SYLLABUS
ENGLISH 203/204 Creative Writing (fiction)
Section 1: Monday-Wednesday 1:00-2:15 (N056)
Instructor: Greg Ahrenhoerster
Office Phone: (262) 521-5479
Electronic Mail: gahrenho@uwc.edu
OFFICE: W131
Office Hours: 11:00-12:00 WTWThF, and by appointment
Please note I am in my office a lot more than just during posted office hours. Feel free to walk in and talk to me whenever I am in and the door is open even a crack, even if it looks like I am busy.
Course Webpage: http://waukesha.uwc.edu/eng/gahrenho/203syllabus.htm
REQUIRED TEXT:
Burroway, Janet and Elizabeth Stuckey-French. Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft, 7th edition. New York: Longman, 2007.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This section of Creative Writing is going to focus on writing fiction, in particular, the short story (section 2, taught by Professor Rozga, will be focusing primarily on poetry).
The aspect of writing that I really want to emphasize this semester is thoughtful revision with a purpose. I will be requiring you to significantly revise the stories that you turn in this semester; even if some piece is pretty good as it stands, I will expect you to experiment with different ways you could have written it. For this reason, do NOT turn in any piece that you feel is complete and are unwilling to revise.
We will also be working on critiquing other people’s work and giving helpful suggestions. Again, let me emphasize that if you are unwilling to listen to suggestions about a story, do NOT turn it in.
I also hope you leave this course with a better understanding of the basic elements of fiction and a strong appreciation of the work that writers do.
MY EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS: I expect all of the students in my class to do the following things:
If I see that you are doing these things, then I will do everything I reasonably can to help you succeed in this course. However, if you are not holding up your end of the bargain, then I am much less motivated to go out of my way to help you.
REQUIREMENTS:
You will be required to turn in at least five pieces of fiction, totaling at least 5000 words and revise at least three of them significantly for your final portfolio.
I will also be giving you numerous in-class assignments and expect you to participate in class, especially on workshop days.
NOTE: There is a considerable amount of reading and writing for this class. Please do not stay in the course if you are not prepared to complete all of the work (there is a waiting list of students who want to add).
GRADING:
I will not assign a specific number or letter grade to any individual piece you write for me this semester. Your final grade will be based on the following two things:
Process (50% of grade): The other half of your grade will involve the following:
These points will be based largely on effort and willingness to play along. They are relatively easy points to earn (if you stay caught up with reading and writing assignments), but also easy to lose if you blow off the class.
ATTENDANCE: Like any “skills” class, writing classes are only successful if the students are present. This isn’t a class where you can just get someone’s class notes. The work we do in class simply cannot be made up in any way. More than three unexcused absences will lower your process grade by one letter grade. From there, I will lower your process grade by one letter for every two classes missed.
Note: I will count being late to class as ½ of an absence.
Please contact me as soon as possible if you anticipate missing classes or being unable to meet an assignment deadline.
ACADEMIC HONESTY: The board of regents, administrators, faculty, academic staff, and students of the University of Wisconsin system believe that academic honesty and integrity are fundamental to the mission of higher education and of the University of Wisconsin System. The University has a responsibility to promote academic honesty and integrity and to develop procedures to deal effectively with instances of academic dishonesty. Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect for others’ academic endeavors. Students who violate these standards must be confronted and must accept the consequences of their actions.
In other words, if you turn in someone else’s fiction as your own, you will fail the course.
HELP: Please see me or e-mail me if you have any questions about an assignment or need help with any aspect of the course.
If you have a handicap that will in any way affect your work in this class, please let me know so that I can work with you. Also, Judy Becker in Student Services would like to talk to you to make sure that if you need special parking, or any other services, she can arrange them for you.
LITERARY CLUB/WINDY HILL REVIEW: Every spring, the UW-Waukesha Literary Club publishes the Windy Hill Review, a compilation of poems and fiction written by students, faculty, and community members. When you submit your portfolio at the end of the semester, you can let me know if you want any of your work considered for publication in next year’s issue.
If any of you are interested in joining the literary club (especially next fall), please let me know (I am the club advisor).
ASSESSMENT: The UW Colleges-wide assessment program was established to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the curriculum, programs, and services of the institution. The institution-wide assessment activities focus on analytical, quantitative, communication, and aesthetic skills because they are of primary importance in the general education of our students. This semester, students in English courses will be assessed on analytical or aesthetic skills. Some students in composition classes will be assessed on their ability to interpret and synthesize information and ideas, and some students in literature and creative writing classes will be assessed on their ability to critically reflect on a work of art.
Each department also conducts assessment activities that address discipline-specific learning goals. This year, the English Department is conducting a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning research project about how students use feedback from non-peer sources to improve their writing, which we hope will help provide us with information that will make us better teachers of English. As part of this project you may be asked to complete a survey or specific assignment or some of your regular course materials may be collected.
CALENDAR: I have scheduled all of the reading assignments from the book for the semester; however, I will add more reading assignments as we move along (often other classmates’ stories). Note: You are responsible for any reading assignment announced in class, even if you are absent; I will put extra copies of assigned reading packets in the folder by my office door. Please come to class having done the reading and having completed at least one page of reading notes; failure to do so will negatively affect your process grade.
Please read all of Burroway’s advice in each chapter, but you only need to read the sample stories that are listed in parentheses below.
Jan. 28 Introduction to the Class
Jan. 30 Read Chapter 1—The Writing Process (All stories)
Feb. 4 Read Chapter 2— Showing and Telling (“The Things They Carried” & “Where
Are You Going…”)
Feb. 6
Feb. 11 Read Chapter 3— Characterization (“Gryphon” and “Every Tongue Shall Confess”)
Feb. 13
Feb. 18 Story 1 Deadline
Feb. 20
Feb. 25 Read Chapter 4--Characterization (“Bullet in the Brain” and “Tandolfo the Great”)
Feb. 27
Mar. 3 Read Chapter 5—Fictional Place (“Wickedness” and Love and Hydrogen”)
Mar. 5 Story 2 Deadline
Mar. 10 Read Chapter 6—Fictional Time (“The Swimmer” and “A Serious Talk”)
Mar. 12
Mar. 17 NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK
Mar. 19 NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK
Mar. 24 Read Chapter 7—Plot and Structure (“The Use of Force” and “Everything That Rises Must Converge”)
Mar. 26 Story 3 Deadline
Mar. 31 Read Chapter 8—Point of View (“Orientation” and “Gusev”)
Apr. 2
Apr. 7 Read Chapter 9—Symbolism and Metaphor (All stories)
Apr. 9 Story 4 Deadline
Apr. 14 Read Chapter 10--Theme (All stories)
Apr. 16
Apr. 21 Read Chapter 11--Revision (All stories)
Apr. 23
Apr. 28 Story 5 Deadline
Apr. 30 Read “The Bath” and “A Small Good Thing” (both handouts)
May 5
May 7
May 12
May 14
May 17 (Saturday) PORTFILIOS DUE (3:00 pm)