Introductory Creative Writing

CRWT 2301-501
Spring 2011, Tuesday 7:00-9:45, JO 4.306
Jordan Canfield
Office Number: JO 5.510
Office Hours: Tuesday 5:30-6:30 or by appointment
Email: JDC072000@utdallas.edu— I check my email once on business days around 5:00pm.

Note: All matters associated with this course are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion. Any
changes will be communicated to the students in writing.

Course Description
This course focuses on building and developing the skills needed for successful creative writing,
and will focus on the genres of poetry, nonfiction essay, and short fiction. Through study of existing
literature and the student’s own creative production, the class will learn to manipulate the basics of
poetry, such as rhyme, meter, imagery, and diction, and to tell a story through the considered use of
plot, characterization, viewpoint, and dialogue. Throughout the course, students will be cognizant of the
recursive process of writing and understand the value of workshops, especially how effective and
respectful constructive criticism can aid in producing superior literature.

Student Learning Objectives

Students will identify the elements of poetry: rhyme, meter, form, diction, comparison, etc.
Students will identify the elements of creative nonfiction and short fiction: plot,
characterization, viewpoint, voice, organization, etc.
Students will use the elements of poetry and fiction in their own writing.
Students will learn the usefulness of collaborative workshops in the production and revision
of lively, intriguing and interesting texts.

Required Texts

Knight, Damon. Creating Short Fiction. New York: St. Martins, 1997.
Koch, Kenneth. Making Your Own Days. New York: Touchstone, 1997.

Other Required Materials

Pen and paper. Sometimes, we will do in-class writing and other activities that will require
the proper tools. Please bring a pen and paper to every class.
Access to a photocopier. Due to the workshop component of this class, it will be
necessary for you to be able to make several copies of your work (a good laser printer will
also work—Ink is just too expensive).
Suggested Materials

Grammar Guide- A good writer focuses on his or her weaknesses and tries to improve them.
Improper use of the English language is such a weakness, so a good grammar and style
guide is invaluable. If you do not already have such a style guide, the classic is Strunk and
White’s Elements of Style. There are also several good resources on the internet for the more
confusing parts of the language. Whatever you do, realize how knowing the difference
between it’s and its and other common mistakes can impact the effectiveness of your writing.

Spring 2011 Course Calendar

Note: Any additional readings, assignments, or changes will be discussed in class.

January 11th: Introduction to Course

January 18th: Introduction to Poetry

Koch 19-70
Poem Assignment
January 25th: Poetic Inspiration
Koch 81-108
Sample Workshop
Group 1 Poem Due
February 1st: Free Verse: Leaving Rhyme and Meter Behind
Group 2 Poem Due
Workshop Group 1 Poem (G1P)
February 8th: The Nonfiction Essay
Group 3 Poem Due
Workshop G2P
Nonfiction Essay Assigned
February 15th: Nonfiction Essay, cont.
Group 4 Poem Due
Workshop G3P
February 22nd: Nonfiction Essay, cont.
Group 1 Nonfiction Essay Due
Workshop G4P
March 1st: Nonfiction Essay, cont.
Group 2 Nonfiction Essay Due
Workshop G1E
March 8th: The Short Story
Knight 8-102
Group 3 Nonfiction Essay Due
Workshop G2E
Short Story Assigned
March 15th: Spring Break. No Class

March 22nd: Beginning a Story

Knight 105-139
Group 4 Nonfiction Essay Due
Workshop G3E
March 29th: Controlling a Story
Knight 143-180
Group 1 Short Story Due
Workshop G4E
April 5th: Short Story, cont.
Group 2 Short Story Due
Workshop G1SS
April 12th: Short Story, cont.
Group 3 Short Story Due
Workshop G2SS
April 19th: Short Story, cont.
Group 4 Short Story Due
Workshop G3SS
Portfolio Assigned
April 26th: Course Wrap-Up
Workshop G4SS
May 3rd: Portfolio Project Due in 4.306 by 7:00PM

Grading Breakdown
Poem: 10%
Nonfiction Essay: 10%
Short Story: 10%
Portfolio (one revised poem + revised short story OR Nonfiction Essay + one-two page reflection): 15%
Participation: 30%
Critiques/Daily Work/ Homework/ Quizzes: 25%

Course and Instructor Policies

Attendance Policy: Because each class period consists of a mixture of lecture, discussion, and
freewriting, your thoughtful, attentive, and active participation is essential (and will form a larger portion
of your grade). If you sleep, engage in non-class-related activities, or interfere with your classmates'
ability to learn you will be counted absent for that day. Be on time - class starts promptly. Tardies
(especially consistent tardies) will harm your participation grade and may count as an absence.

Attendance is absolutely crucial to your success in Creative Writing 2301. I encourage you to come to
every class meeting; otherwise, you will miss a great deal of information and material you need to
succeed in this course. Your grade will start to suffer after 2 absences (5 points deducted per
additional absence). On your 5th absence, you will fail the course.

If you feel you have extenuating documented circumstances in regards to absences, please address
these concerns with me as early as possible. However, the best strategy is to come to class and save
your absences for when you really need them. Do not miss the workshops that feature your work.
Class Participation: Your success in this course is a function of your level of engagement. Participation
makes up a big part of your final grade, since a great deal of the class focuses on workshop and
discussion. Any student wishing to make high marks for participation will contribute frequently and
intelligently during class, show knowledge over any readings, show up on time, and conduct
one’s self with courtesy and respect towards classmates and the instructor during classroom
discussions and workshops.

Participation in this course does not include doing work unrelated to this course during class, sleeping in
class, or using the computers or other personal electronic devices for personal messaging,
research, or entertainment.

Late Work: Late work may or may not be accepted and will suffer grade deductions; While documented
extenuating circumstances may be considered, the precision-based due-dates and workshops
makes accepting late work problematic for the class. It is the student’s responsibility to make
arrangements for any late work.

Plagiarism/ Academic Honesty: The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility
and academic honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of
the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard
of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.

Plagiarism, especially from the web and from any other source is unacceptable and will be
dealt with under the university's policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course
will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90%
effective.

Other University Policies:

For detailed descriptions of other standardized university policies, including incomplete grade
procedures, religious holy days, disability services, student grievance procedures and others, please visit
http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies