ADVANCED COMPOSITION / TRAVEL WRITING-ENGL 3212-01 & 02
Spring 2007--(CRN
24751 & 24752)
MWF 1:30-2:20pm—G212 (A&S Bldg)
MWF 2:30-3:20pm—T201 (Technology Bldg)
Dr. Brigitte
Byrd
Office: A&S 210M
brigittebyrd@clayton.edu
Office Phone: (678) 466-4556
http://a-s.clayton.edu/bbyrd/Homepage.htm Office hours: TBA
(and by appointment)
The
Best American Travel Writing 2006, ed. Tim Cahill (series ed. Jason Wilson)
Additional Required
Materials:
2 manila folders or envelops in which you will turn your midterm and final portfolios
$20 for copying expenses
$20 for travel writing book of your choice
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 be used daily in the classroom. Computers are required to access course materials and to communicate with me. Access to the internet is mandatory.
This course focuses on travel writing, and in a way, the demands of travel writing are identical to those of any kind of creative nonfiction writing: How do you craft the work so that the experience becomes more than itself? How do you relinquish the role of transcriber and take on the cloak of the artist? We will study travel writing through reading an array of travel essays, discussing the elements of the craft, practicing writing skills with a series of exercises (and “exercise” since some “traveling” will be involved), and workshopping. You will also work in small groups to present creatively a travel writing book to your peers. To conclude the semester, you will again work in small groups to perform a travel writing essay in a new medium to your peers.
So, What is it I tell prospective travel writers? The rules are simple enough: get your facts straight and tell us a story.—Tim Cahill
The misperception is that the travel book is about a country. . . . It’s really about the person who’s traveling.—Paul Theroux
Much
more a matter of writing than of traveling—the hard part of the journey takes
place at the desk.—Pico Iyer
Successful
travel writing mediates between two poles: the individual physical things it
describes, on the one hand, and the larger theme that it is about on the other.
That is, the particular and the universal.—Paul Fussell
Travel
is fatal to prejudice.—Mark Twain
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 (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:
The exercises are
designed to help you pay attention to the details of place and to render these
details in a voice that is wholly yours. This
mandate requires you to find a purpose for your writing beyond the travel
experience itself. The purpose of
these exercises is also to prompt you into writing a longer piece eventually.
Since you will write 10 exercises during the semester and we will workshop each
one of them, I am requiring a limit of 2 pages per exercise.
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.
Presentations:
Presentations are group projects. Each group will choose a travel writing book, read it, and present it creatively to the class.
Performances:
Performances are group projects. Each group will choose a travel writing essay which was assigned over the semester OR a travel writing essay written by a peer who is not in this group and perform it creatively in a new medium. The idea is to end the semester with fun, yet realize what makes good writing—so good that you can “translate” it into a totally 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 4 events* from the Clayton State University Visiting Writers Reading Series. This semester, I have scheduled events during the day and in the evening in order to reduce any schedule conflict. This said, if your school schedule or your work schedule prevents you from attending 4 events from the Clayton State University Visiting Writers Reading Series, you need to see me by January 26 so that we may make other arrangements.
*You will notice that
I have canceled 3 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 to 4 readings** (Clayton State U Visiting
Writers Reading Series Spring 2007), all presentations, and all workshops.
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 3 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, participate in a
group presentation, and attend 4 readings (Clayton State U Visiting Writers
Reading Series). Remember that
attendance is required and that after 4 excused or unexcused absences, your
overall grade starts dropping. Similarly
attendance is mandatory all
workshops, all presentations, and the 4 readings. By “mandatory” I
mean that failing to comply with any of the previous requirements will result in
dropping one letter grade from your overall grade.
Midterm Portfolio (30%):
5 journal entries
10%
5 exercises
10%
Participation
10%
Final
Portfolio (70%):
5 journal entries
10%
5 exercises
10%
Presentation
10%
1 travel essay thoroughly revised
20%
Performance
10%
Participation
10%
Peers response evaluation sheet
A 90-100 (excellent)
B 80-89 (above average)
C 70-79 (average—i.e. you did everything, but the quality of the work is average)
D 60-69 (you probably forgot to turn in some assignments or did not attend all required events. . . .)
F 60 and below
The mid-term grade in this course, which will be issued on February 27, reflects
approximately 30% of the entire course grade. 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, by mid-term.
1/22 @ 12:30pm (UC 267) / Nathalie Anderson (poetry)
2/07 @ 12:30pm (UC 267): Phillip DePoy (fiction)
2/12 @ 12:30pm (UC 272): High Schools Poetry Contest
2/16 MIDTERM PORTFOLIO DUE IN MY OFFICE BY 5PM
2/28 @ 7:30pm (UC 327): Camille Martin (poetry)
3/20 @7:30pm (UC 265): Bruce Covey (poetry)
3/28 @ 7:30pm (UC 327): Clayton State U creative Writing Students Reading
4/12 @ 7:00pm (UC 272): David Dodd Lee (poetry/Poetry Palooza judge) / Poetry Palooza/Cygnet Launching
4/30 FINAL PORTFOLIO DUE IN CLASS
Course
Schedule:
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 facts.
Your notebook then becomes not only a pool of words and ideas for you to
use in your creative work but also a place for you to keep track of your facts.
Week 1
1/08 Introduction to the course and to peers
1/10 Basics of good writing in any form
1/12 Understanding travel writing, BATW (introduction), starting your notebook over the upcoming long week-end,
Week 2
1/15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day / NO CLASS
1/17 BATW (Banerji 1-5), exercise 1 (food & travel writing with emphasis on dialogue), sign in for workshop groups:
Group 1:______________, ______________, ______________
Group 2:______________, ______________, ______________
Group 3:______________, ______________, ______________
Group 4:______________, ______________, ______________
Group 5:______________, ______________, ______________
1/19 Workshop group 1—bring copies of your exercise for all of us
Week 3
*1/22 Poet Natalie Anderson reads at 12:30pm (UC 267)
1/22 BATW (Julavits 175-78), exercise 2 (event & travel writing with emphasis on setting)
1/24 Workshop group 2—bring copies of your exercise for all of us
1/25 BATW (Flanagan 93-105), exercise 3 (object & travel writing with emphasis on character development)
Week 4
1/29 Workshop group 3—bring copies of your exercise for all of us
1/31 (Sedaris 264-70), exercise 4 (public transportation & travel writing with emphasis on scenes)
2/02 We’re taking the MARTA, bring your notebook
Week 5
*2/07 Mystery novel writer Phillip DePoy reads at 12:30pm (UC
267)
2/05 Workshop group 4—bring copies of your exercise for all of us
2/07 BATW (Potts 218-23), exercise 5 (“sex” & travel writing with emphasis on POV)
2/09 Workshop group 5—bring copies of your exercise for all of us
Week 6
*2/12 Regional high school students poetry contest reading at
12:30pm (UC 272)
2/12 Small group workshop, bring 3 copies of all 5 exercises
2/14 Small group workshop, bring 3 copies of all 5 exercises
2/16 MIDTERM PORTFOLIO DUE BY 5PM IN MY OFFICE, we’re going to the movie, bring your notebook, exercise 1 (travel to the movie theatre in Morrow & note taking)
Week 7
2/19 Meeting at Barnes & Noble in the travel writing section for field work, bring the $20 planned for buying a travel writing book AND your notebook, exercise 2 (discovering travel writing books)
2/21 BATW (Perrottet 211-17), exercise 3 (travel to a place you have never visited)
2/23 No meeting today for attending a reading
Week 8
*2/28 Poet Camille Martin reads at 7:30pm (UC 327)
**Note: the AWP (Association
ofWriters &Writing Programs) Conference is in
2/26 Workshop group 1—bring copies of your exercise for all of us
2/28 Workshop group 2—bring copies of your exercise for all of us
3/02 No class meeting for attending a reading
Week 9 SPRING BREAK
Week 10
3/12 BATW (De Bottom 71-76), (Shteyngart 282-990)
3/14 Workshop group 3—bring copies of your exercise for all of us
3/16 We’re going to Little Five Points, bring your notebook, exercise 4 (travel to Little Five Points)
Week 11
*3/20 Poet Bruce Covey reads at 7:30pm (UC 267)
3/19 BATW (Frazier 122-34), (Iyer 153-55)
3/21 Workshop group 4—bring copies of your exercise for all of us
3/23 Workshop group 5—bring copies of your exercise for all of us
Week 12
*3/28 Creative writing students read at 7:30pm (UC 327)
3/26 Presentations
3/28 Presentations
3/30 Presentations, group 1 distribute essays
Week 13
4/02 Workshop group 1, group 2 distribute essays
4/04 Workshop group 2, group 3 distribute essays
4/06 No class meeting for attending reading
Week
14
*4/12
Poet and fiction writer David Dodd Lee reads at 7:00pm (UC 272) and
announces the winner(s) of the Poetry Contest for works submitted to the Cygnet.
These students will read their work in the context of the Poetry Palooza
and will be joined by faculty. This
major event will launch the 2007 edition of the Cygnet.
4/09 Workshop group 3, group 4 distribute essays
4/11 Workshop group 4, group 5 distribute essays
4/13 Workshop group 5
Week 15
4/16 No class meeting for conferences, time used to prepare for presentations
4/18 No class meeting for conferences, time used to prepare for presentations
4/20 No class meeting for conferences, time used to prepare for presentations
Week 16
4/23 Performances, exercise 5 (the workshop)
4/25 Performances
4/27 Performances, Final portfolio due in class
Week 17 FINALS WEEK