ENG 2800: CREATIVE WRITING

Oakland Community College—Winter 2008

(Advisory: Extensive use of music in every class.)

Instructor: Dr. David L. James                      Office: G-205, Orchard Ridge Campus

Office Hours: Tues.: 11:00-12:00; Wed.: 4:00-5:30; Thurs.: 8:15-9:00 a.m., 1:00-1:30 or by appointment. Email is an excellent way to contact Dr. James.

Class:.Thursday, 9:30-12:30 p.m., G-221

Phone/e-mail: (248) 522-3685, dljames@oaklandcc.edu 

Web Page: www.oaklandcc.edu/or-eng/dljames/djhome.htm

Required Text: Three Genres, 8^th edition, by Stephen Minot

Course Description: Prerequisite: English Composition.  Students will develop a personal writing style by analyzing various genres, such as fiction, poetry, and drama and by responding critically to the work of other students. (3 credits) 

Course Objectives:

Students will

·        Write original poems, short-short stories, and one-act plays and present their work to class

·        Respond constructively to other people’s writing and listen to others respond to theirs

·        Revise their work and present the best of it in portfolio form

·        Learn the basic elements of poetry, fiction, and drama

·        Research one poet and be part of a 10-minute oral presentation

·        Read a variety of poetry, short-short stories, and one-act plays

·        Develop an aesthetic appreciation for literature

·        Work cooperatively and independently

·        Learn to communicate effectively

A: 200-190                 A-: 189-179                 B+: 178-171                B: 170-165

B-: 164-158                 C+: 157-147                C: 146-140                  C-: 139-121

D: 120-110                  WP: 109 or lower

Portfolio Grading:

Three stapled portfolios are required from each writer.  Poetry, fiction, and play portfolios are due at key times during the semester.  All entries should be typed, in the most finished form possible with the assignment number listed in the upper right corner.  A minimum one-page reflection paper is required at the beginning of each portfolio addressing this question: What have I learned about my writing so far this semester?  If no reflection is included, the portfolio will be marked down by 2 points.  Students not fulfilling all of the portfolios will receive a ‘WP’ mark.  Late portfolios will be marked down by 6 points automatically; if beyond one week from the deadline, it will be marked down by 12 points.

Poet Presentation:

In groups of two (randomly assigned), your assignment is to read one full-length book of poems by a modern, contemporary author and give a 10-minute oral presentation.  The score for the presentation will range from 12-20 points.   Additional guidelines will be forthcoming.  If you miss your presentation for any reason, you must submit a 1-2 page typed report on the poet, attaching the poem you would have read to class (for a maximum of 14 points).

Quizzes and Exam:

Three 10-point group quizzes will be given during the semester.  Missed quizzes may be made up before the end of one week; otherwise, there are no make-ups.  All late quizzes will be marked down by two points automatically.  A final cumulative exam covering the three genres will be worth 30 points, and students will take that exam individually.  Late exams marked down three points.

ADA:

Students requiring special assistance (including those affected by the American with Disabilities Act) should contact the PASS Office, who will inform the instructor of any special conditions pertaining to the students’ learning.

Privacy Information:

In accordance with federal law (FERPA), none of your personal information will be provided to anyone unless I receive your written permission.

Attendance Policy:

Your participation in class discussions, activities, and in-class writings is an expectation of attendance.  You may miss two classes without penalty (except if you’re absent during a quiz, which lowers your quiz grade).  Life happens, among other things.  Beyond that, your lack of presence is harmful to both you and your fellow writers.  Each absence after two will lower your final grade by 8 points.  Arriving 20 minutes late or leaving early constitutes a ½ absence.  To inspire those diligent creative writers who attend class, 8 points will be ADDED to your grade if you have less than two absences for the entire semester.

Plagiarism:

Students who cheat and copy the work of others, published or not, and pass it off as their own creative work will be penalized appropriately, either with an E on that assignment or an E for the entire class. This is a major academic offense.

Classroom Rules:

I expect every student to respect the instructor and fellow students, cooperate in class while focusing on learning, and be engaged and courteous.  As a sign of respect for your learning, cell phones must be turned off in class. 

Instructor Comments:

My job is threefold: 1) to create an environment that stimulates your creative juices and gets you writing; 2) to provide constructive feedback on your writing; and 3) to enhance your knowledge of the literary characteristics of poetry, short fiction, and drama.  However, I am at your mercy: you must put forth the energy, hard work, reflection, and desire to do the reading and writing week after week or else your writing will not improve.

1.      I do not grade individual pieces.  I write comments and suggestions for your use in revision and rewriting.  I expect you to rewrite and revise your work before including it in the portfolio.

2.      I am looking for clarity, insight, mechanical skill, originality, creativity, and vividness in your work.

3.      I don’t expect greatness.  I expect effort and dedication.  You learn from your mistakes.  You re-create, re-see. 

4.      Quantity of output can earn a B on the portfolios.  But only quantity and quality can earn an A grade.  For better or worse, this is a subjective decision made by the instructor, just like in the real world.

5.      I expect lively, rowdy, loud discussion in class, but presented in an honest, civil, kind and helpful tone.  We may not always find the answers, but the questions we raise are more important anyway.

Instructor Assumptions:

These are a few of the basic assumptions I have about learning.

¨      all students can be successful and learn based upon their motivation and work ethic

¨      group work is effective for both stimulating and explaining ideas

¨      a variety of teaching techniques appeals to the diversity of learners in the room

¨      practice leads to competence

¨      revision of work based upon constructive feedback enhances the final product

¨      critical thinking skills are honed by reading and analyzing creative work, both professional and student

¨      participation in class strengthens one’s intellectual understanding

Extra Credit:

Students may earn up to 10 points by attending a poetry or fiction reading or by attending a play during the semester.  A typed one-page minimum response paper is required before the 13^th class period.

Poetry/Fiction Reading: Describe who read and what was read.  Define the style of the reader (How did he read? What was said in between pieces?).  Describe the size of the audience and the setting for the reading (where, when).  Evaluate the entire experience by giving it a letter grade and explaining why.  APRIL 10: Poetry Reading at OCC. If you attend the whole reading, you can get 8 extra credit points automatically.

Play: Name and describe the play.  Briefly retell the story of the play.  Which character was most interesting to you and why?  Evaluate the entire experience by giving it a letter grade and explaining why.  Submit a copy of the theatre playbill with your response paper.

Important Dates to Remember for Winter 2008:

Last day for 100% refund:

Close of 6th business day from start of class

Last day for withdrawing:

Friday of the 12^th week of class

Spring Recess: Feb. 25 – March 1

E  N  G    2  8  0  0 :

CREATIVE WRITING

(one-day/week class*)

Class                     Readings Required

                             POETRY

1                           Intro/syllabus/in-class writing and group work

2                           Reading due: Chap. 25, 26; poetry video

3                           Chap. 27, 28; Where Poems Come From/Images; 1^st poetry assn. due (bring 4 copies)

4                                                        Chap. 29, 31; Sounds/Lines to Stanzas (form poetry);

helping circle; 2^nd poetry assn. due

5                                                         Chap. 32; Free-Verse Patterns; helping circle; 3^rd poetry assn. due;     Poetry Quiz

                             FICTION

6                           Chap. 6; Craft to Art/Fiction; poet presentation selection

7                           Chap. 7, 9, 18; Sources/Viewpoint/Character. Poetry Portfolio DUE; 1^st fiction assn. due (bring 4 copies)

8                           Chap. 13, 19, 12; Minding the Store/Bank Robbery/ Structure; 2^nd fiction assn. due

9                           Chap. 14, 17, 8; Tension/Dialogue/Escapes; presentation prep—45 minutes; 3^rd fiction assn. due

10                         Chap. 20, 22; Imagination/Gotta Dance; poet presentations;     Fiction Quiz

PLAYWRITING

11                         Chap. 37, 39; Theatre/Plot; poet presentations; Fiction Portfolio DUE

12                         Chap. 38, 43; Hello/Nonrealism; poet presentations;

1^stdrama assn. due (bring 4 copies)

13                         Chap. 42, 46; Coulda/Valley Forgery; poet presentations; 2^nd drama assn. due

14                         Chap. 41; Conflict; pp. 435-443; Publication;     Drama Quiz

15                         Final Exam; Drama Portfolio DUE; final class reading and celebration!

*Schedule subject to minor changes.

Last Revised: 11/2007

Poems should be typed, single-spaced with name under the title.

Remember, assignments are not graded.  They are for feedback and practice. 

Only the writing portfolios are graded.

DUE Class 3: assignment 1(bring in 4 copies)

Assignment 1: GAME POEM/LIST POEM: choose one from below

a.       Write a poem that describes the rules to an imaginary game.  Be inventive, absurd, crazy.  Consider ending the poem with directions on how to win or how to lose.  Remember, anything can happen in these poems.  Let the impossible happen. Let your imagination go wild.

b.      Write a poem that is simply a list of concrete statements (either phrases or complete sentences—do not use only single words).  See what happens when you speak in images only rather than trying to explain.  No abstractions allowed!!

DUE: Class 4: assignment 2

Assignment 2: SKINNY or FAT POEM/CURSE POEM or EPIGRAM POEM/LETTER POEM: choose one from below

a.       Try to write a poem with no more than 2-3 words per line OR write a fat poem with a minimum of 8 words or more per line.

b.      Write a curse poem, one in which you list the ills you would like to see happen to someone you despise. This poem has a grand tradition, and it’s darn fun to write!

c.       Write a poem inspired by an epigram.  Explore the meaning of the epigram OR use the phrase/idea as a starting point and allow your imagination to do the rest.

d.      Write a poem as a letter to a part of your body or personality, addressing that part as if it could hear you (for example, “Dear Heart,” “Dear Knee,” “Dear Memory”).  Use the second person point of view, YOU.   This is an example of the figure of speech called apostrophe…

DUE Class 5: assignment 3

Assignment 4: SONNET/VILLANELLE/GHAZAL FORM POEM: choose one from below

a.       Write a poem in the form of a sonnet, a villanelle (see examples in Three Genres) or a ghazal (handout).

b.        Create your own formal rhyming form for a poem and use it to write a poem.  Provide a name and a brief written description of the form and restrictions with your attempt.

1-day per week class

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