INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING-ENGL 3800-01 (CRN 85095)
Fall
2006— MWF
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:
MWF
MW
(and by appointment)
Tell
It Slant, ed. Brenda Miller and Suzanne Paola
Short
Fiction by 33 Writers, ed. Mark Winegardner
Poemcrazy,
Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge
NOTE:
I will use these texts again, along with others, in Advanced Creative
Writing courses, so you may keep them if you plan to take advanced creative
writing courses.
Additional Required
Materials:
Floppy disks
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:
Introductory study in imaginative
writing emphasizing selected readings in poetry, fiction, and creative
nonfiction as well as students’writing in these genres.
In this course, you will be introduced to the craft of writing creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. We will start with the study of the basics of good writing in any form, with an emphasis on prose writing, first: scene versus exposition, specificity and detail, developing character, dialogue, point of view, the rhythm of sentences, and image and metaphor. As we study each one of these elements of prose writing, we will read from a series of selected creative nonfiction and fiction pieces. This reading will provide you with models for your own prose writing.
As the semester progresses, we will focus on poetry writing, especially on the concepts of concreteness (vs. abstraction), image, sound effects, rhythm, and shape. There again, we will read from a selection of poems which will serve as models for your poetry writing.
Through a broad array of exercises, you will write in all genres during the semester. The final portfolio will be a body of work including your favorite piece (an essay, a short story, or two to three poems), which you will revise thoroughly (we will workshop this piece during the second half of the semester).
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 piece of creative nonfiction, fiction, or poetry we read over the semester and perform it creatively.
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
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 (rather maybe of one particular aspect of it) employed by its author.
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. These
exercises are designed to prompt you into writing a longer piece eventually.
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 text we have read in class and perform this text creatively using a different medium.
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 Robert Olen Butler’s reading on
Tuesday, September 5 (
*You will notice that
I have canceled four class meetings this semester in order to make up for your
attendance to our
University Policies:
Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.
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:
Attendance is expected for all class
periods. Attendance is mandatory for workshops and presentations. Attendance
to Robert Olen Butler’s reading (
**You will notice
that I have canceled four class meetings this semester in order to make up for
your attendance to our
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.
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 6 absences, your overall grade starts
dropping. Similarly Attendance
is mandatory for workshops and presentations. Attendance to Robert Olen
Butler’s reading and at least two other events from the
Midterm Portfolio (30%):
10 typed reading journal responses
10%
5 finished and typed exercises
10%
Participation
10%
Final
Portfolio (70%):
10 typed reading journal responses
10%
5 finished and typed exercises
10%
1 finished, typed and thoroughly revised piece
20%
Presentation / Performance
10%
Participation
10%
Small notebook and recording of poems
10%
Peers response evaluation sheet (just a reminder that all the written work must be included in the portfolio in order to receive a C in this course)
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
The mid-term grade in this course,
which will be issued on
9/05
ROBERT OLEN
9/11 Schedule a mandatory conference
9/25 KEN FOSTER READS (CREATIVE NONFICTION)
9/29 Midterm Portfolio due in class
10/13 Last day to drop without academic accountability
10/17 TONY MORRIS READS (POETRY)
11/09 R. M. BERRY READS (FICTION AND EDITOR OF FC2)
11/17 Schedule a conference (if needed)
11/28 PAUL SHEPHERD READS (FICTION)
12/08 Final Portfolio due in class
Course Schedule:
NOTE: I will refer to the texts as
indicated below.
TIS for Tell
It Slant
X33 for Short Fiction by 33 Writers
PC for Poemcrazy
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
8/21 Introduction to the course
8/23 Introduction to peers
8/25 TIS 8-21, reading journal 1
Creative
Nonfiction Unit
Week
2
8/28 TIS David Sedaris 387-94, reading journal 2, in-class exercise 1 (scene vs. exposition)
8/30 In view
of Robert Olen Butler’s visit, we will read two short stories from X33 this
week: “A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain” 317-24
9/01 X33
“This is Earl Sandt” 330-38, check Olen Butler’s writing
process on http://www.fsu.edu/~butler/
and bring your computers to class today
Week 3
1993 Pulitzer Prize for fiction Robert Olen Butler (A Good Scent from
a Strange Mountain)
reads on Tuesday, September 5th at 7:30pm in UC265 (remember
to write a response to the reading—response 10)
9/04 FACULTY MEETING DAY: NO CLASS MEETING
9/06 TIS Maxine Hong Kingston 348-58, reading journal 3, TIS Alice Walker 416-19, reading journal 4
9/08 In-class exercise 2 (developing character), handout distributed (Geoff Dyer)
Week 4
9/11 Handout Geoff Dyer, reading journal 5,
exercise 3 due (dialogue), TIS 28-46, reading journal 6, Sign
up for a conference
9/13 NO CLASS MEETING FOR ATTENDING A
9/15 TIS Albert Goldbarth 301-13, reading journal 7, TIS Charles Simic 403-04, reading journal 8, in-class exercise 4 (taste)
Week 5
9/18 MANDATORY CONFERENCE: NO CLASS MEETING
9/20 MANDATORY CONFERENCE: NO CLASS MEETING
9/22 MANDATORY CONFERENCE: NO CLASS MEETING
Fiction Unit
Week 6
Fiction and Creative Nonfiction writer Ken Foster reads on Monday,
September 25th at
9/25 X33 Lorrie Moore 701-14, reading journal 9
9/27 X33 Louise Erdrich 492-501, reading journal 10
9/29 In-class exercise 5 (sound)—don’t forget to bring a CD of music to class today! Midterm portfolio due in class (you will add exercise 5 to the portfolio at the end of class)
Week 7
10/02 X33 Junot Diaz 428-37, reading journal 1, in-class exercise 1 (plot)
10/04 X33
10/06 X33 Donald Barthelme 184-85, reading journal 4
Week 8
10/09 X33 Antonya Nelson 784-93, reading journal 5
10/11 Exercise 2 due in class (point of view)
10/13 NO CLASS MEETING FOR ATTENDING A
Poetry Unit
NOTE:
You must sign on to Poetry Daily on the web at http://www.poems.com
and read a new poem everyday—at least during this unit.
You will keep a record of the poems posted on MTWRF of weeks 9-10 (10
entries) by writing down the name of the author, the name of the poem, a passage
from the poem which you find particularly interesting.
Week 9
Poet Tony Morris reads on Tuesday, October 17th at
10/16 PC 2-23, reading journal 6
10/18 PC 23-46, reading journal 7
10/20 Exercise 3 due in class (image)
Week 10
10/23 NO CLASS MEETING FOR ATTENDING A
10/25 PC 48-73, reading journal 8
10/27 Exercise 4 due in class (concreteness and abstraction)
Week 11
10/30 PC 74-93, reading journal 9, group 1 distributes selected piece to class
11/01 Workshop group 1, group 2 distributes selected piece to class
11/03 Workshop group 2, group 3 distributes selected piece to class
Week 12
Fiction writer and publisher of Fiction Collective Two (FC2) R. M. Berry
reads on Thursday, November 9th at
11/06 Workshop group 3, group 4 distributes selected piece to class
11/08 Workshop group 5, group 6 distributes selected piece to class
11/10 NO CLASS MEETING FOR ATTENDING A
Week 13
11/13 Workshop group 6, group 7 distributes selected piece to class
11/15 Workshop group 7, group 8 distributes selected piece to class
11/17 Workshop group 8, group 9 distributes selected piece to class, sign up for a conference if needed
Week 14
11/20 Workshop group 9
11/22 THANKSGIVING: NO CLASS MEETING
11/24 THANKSGIVING: NO CLASS MEETING
Week 15
Fiction writer Paul Shepherd reads on Tuesday, November 28th
at
(this is our last event this
semester!)
11/27 Work on presentations/performance and optional conference
11/29 Work on presentations/performance and optional conference
12/01 Work on presentations/performance and optional conference
Week 16
12/04 MANDATORY PRESENTATION / PERFORMANCE
12/06 MANDATORY PRESENTATION / PERFORMANCE
12/08 MANDATORY PRESENTATION / PERFORMANCE, Final portfolio due in class
Week 17 (Finals week)