-short story. These exercises are designed to build upon each other and, eventually, to prompt you into writing a longer piece.
Late work Policy:
I do not accept late work. Late work will receive a 0 unless arrangements are made between us before a planned absence or immediately after class, in the case of a personal emergency. Once we have made arrangements, you will turn the paper in question directly to me.
Presentation / Performance:
Presentations will occur at the end of the semester. These are group projects. Each group will choose a short story we have read in class and perform the text creatively using a medium of their choice.
Process Memo:
Write a few paragraphs in which you reflect on the effect of the workshop on your writing and assess your progress in writing (i.e. what you have learned in this course and how it has affected your composition and writing process).
Evaluation of peers’ comments:
You will evaluate your peers’ comments on your work. Obviously, each student is expected to provide constructive comments to his/her peers. This evaluation is not based on personal agreement or disagreement but on the quality of feedbacks.
Conferences:
Although I encourage students to visit me during my office hours, I also require 1 mandatory conference. Not showing up at a scheduled conference is the equivalent of 2 absences.
Visiting Writers Reading Series:
Mandatory attendance to at least two events from the Clayton State University Visiting Writers Reading Series. If your school schedule or your work schedule prevents you from attending the Clayton State University Visiting Writers Reading Series, you need to see me by September 1st so that we may make other arrangements.
*You will notice that I have canceled two class meetings this semester in order to make up for your attendance to our Clayton State University Visiting Writers Reading Series (fall 2007).
University Policies:
Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook, and to the Basic Undergraduate Student responsibility http://as.clayton.edu/BasicUndergraduateStudentResponsibilities.htm
University Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students’ ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine what excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient causes for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.
Attendance Policy (specific to this course):
Attendance is expected for all class periods. Attendance is mandatory for workshops and presentations. Attendance to at least two events from the Clayton State University Visiting Writers Reading Series is also mandatory. By “mandatory” I mean that failing to comply with the previous requirements will result in dropping one letter grade from your overall grade. An excused absence is an absence for which you provide me with a note from your doctor or other competent authority. Any absence after 2 excused absences will affect your participation grade. After 4 excused or unexcused absences, your overall grade for the course will drop one letter grade then one additional letter grade for each additional absence.
**You will notice that I have canceled two class meetings this semester in order to make up for your attendance to our Clayton State University Visiting Writers Reading Series (fall 2007).
Tardiness:
Although I understand that circumstances may occur so that a student may be 5 minutes late to class, being repetitively late 15 minutes or more to class disturbs class. Four instances of 15 minutes or more tardiness to class will result in one absence.
Plagiarism:
Any type of activity that is considered dishonest by reasonable standards may constitute academic misconduct. Plagiarism is one of the most common forms of academic misconduct. It will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is a counterproductive, non-writing behavior that is unacceptable in a course intended to aid the growth of individual writers. Plagiarism is representing another’s work or part thereof, be it published or unpublished, as one’s own. All instances of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the work involved. All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Student Life/Judicial Affairs. Judicial procedures are described at
http://adminservices.clayton.edu/studentlife/judicial_affairs.htm.
Disability Services:
Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact
the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 214, 678-466-5445.
disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu.
Evaluation:
In order to receive a C in this course, you must turn in all the written work below on time and contribute to a presentation/performance. Remember that attendance is required and that after 4 absences, your overall grade starts dropping. Similarly Attendance is mandatory for workshops and presentations. Attendance to at least two events from the Clayton State University Visiting Writers Reading Series is also mandatory. By “mandatory” I mean that failing to comply with the previous requirements will result in dropping one letter grade from your overall grade.
Midterm Portfolio (30%):
10 typed reading journal responses 10%
5 finished & typed exercises 10%
Participation 10%
Final Portfolio (70%):
10 typed reading journal responses 10%
Note: responses 9 and 10 will be responses to two of the readings from the Clayton State University Visiting Writers Series you are required to attend this semester.
3 finished & typed exercises (influences) 10%
First draft of short story brought to the workshop (just needs to be in the portfolio!)
Process Memo (just needs to be in the portfolio!)
Finished, typed and thoroughly revised short story
(or two short-short stories) 20%
Presentation / Performance 10%
Participation 10%
Peers response evaluation sheet (just needs to be in the portfolio!)
Grade given by peers on your comments 10%
Grading:
A 90 - 100% Outstanding Achievement: Significantly Exceeds Standards
B 80 - 89% Commendable Achievement: Exceeds Standards
C 70 - 79% Acceptable Achievement: Meets Standards
D 60 - 69% Marginal Achievement: Below Standards
F below 60% Failing
Mid-term Progress Report:
The mid-term grade in this course, which will be issued on October 9th, 2007, reflects your progress in the class 7 weeks into the semester. Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W." Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, within a couple of days.
* * * * *
Course Schedule:
NOTE: I will refer to the texts as indicated below.
WF for Writing Fiction Step by Step
X33 for Short Fiction by 33 Writers
NSF for New Sudden Fiction
LC for Live Cargo
As most writers do, you will keep a small notebook with you at all time during this term so that you can record thoughts, dreams, observations, and start a list of words. Your notebook then becomes a pool of words and ideas for you to use in your creative work.
Week 1
8/20 Introduction to the course
8/22 WF “Introduction” and “Ideas for Fiction” 1-11
Week 2
8/27 WF “Character” 23-28, exercise 1 due in class “profile” (see # 3 in WF 30-33 and “profile” two different characters), X33 Olen-Butler “Jealous Husband Returns in Form of a Parrot” 325-29, reading journal 1, NSF Ursula Hegi 299-304 & Dean Paschal 176-81, reading journal 2
8/29 WF “Plot” 43-55, exercise 2 started in class “develop a conflict-driven plot” (see # 4 in WF 58), X33 Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni 466-81, reading journal 3, NSF Touré 159-63 & Chuck Palahniuk 277-80, reading journal 4
Week 3
9/03 LABOR DAY: NO CLASS MEETING
9/05 Bring 3 copies of exercises 1 and 2 finished and typed for small group workshop
Week 4
9/10 WF “Point of View” 72-78, exercise 3 due in class “writing from different POV’s” (see # 13 in WF 88-89), X33 James Baldwin “Going to Meet the Man” 83-94, reading journal 5, NSF Leelila Strogov 320-25 & Barry Gifford 171-76, reading journal 6
9/12 WF “Dialogue” 163-67, exercise 4 due in class “the end of the affair. . . .” (see # 15 in WF 178), X33 Laurie Moore “You’re Ugly Too” 701-14, reading journal 7, NSF Katherin Nolte 164-70 & Claudia Smith 105-10, reading journal 8, sign up for conference
Week 5
9/17 Bring 3 copies of exercises 3 and 4 finished and typed for small group workshop
9/19 WF “Image and Metaphor” 217-21, exercise 5 “express pain” and “pleasure images” (see # 6 and # 7 in WF 225-26), bring a copy of exercise 5 for workshopping with a peer, NSF Aimee Bender 63-67& Nadine Gordimer 68-72, reading journal 9
Week 6
9/24 MANDATORY CONFERENCE: NO CLASS MEETING
9/26 MANDATORY CONFERENCE: NO CLASS MEETING
Week 7
10/01 WF “Scene” 146-50, WF “Style” 238-42, WF “Putting It All Together” 248-78, reading response 10 (on all three sections of the reading), midterm portfolio due
10/03 No class for attending a reading from Clayton State University Visiting Writers Reading Series
Week 8
10/08 LC “Still Life” 1-9, reading journal 1, NSF Chrissy Kolaya 222-28 & Tessa Brown 142-49, reading journal 2, in-class exercise 1 (influence 1)
10/10 exercise 1 due, small workshop, LC “The Lives of the Saints” 10-23, reading journal 3
Week 9
10/15 LC “Stalin’s Favorite Pig” 24-37, reading journal 4, NSF Romulus Linney 95-100 & Ronald F. Currie Jr. 40-46, reading journal 5, in-class exercise 2 (influence 2)
10/17 exercise 2 due, small workshop, LC “Like a Fish, Like an Eel” 82-92
Week 10
10/22 No class for attending a reading from Clayton State University Visiting Writers Reading Series
10/24 LC “The Ping-Pong King of Kenosha, Wisconsin” 102-09, reading journal 6, NSF Elizabeth McBride 259-63 & Robin Hemley 268-76, reading journal 7, in-class exercise 3(influence 3)
Week 11
10/29 execise 3 due, small workshop, LC “The Emigrant” 131-45, reading journal 8
10/31 group 1 distribute short stories to class
Week 12
11/05 Workshop group 1, group 2 distribute short stories to class
11/07 Workshop group 2, group 3 distribute short stories to class
Week 13
11/12 Workshop group 3, group 4 distribute short stories to class
11/14 Workshop group 4, group 5 distribute short stories to class
Week 14
11/19 Workshop group 5
11/21 THANKSGIVING: NO CLASS MEETING
Week 15
11/26 Work on presentations/performance and optional conference
11/28 Work on presentations/performance and optional conference
Week 16
12/03 MANDATORY PRESENTATION / PERFORMANCE
12/05 MANDATORY PRESENTATION / PERFORMANCE, Final portfolio due in class (make sure to include process memo & evaluation of your peers & remember that reading journals 8 & 10 are one paragraph each on reading events you attended!)
Week 17 (Finals week)