English 205: Introduction to Creative Writing Spring 2011 Easy reading is damn hard writing. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne Instructor: Jessica Jacobs Class Schedule: MWF 2:30-3:30, HEAVILON 110 Office: HEAVILON 442 Office Hours: Mondays 1:30-2:30 or by appointment Email: jacobs21@purdue.edu Course Description Welcome to English 205: Introduction to Creative Writing. In this class you will explore the craft of short fiction and poetry by reading and discussing works by contemporary fiction writers and poets, and by writing your own material and receiving feedback from your peers. The first half of the course will focus on the short story, the second on poetry. 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, 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, and commenting on the writing of your peers. In order for this to be a productive community, everyone needs to participate. Dedication to not only your own work, but also that of your classmates, is crucial for a successful workshop (and a good grade). And, because this is a small, workshop-based course, you will be expected to attend every class, read widely, respond carefully and considerately to your classmates work, and write constantly and without fear. Course Materials: - A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver (available at Vons Bookstore on State Street) - Intro. to Creative Writing: Fiction Coursepack available at CopyMat in Chauncey Hill - Intro. to Creative Writing: Poetry 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 Purdues plus or minus grading system: A (95100), 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: Fiction Portfolio 30% Poetry Portfolio 30% Workshop Participation (critiques, submitted work, workshop discussion) 10% Class Participation (assignments, exercises, readings, quizzes, discussion) 20% Public Reading Responses

10%

Coursework You will be writing one short story and five poems for this course, along with various writing exercises, and two responses to on-campus public readings. Your story will be workshopped once with the full class. One of your poems will be workshopped in a large, full-class workshop, and one or more other poems will be workshopped within a smaller group. However, you are encouraged to make use of my office hours to discuss any part of your writing process, from conception to revision. 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 many revisions 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 and investment 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 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 will be able to accommodate. If you turn in a story in one of these genres, you will have to write an entirely new story to receive credit. Fiction Portfolio (30% of final class grade): Your fiction portfolio will be due at mid-term. By email, you will submit a revision of your workshopped short story (10 15 pages) and a cover letter (2 3 doublespaced pages). 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 the course you may have; the second, a discussion of your revision process and a detailed list of what you have chosen to revise (this can be in full sentences or list form). Portfolio (30% of final class grade): Your poetry portfolio will be due during finals week. You will be handing in five poems in the course of the semester, but only need to revise three. By email, you will submit revisions of these three poems and a cover letter (2-3 double-spaced pages). Like the fiction cover letter, this should be in two parts: the first, a reflection on what you have learned about poetry thus far in the semester along with any suggestions about the course you may have; the second, a discussion of your revision process and a poem-by-poem discussion of your revisions. Along with your poetry portfolio, you will be required to turn in a final reflection about your experience of this course (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 as both 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 their poems and stores. It goes without saying that to do so

you will need to attend class every day. Critiques are due the day the poems/stories are being workshopped. A complete critique requires line and margin comments on your copy of the piece and a typed, single-spaced 250 500 word response. I will periodically collect your critiques, so please be prepared to email them to me upon request. Class Participation (20% of the final class grade): Because this course is rooted in workshop, class discussion and constructive participation is absolutely essential. I expect you to participate actively and thoughtfully in both the discussions of published stories and the workshops of your peers. 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 inclass writing exercises, which will be helpful to you only if they are approached openly and with energy. I will collect these exercises from time-to-time and the points will go towards your participation grade to ensure the work is being done. Finally, you will be expected to keep an image journal, which I will call on you to share occasionally with the class. One of these pieces of writing will be turned into me almost every class, as both a part of your participation grade and a means of recording your attendance. 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 site http://jjacobscourses.wordpress.com/eng-205/ (please bookmark this site); pencil these 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 of the event and a personal reflection of the reading 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. Email your reading responses to me within a week of the event. Course Policies You are expected to be considerate and respectful of your fellow classmates and their work at all times. This is a workshop class, so differing views are expected and encouraged 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 didnt like it are unacceptable critiques. Even though we will be dealing with personal subject matter, dont take criticism of your work personally. Our discussion will always be in the context of the work being produced, not the 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 of two class meetings during the semester for any reason. For each missed class over two, your final class grade will be lowered by at least half a letter grade. It is essential that you 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 five minutes of every class. If you arrive after I have collected the work, you will be counted as absent for the day. 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 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 to always include your name on your submission. Academic Integrity and Plagiarism All work you submit must be original to you and to this course (e.g., not work complete during other creative writing course you have taken). Plagiarism, or the use of others work without their consent or acknowledgement, is a serious offense and will result in automatic failure from the course and possible expulsion from the University. If you are unsure about what might constitute plagiarism, read the Universitys policy on Cheating and Plagiarism at www.purdue.edu/ODOS/ossr/integrity/htm Statement about Disabilities Students 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 a documented disability that will impact your work in this class, please schedule an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss your needs. Campus Emergency In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may necessitate a revised calendar or other circumstances. In such an event, you can get information about changes in the course by emailing me (jacobs21@purdue.edu)