ENGLISH 340: CREATIVE WRITING SYLLABUS (for English Education competencies are numbered in RED) Instructor: Lois Sessoms Fennelly, Ph.D. Office: Office Hours: 10 hours as posted and by appointment e-mail fennelll@cookman.edu PREREQUISITES: FA 137, (386) 481-2274
Advanced composition or permission of the instructor
DESCRIPTION: This course emphasizes writing imaginative literature and developing an individual style that is both comfortable and effective. Practice is provided in preparing for publication of Bethune-Cookman University's literary magazine--Pure Pleasure with Poetry and Prose. COURSE CONTENT: This course provides students with the opportunity to gain expressive power through creative writing. It also provides practical experience in conducting a writing contest, performing their poetry or drama, and preparing for the publication of Bethune-Cookman College's literary magazine--Pure Pleasure with Poetry/ Prose/Photography. It should not be necessary to teach basic grammar and mechanics. However, if a student's writing indicates a need for skill development in these areas, the instructor will require skill building programs until mastery of grammar and mechanics are achieved. OUTCOMES: 1. An effective personal voice and an accepted conventional writing style will be achieved through a series of journal assignments and modules on (a) poetry and (b) either short story writing or drama--depending on individual and group interest. These competencies will be evaluated according to student performance in meeting deadlines and in midterm and final portfolios. The instructor will deduct points and lower grades if deadlines are not met and/or requirements for attendance and participation are not followed. (1.3,1.4,2.1,2.3,2.4) 2. Conducting a writing contest, timely peer evaluations in classroom's workshop setting, editing, proofreading, and planning for a literary publication will be achieved through practical experience in critiquing peer creations of poetry, stories, and plays; preparing for a literary magazine; and conducting poetry readings. These competencies will be evaluated by the instructor's recorded observations of individual student participation in these projects.(2.5, 2.6, 3.2, 4.9, 5.3, 5.7) 3. Use of a word processing program on a computer will be accomplished through several training sessions(if necessary) and journal assignments. This competency will be evaluated by the student's actual demonstration of creating a portfolio on the computer and printing it out without error. Competency is set at the 100% level.(4.9, 5.7) 4. Students will develop an appreciation for multicultural voices through "transethnic" assignments in narration, poetry, drama, and video/films.(6.2, 7.1, 7.3, 7.5) REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
Writing Poetry What If? Students are also required to purchase Roget's College Thesaurus and a collegelevel dictionary. REQUIRED MATERIALS: Students must always bring to class standard size notebook paper in a three-ring pocketed folder that is exclusively for this class, pens, and #2 pencils for quizzes and tests. A composition notebook-journal will be used for journal entries and workshop notes. A three=ring pocketed folder is also required for the midterm and final portfolio. PROCEDURES: Materials will be utilized according to the assignments listed on the course calendar. Journal entries will be written at the beginning of most class sessions. In-class writings and workshop sessions will be accomplished at most classes. ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED DUE TO THE WORKSHOP IN CLASS ACTIVITIES: No make-up work, quizzes, or tests will be given. No late assignments will be accepted. Homework is due at the beginning of the class. The only exception to this rule is making up an excused absence WITH THE INSTRUCTOR--but any make-up work must be done with the instructor's approval and within 24 hours of returning to class. EVALUATION: To determine students' final grades in the course, performance in the areas listed below will be examined and weighed as follows: Written textbook and journal assignments of poetry and prose 30% Midterm and final PORTFOLIOS Participation in literary contest, presentations, publication Attendance, punctuality, meeting deadlines, Participation in class workshops GRADING STANDARDS: A= 90-100 B= 89-80 C= 79-70 D= 69-60 F= 59-0 40% 10% 20%
PLAGIARISM: Students must submit their own work, and they must acknowledge any outside help they may have had in preparing an assignment. If anyone copies or paraphrases the words of another writer without acknowledgement, or submits another person's work as his or her own, that person is guilty of plagiarism. Evidence of cheating or plagiarism will result in the student's receiving a grade of 0. As a major violation of the Student Code of Conduct the student's indefinite suspension from the college may result. EN 340 ASSIGNMENT CALENDAR--Journal entries will be written in MOST classes with NO make-ups permitted One--A Voice of One's Own: This unit concentrates on use of personal experience and observation as sources of insight when writing. What If? (hereafter referred to as WI), Parts I,II,III, and IV will form the basis for Journal Entries during the unit on poetry; after mid term it will be the primary text for narrative writings. Poetry Writing is referred to as PW. Week 1 Introductions, distribution and explanation of course outline, portfolio format;; WI 7-29; #s 4,5,6 and three of your choice Week 2 WI 35-55;forming peer groups, WI 56-58 Two--Speaking with a Style of Your Own: This unit focuses on self-discovery through poetry. Week 3 WI 161-172; planning PPP contest, using Thesaurus; Poetry Writing (hereafter referred to as PW) 1-22 Week 4 PW 23-54;PW 55-87 Week 5 PW 88-91; 92-122;FILM Week 6 PW 123-202; 203-233 Two--Speaking in Stories:: Week 7 MIDTERM PORTFOLIO DUE Oct. 14 at 9:40 a.m.(best 5) Week 8 WI 9-86; WI 87-117 Week 9 PPwPP--Evaluating contest entries Week 10 WI 119-160; WI 173-199 Three--A Public Voice--Individual Narratve Projects: Your PLAY proposal must be approved in conference with professor before November 1. This unit concentrates on evaluating the writing contest entries and fiction writing. Week 11 WI 201-253; 254-284 Week 12 WI 285-300; 301-348 Week 13 WI 349-409 on-line QUIZ ; THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY Week 14 Performance of plays. FINAL EXAMINATION TBA--Final Portfolio: BEST TEN AND FIRST TWO CHAPTERS OF PROPOSED NOVEL. No late portfolios will be accepted without 50 point penalty for missing deadline.