En 102D Creative Writing

Instructor: Amy Hurley

Semester: Fall

Course Description

Creative Writing will explore the process of writing poetry and short story. Students will develop an approach to these different genres using writing prompts and assigned readings. Emphasis will be placed on using imagery, language style, character development, plot structure, and story setting. Students will also collaborate to help each other generate ideas and to constructively critique each other’s work.

Required Textbooks

· Susan G. Wooldridge, Poemcrazy, Three Rivers Press, Copyright 1996 ISBN: 0609800981

· Josip Novakovich, Fiction Writer’s Workshop, Fiction Writer’s Workshop, Story Press, Copyright 1995 ISBN: 1884910394

Course Schedule 

Unit	Topic	Learning Objectives
1	Introduction	Given the syllabus and introductory material, students will identify the major concepts and assignments required in the course. Given their past experiences, students will identify what makes them a creative being.
2	Intro to Poetry	Given the assigned chapters, students will create a learning tool called word tickets, which facilitate student learning and creativity. Students will use the word tickets to begin writing poems.
3	Poetry	Given the assigned chapters, students will continue to write and develop poems based on the writing prompts.
4	Poetry	Using background knowledge and personal experiences, students will address writing challenges. Given the assigned chapters, students will continue to write and develop poems based on the writing prompts.
5	Poetry Portfolio	Given the assigned chapters, students will continue to write and develop poems based on the writing prompts. Given the assigned chapters and the writing done during previous weeks, students will submit their poems for peer review. Given the assigned chapters and the writing done during previous weeks, students will complete their poems and assemble a portfolio of their work
6	Introduction to Short Story	Given the assigned readings, students will identify major concepts associated with the short story genre and write their observations and responses.
7	Reading Short Story	Using the assigned readings, students will increase their exposure to the characteristics of the short story genre.
8	Short Story: Idea Development	Given the assigned readings, students will begin to develop an idea for their own short story.
9	Short Story: Plot	Given the assigned readings, students will understand the elements of plot and begin to map the plot of their own story.
10	Short Story: Character	Given the assigned readings, students will examine the elements of character development and begin developing characters for their own story.
11	Short Story: Setting	Given the assigned readings, students will understand the components of setting and begin creating a setting for their own story.
12	Short Story: Dialogue	Given the assigned readings, students will practice the techniques for creating dialogue and begin writing dialogue for their own story.
13	Short Story: First Draft	Given the assigned readings, students will practice the techniques and critique their peers’ stories. Given the work students have already done, they will continue to develop their short stories and submit a rough draft.
14	Short Story Portfolio	Given the assigned readings, students will practice the techniques and critique their peers’ stories.
15	Short Story Portfolio	Given the work students have already done, they will submit their short story.