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English 205: Introduction to Creative WritingFall 2012

Easy reading is damn hard writing. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Instructor:  Jessica Jacobs

Class Schedule: MWF 3:30-4:20 HEAVILON 206Office: HEAVILON 442(4th Floor, Sycamore Review Office)Office Hours: W 2:30-3:30Email: jacobs21@purdue.edu

Course DescriptionIn this class, we will explore the craft of poetry and short fiction by reading anddiscussing works by contemporary poets and fiction writers, and by writing your ownmaterial and receiving feedback from your peers. The first half of the course willfocus on poetry, the second on the short story.

This course is an intensive writing workshop, and the workload is heavy .

 You will be writing and revising your own work, reading poems, short stories, andessays on craft, and reading and responding to the work of your fellow writers.Workshops are based primarily on participation: discussing the readings, doing inclass exercises, and commenting on the writing of your peers. In order for this to bea productive community, everyone needs to participate. Dedication to not only yourown work, but also that of your classmates, is crucial for a successful workshop (and agood grade). And, because this is a small, workshop-based course, you will beexpected to attend every class, read widely, respond carefully and considerately toyour classmates’ work, and write prodigiously and without fear.

Course Texts:Course Materials:- A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver (available at Von’s Bookstore on State Street)- “Intro. to Creative Writing: Poetry” Coursepack available at CopyMat in ChaunceyHill- “Intro. to Creative Writing: Fiction” Coursepack available at CopyMat- A binder for the coursepack and reading handouts- Frequent use of your Purdue printing quota

Grading The grading for this course follows Purdue’s plus or minus grading system: A (95-100), A- (90-94), B+ (86-89), B (83-85), B- (80-82), C+ (76-79), C (73-75), C-(70-72),D+ (66-69), D (63-65), D- (60-62), and F (59 and below). The work in this course willbe broken down as follows:

Poetry Portfolio 30%Fiction Portfolio 30%Workshop Participation (critiques, submitted work, workshop discussion) 10%Class Participation (assignments, exercises, readings, quizzes, discussion)

20%Public Reading Responses 10%

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Coursework  You will be writing five poems and one short story for this course, along with variouswriting exercises, and two responses to on-campus public readings. One of yourpoems will be workshopped in a large, full-class workshop, and multiple poems will beworkshopped within a smaller group. Your story will be workshopped once with thefull class. Your revised portfolios are the heart of this class (and 60% of the grade).

Writing requires a lot of hard work, and any piece of writing may have to go through ahandful or a dozen revision before it is finished. Be sure to proofread all of your workfor this class. A lack of polish in your poems and stories illustrates a lack of pride andinvestment in your creative endeavors and will be graded accordingly.Please note that during the fiction unit you will be studying and writing literary fiction.Other genres of fiction, such as fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and mystery follow particularcraft conventions that we will not have time to cover in class. This is not a commenton the value of these genres, but rather a realistic vision of what this particularworkshop will be able to accommodate.

Poetry Portfolio (30% of final class grade): Your poetry portfolio will be due at mid-term. You will be handing in five poems in the

course of the semester, but only need to revise three. By email, you will submit in asingle document revisions of these three poems and a cover letter (2-3 double-spacedpages). Your cover letter should consist of two parts: the first, a reflection on whatyou have learned about poetry thus far in the semester (about yourself at a readerand writer, about poetry in general, about the mechanics of the craft, etc.) along withany suggestions about the course you may have; the second, a discussion of yourrevision process and a poem-by-poem discussion of your revisions.

Fiction Portfolio (30% of final class grade): Your fiction portfolio will be due during finals. By email, you will submit a revision of your workshopped short story (10 – 15 pages) and a cover letter (2 – 3 double-spacedpages). This letter should be in two parts: the first, a reflection on what you have

learned about writing thus far in the semester along with any suggestions about thecourse you may have; the second, a discussion of your revision process and adetailed list of what you have chosen to revise (this can be in full sentences or listform).

Along with your fiction portfolio, you will be required to turn in a final reflection aboutyour experience of this course (1-2 double-spaced pages). This reflection shouldexplore how your understanding of reading and writing both poetry and prose haveevolved throughout this semester, as well as touch on what you have learned aboutyourself as both a reader and a writer. This is also a time for you to share with mewhat exercises and readings you found most (and least) beneficial and to make anysuggestions you have for the course.

Workshop Participation (10% of the final class grade): Throughout the semester, you will offer your fellow writers thoughtful, honest, andconstructive critiques of their poems and stores. It goes without saying that to do soyou will need to attend class every day. Critiques are due the day the poems/storiesare being workshopped. A complete critique requires line and margin comments onyour copy of the piece and a typed, single-spaced 250 – 500 word response. I will

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collect your critiques four-six times throughout the semester, so please be preparedto email them to me upon request.

Class Participation (20% of the final class grade):Because this course is rooted in workshop, class discussion and constructiveparticipation is absolutely essential. I expect you to participate actively and

thoughtfully in both the discussions of published stories and the workshops of yourpeers. To ensure that you have read the assigned work, there will be frequent brief reading quizzes in the opening moments of most classes. We will also complete in-class writing exercises, which will be helpful to you only if they are approached openlyand with energy. I will collect these exercises from time-to-time and the points will gotowards your participation grade to ensure the work is being done

Public Reading Response (10% of the final class grade): You will be expected to attend at least two Purdue University Reading Series events:one poetry event and one fiction event. The schedule is available on our course sitehttp://jjacobscourses.wordpress.com/eng-205/ (please bookmark this site); pencilthese into your calendar early since the semester will undoubtedly get busy. For each

event you attend, you will write a 1 – 2 page (double-spaced) summary, along with apersonal reflection of how the reading affected your understanding of reading andwriting in that genre. You do not have to love the particular reading, but you do needto give it a thoughtful and honest response. You must turn in your response to mewithin a week of the event.

Course Policies You are expected to be considerate and respectful of your fellow classmates and theirwork at all times. This is a workshop class, so differing views are expected andencouraged within a productive discussion. With the vocabulary we will be learning,give and receive constructive criticism. Be honest, but always respectful and helpful.

“I liked it” or “I didn’t like it” are unacceptable critiques. Even though we will bedealing with personal subject matter, don’t take criticism of your work personally. Ourdiscussion will always be in the context of the work being produced, not the authorwho produced it. Any harsh or personal comments directed at another student will notbe tolerated.

Attendance and Tardy Policy You are allowed to miss a total of two class meetings during the semester for anyreason. For each missed class over two, your final class grade will be lowered by atleast half a letter grade. It is essential that you are present in class on a daythat your poem or story is being workshopped.

Do not be late to class. It is rude to me and your classmates. Some type of work willbe collected in the first five minutes of every class. If you arrive after I have collectedthe work, you will be counted as absent for the day.

Cell phones and LaptopsIf I see your cell phone in use while class is in session, you will be counted as absentfor the day. Similarly, if you are using your laptop for non-class related purposes(Facebook, email, etc.), you will be counted as absent for the day.

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Submitting Your Work Submission dates will be noted on the workshop schedule; these are NOT flexible.

 Your short fiction should be in Times New Roman, double-spaced, with 1 inch marginsand a 12 point font. Your poems should be single-spaced; however, you are welcometo use other line-spacing when it is integral to the aesthetic of your piece. Remember

to always include your name on your submission and to name your document withthe following convention: First initial Last Name.Assignment Title (Example:

 JJacobs.Mythology Poem).

Academic Integrity and PlagiarismAll work you submit must be original to you and to this course (e.g., not workcomplete during other creative writing course you have taken). Plagiarism, or the useof others’ work without their consent or acknowledgement, is a serious offense andwill result in automatic failure from the course and possible expulsion from theUniversity. If you are unsure about what might constitute plagiarism, read theUniversity’s policy on Cheating and Plagiarism atwww.purdue.edu/ODOS/ossr/integrity/htm

Statement about DisabilitiesStudents with disabilities must be registered with Adaptive Programs in the Office of the Dean of Students before classroom accommodations can be provided. If you areeligible for academic accommodations because you have a documented disabilitythat will impact your work in this class, please schedule an appointment with me assoon as possible to discuss your needs.

Campus EmergencyIn the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines andgrading percentages are subject to changes that may necessitate a revised calendaror other circumstances. In such an event, you can get information about changes in

the course by emailing me (jacobs21@purdue.edu)