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English 205-007: Introduction to Creative Writing Fall 2011

Easy reading is damn hard writing. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Instructor: Jessica JacobsClass Schedule: T R 10:30-11:30 HEAVILON 206

Office: HEAVILON 442Office Hours: Wednesdays, 2:30-3:30Email:jacobs21@purdue.edu

Course DescriptionWelcome to English 205: Introduction to Creative Writing. In this class you will explore the craft of poetry and shortfiction by reading and discussing works by contemporary poets and fiction writers, and by writing your own materialand receiving feedback from your peers. The first half of the course will focus on poetry, the second on the shortstory.

This course is an intensive writing workshop, and the workload is heavy. You will be writing and revising yourown work, reading poems, short stories, and essays on craft, and reading and responding to the work of your fellow

writers. Workshops are based primarily on participation: discussing the readings, doing in class exercises, andcommenting on the writing of your peers. In order for this to be a productive community, everyone needs toparticipate. Dedication to not only your own work, but also that of your classmates, is crucial for a successfulworkshop (and a good grade). And, because this is a small, workshop-based course, you will be expected to attendevery class, read widely, respond carefully and considerately to your classmates work, and write constantly andwithout fear.

Course Texts:- A Poetry Handbookby Mary Oliver (available at Vons Bookstore on State Street)- The Vintage Book of ContemporaryAmerican Short Stories ed. Tobias Wolff (available at Vons Bookstore on State Street)- Intro. to Creative Writing Coursepack available at CopyMat in Chauncey Hill and a binder for the coursepack andreading handouts

-One copy of any literary journal (purchased at the Sycamore Reviewsale, date TBD, Heavilon Hall graduate lounge,third floorabout $1.00)- Frequent use of your Purdue printing quota for the copies of your poems and fiction, and your peer critiques- Folders, at least three, to hold handouts, stories, poems, and to submit your final portfolios

GradingThe grading for this course follows Purdues 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 will be 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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CourseworkYou will be writing five poems and one short story for this course, along with various writing exercises, and tworesponses to on-campus public readings. One of your poems will be workshopped in a large, full-class workshop, andmultiple poems will be workshopped within a smaller group. Your story will be workshopped once with the fullclass. 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 a handful or a dozen revision before it is finished. Be sure to

proofread all of your work for 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 asfantasy, sci-fi, romance, and mystery follow particular craft conventions that we will not have time to cover in class.This is not a comment on the value of these genres, but rather a realistic vision of what this particular workshop willbe able to accommodate.

Poetry Portfolio (30% of final class grade):Your poetry portfolio will be due at mid-term. In a folder, you will submit revisions of four poems that yousubmitted and a cover letter (2-3 double-spaced pages) that explains what you view as the intent of your poetry (atthis time) and a poem-by-poem discussion of your revisions. Your portfolio should include the original drafts with my

comments, and a fresh copy of the revised poem in polished form. You will be handing in five poems in the course ofthe semester, but only need to revise four. If you would like to revise the fifth please do so and include it in yourportfolio.

Fiction Portfolio (30% of final class grade):Your fiction portfolio will be due during finals week. In a folder, you will submit a revision of one short story (10 15 pages) that you submitted and a cover letter (2 3 double-spaced pages) explaining what you view as the projectof your fiction and a discussion of your revisions, both small and large. Your portfolio should include the originalstory draft with my comments, subsequent drafts, and the revised story in polished form.

Along with your fiction portfolio, you will be required to turn in a final reflection about your experience of thiscourse (1-2 double-spaced pages). This reflection should explore how your understanding of reading and writing both

poetry and prose have evolved throughout this semester, as well as touch on what you have learned about yourself asboth a reader and a writer. This is also a time for you to share with me what exercises and readings you found most(and least) beneficial and to make any suggestions you have for the course.

Workshop Participation (10% of the final class grade):Throughout the semester, you will offer your fellow writers thoughtful, honest, and constructive critiques of theirpoems and stores. It goes without saying that to do so you will need to attend class every day. Critiques are due theday the poems/stories are being workshopped. A complete critique requires line and margin comments on your copyof the piece and a typed, single-spaced 250 500 word response. I willperiodicallycollect your critiques, so pleasebring an extra copy to each workshop.

Class Participation (20% of the final class grade):

Because this course is rooted in workshop, class discussion and constructive participation is absolutely essential. Iexpect you to participate actively and thoughtfully in both the discussions of published stories and the workshops ofyour peers. To ensure that you have read the assigned work, there will be frequent brief reading quizzes in theopening moments of most classes. We will also complete in-class writing exercises, which will be helpful to you onlyif they are approached openly and 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. Finally, you will be expected to keep an imagejournal, which I will call on you to share occasionally with the class. One of these pieces of writing will be turned intome every class, as both a part of your participation grade and a means of recording your attendance.

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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 fictionevent. The schedule is available on our course site http://jjacobscourses.wordpress.com/eng-205/ (pleasebookmark this site); pencil these into your calendar early since the semester will undoubtedly get busy. For eachevent you attend, you will write a 1 2 page (double-spaced) summary of the event and a personal reflection of thereading and how it affected you. You do not have to love the particular reading, but you do need to give it a

thoughtful and honest response. Be sure to see me at each event so I can mark you present. Print out your readingresponses and hand them in to me within a week of the event.

Course PoliciesYou are expected to be considerate and respectful of your fellow classmates and their work at all times. This is aworkshop class, so differing views are expected and encouraged within a productive discussion. With the vocabularywe will be learning, give and receive constructive criticism. Be honest, but always respectful and helpful. I liked itor I didnt like it are unacceptable critiques. Even though we will be dealing with personal subject matter, donttake criticism of your work personally. Our discussion will always be in the context of the work being produced, notthe author who produced it. Any harsh or personal comments at another student will not be tolerated.

Attendance and Tardy Policy

Because this is a workshop class, it is necessary that you attend class. You are allowed to miss a total oftwo classmeetings during the semester for any reason. I make no distinctions between excused and unexcused absences. Foreach missed class over two, your final class grade will be lowered by at least half a letter grade.It is essential thatyou are present in class on a day that 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 will be collected in the first fiveminutes of every class. If you arrive after I have collected the work, you will be counted as absent for the day.

Submitting Your WorkFor each of your workshop submissions, you must print out enough copies for the entire class, including theinstructor. Submission dates will be noted on the workshop schedule; these are NOT flexible. Your short fictionshould be double-spaced, with 1 inch margins and a 12 point font. Your poems should be single-spaced; however,

you are welcome to use other line-spacing when it is integral to the aesthetic of your piece. Remember toalwaysinclude your name on your submission.

Academic Integrity and PlagiarismAll work you submit must be original to you and to this course (e.g., not work complete during other creativewriting course you have taken). Plagiarism, or the use of others work without their consent or acknowledgement, isa serious offense and will result in automatic failure from the course and possible expulsion from the University. Ifyou are unsure about what might constitute plagiarism, read the Universitys 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 are eligible for academic accommodations because you have adocumented disability that will impact your work in this class, please schedule an appointment with me as soon aspossible to discuss your needs.

Campus EmergencyIn the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject tochanges that may necessitate a revised calendar or other circumstances. In such an event, you can get informationabout changes in the course by emailing me (jacobs21@purdue.edu)