INTRODUCTION TO FICTION AND POETRY: FALL 2014

The Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University

Instructor
Contact
Class Section
Class Time
Office Hours

Jenny Xie
yxie15@jhu.edu
AS.220.105.18
TTh 9:00-10:15 AM, Gilman 381
By appointment

Purpose
This course introduces the student to basic strategies in poetry, fiction, and critical analysis. By
reading and discussing canonical works in modern literature, well discover various tools of the
writers craft and inherit them for our own stories and poems. This hands-on course pairs critical
study (discussion) with creative endeavor (workshop), and the students end project is a
portfolio of original writing. Completion of IFP 1 and IFP2 is required for a major in The Writing
Seminars. (Note: Enrollment in IFP I is based on successful completion of the diagnostic quiz.
Failure to pass the quiz will result in removal from the class roster.)
Texts
The Norton Anthology of Short Stories, 7th ed., edited by Bausch, Cassill.
The Norton Anthology of Poetry, 5th ed., edited by Ferguson, Salter, Stallworthy.
Grading
Grades will be based on careful reading of the assigned literature, class participation, the quality
of the writing in daily or weekly assignments, and revisions. Ultimately, students will hand in a
final portfolio containing revisions of their best work.

Participation (40%)
Verbal (20%)
Workshop letters (15%)
Readings attendance (5%)
Assignments (35%)
Portfolio (25%)
Completeness (5%)
Improvement (20%)
Absences
1 No penalty
2 No penalty
3 -10% to final calculated grade
4 -20%
5 -30%
6 -40% (Failing)

Assignments and Workshop Letters

Each week, students will complete one writing assignment and a number of workshop letters.
You will see the assignment prompt one week before it is due on Blackboard
(blackboard.jhu.edu).
For the workshop cycle, students are responsible for bringing enough copies to the class
meeting prior to our Thursday workshop. This gives other students ample opportunity to read
and comment on these drafts. Review the calendar of workshop dates to know when it is your
turn to present. (You must be present for your own workshop, or you fail that assignment!)

Students who are not presenting that week are responsible for marking up their peers stories.
Annotations: editing suggestions, praises, questions, etc., written directly on the draft
Workshop letter: a brief, two-paragraph summary on what the writer is doing well, what could be
improved, etc. Comments should be constructive and respectful.
Please print two copies of the workshop letterone for the writer, and one for me.
*Keep all of your assignmentsdo not throw them away! Youll need them for your final
portfolio.
**Late assignments are not accepted unless you make arrangements with me several days in
advance.
Readings
Students are expected to attend at least TWO literary readings during the semester. Hand in a
one-paragraph response to each reading describing your reactions, what you liked or disliked,
connections you found between the reading and what youve learned, etc.
Readings will be listed on the department web site (http://writingseminars.jhu.edu/readingseries/index.html). In addition, MFA candidates host a weekly reading series in the Tudor and
Stuart Room (Wednesdays at 7 PM, Gilman 388).
Academic Integrity
The strength of the university depends on academic and personal integrity. In this course, you
must be honest and truthful. Ethical violations include cheating on exams, plagiarism, reuse of
assignments, improper use of the internet and electronic devices, unauthorized collaboration,
alteration of graded assignments, forgery and falsification, lying, facilitating academic
dishonesty and unfair competition.
Faculty Ethics Committee
Any violation of academic integrity in IFP I or 2 will result in a failure for the entire semesters
course. Any student failing either IFP I or 2 due to academic dishonesty will, perforce, be
relinquishing the right to take further courses in the Writing Seminars.

Honor Code Statement

I understand the academic integrity policies of Johns Hopkins University and the additional
plagiarism policy within the course Introduction to Fiction and Poetry offered by The Writing
Seminars. I agree I will not knowingly plagiarize or aid any other student in plagiarizing any
material. I understand that plagiarism in IFP 1 or 2 will result in immediate failure in the course
and my inability to register for other courses in The Writing Seminars.
Signed:
Date: