Course
Goals.
The
primary goal of this course is to plan, develop, and write a creative
writing project with the support and critical response of peers.
As
a pass/fail course, the secondary goal is to have fun sharing
the creative process in a small workshop atmosphere. We will celebrate
the diversity of voices and variety of experiences evident in
the various projects.
Each
of you will also have an individualized creative manuscript project.
The creative writing project may be in any of the genre: biography,
poetry, picture or board book, fiction (including fantasy or science
fiction), photo-essay nonfiction, or children’s theatre (although
we aren’t examining this).
Attendance
Policy. If you miss more than two class sessions, you should drop
the class because you will not pass. I am very strict about attendance.
You are allowed two absences without penalty. I do not want to
know why you are absent. After two absences, your semester percentage
grade will drop 10% for each class missed. This class meets only
once a week, so it is very difficult to pass with several absences.
Students
with Disabilities. Students who have a documented disability which
may impair their ability to complete assignments or otherwise
satisfy course criteria are encouraged to meet with me to identify,
discuss, and document any feasible instructional modifications
or accommodations.
Major
Assignments
Genre
Conventions Analysis 20%
o
an essay on your personal favorite authors/book
Roundtable
Workshop Participation 20%
o
attendance &readings and discussion of work in progress
o reader response leadership
o service learning children’s library participation
Individualized
Creative Project 30%
o
proposal for publication submission
o completed manuscript, submission ready
Final
Exam (A Reflective Learning Evaluation) 10%
TOTAL
PERCENTAGE REQUIRED TO PASS 70%
Class
Schedule
1/21
focus: introductions & roundtable goals
writing for 1/28: 2 writing project proposals (including motives, genre & content tensions)
1/28
focus: establishing writer and reader motives
writing for 2/4: what's at stake (who is in conflict, why, why do we care?)
2/4
focus: xxxxx
writing: xxxxx
2/11
focus: xxxxx
writing: xxxxx
2/18
focus: xxxxx
writing: xxxxx
2/25
focus: xxxxx
writing: xxxxx
3/4
focus: focus: xxxxx
writing: xxxxx
3/11
workshop on your manuscript
3/18
workshop on your manuscript
3/25
Spring Break
4/1
workshop on your manuscript
4/8
workshop on your manuscript
4/15
workshop on your manuscript
4/22
workshop on your manuscript
4/29
workshop on your manuscript
5/6 workshop on your manuscript
5/xx
final exam period—manuscripts submission ready%
Four
things are due at the Final Reading:
(1)
completed manuscript
(2) manuscript (or sample portion of larger projects) in submission
format
(3) a self-critique of the whole project & next step writing
plans
(4) reading partner critiques (& oral introductions)
Finals
Reading Day—everyone bring 1 or 2 friends and prepare introductions
to your reading excerpt. Reading partners will introduce each other
at the reading.
