CRWT 2301.

001, Fall 2011

CRWT 2301.001 Introductory Creative Writing Don Menzies, Instructor MWF (11:00 11:50 a.m.) Class location: SLC 3.102 Office Number: JO 4.620 Office Hours: MWF 10:00 11:00 or by appt. email: dmenzies@utdallas.edu

NOTE: All matters associated with this course are subject to change at the instructor's discretion. Course Description CRWT 2301 is an introduction to creative writing that will investigate and instruct students in the process of creating original prose, poetry, and possibly some form of dramatic work. Students will engage in a rigorous study of creative writing both from the perspective of the writer as craftsman with a heavy emphasis on the conventions, tools, elements, and processes of writing and from the perspective of the critical reader, deconstructing and imitating textual models of other writers to gain insight into the development of their own writing. The objective of this course is not just to increase ones competence as a writer, but to also, as D.W. Fenza said, explore the relationship between aesthetics and scholarship, between practice and theory, and between art and criticism. A large part of this course will be workshop-centered. Students should be prepared to photocopy and distribute copies of their work in strict adherence to preset submission deadlines and to actively engage in the thorough reading and critique of the work of other students. Student Learning Objectives Students will demonstrate their ability to read from a writers perspective with an emphasis on understanding the stylistic and craft-oriented choices made by other writers. Students will demonstrate, with their written and oral critiques of the work of other students, their understanding of the conventions and elements of different forms of creative writing. Students will demonstrate the ability to purposefully use the elements of fiction and poetry to craft and revise original works in each genre. Required Texts and Materials Laplante, Alice. Method and Madness: The Making of a Story. ISBN# 978-0-393-92817-4 Browne, Renni and Dave King. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. ISBN#978-0-06-054569-7 Oliver, Mary. A Poetry Handbook: A Prose Guide to Understanding and Writing Poetry. ISBN# 0-15-672400-6 Some type of grammar, punctuation, style guide or book
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Notebook and a pen or pencil (for taking notes and developing ideas)

Optional Texts Lucey, Paul. Story Sense: Writing Story and Script for Feature Films and Television. ISBN# 978-0-07-038996-0 Course Assignments Creative Assignments Writing Activities Students will engage in several writing activities as a way to develop their understanding of certain elements of craft and style. These activities may also become the beginnings for the students own stories and poems. Fiction Writers should be prepared to draft, revise, and complete 20-30 pages of fiction. Poetry Writers should be prepared to draft, revise, and complete 3-5 poems for a total of 5-10 pages of poetry (poems should not exceed 2 pages in length). I may require that at least one poem be written in a particular form. Formatting and Submission of Fiction and Poetry On your groups submission date, you will turn in computer-generated copies of your manuscript for each student and the instructor. These should be in MLA format. Your name, the title of work, and a page number should appear in the header on every page. Student copies can be single-spaced and double-sided. Instructor copy must be double-spaced and on one side only (no exceptions). Script Writers should be prepared to view and dissect a feature film and/or television show, discuss the elements and considerations involved in writing this type of dramatic piece, discuss the conventions of script formatting, generate an idea for a script, and draft the first 5-10 pages of the first act. Proofreading All drafts of your work should be proofread and structurally and mechanically sound. If they are not, it will affect your grade. The final copies at the end of the course should be ready for submission to publishers. Written Critiques of Student Work The class will be divided into four groups. All students are required to read and to be prepared to discuss all creative works; however, students are only required to produce written critiques for the other writers in their group. These written critiques should focus on content, the elements of fiction or poetry, structural issues, craft issues, whats working, whats not working, etc. These critiques
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should not be seen as opportunities to express individual opinions or biases about particular subject matter. Written critiques should be no more than two pages, double-spaced, MLA format and will be turned in at the end of class on the day that groups work is critiqued. Course Portfolio Due Date: TBA The course portfolio is a collection of the final revisions of your creative work for the course and a short reflective essay in which you discuss the creative choices you made, specific elements of your style, the orientation of your work, writers whose style has influenced your work, changes in your writing and writing processes, areas of success as well as areas where further development is still needed, and your overall progress as a writer. Keep in mind that the reflection essay serves as a guide to help me evaluate your portfolio. It is your chance to direct my attention to what you have done best, as well as to explain weaknesses in your pieces, demonstrating an awareness of how you might improve. This is not an argument for me to positively evaluate you. Rather, it is an opportunity to reflect on the individual assignments as well as your work as a whole. Grading Your grade for this course will be based on your vigorous participation in class discussions, the thoroughness of your oral and written critiques of the work of other students, your willingness to give and receive criticism, and the completion of the required number of pages of carefully revised, structurally and mechanically correct creative work. I will not be grading you on your talent, but on your engagement in, commitment to, and completion of the coursework. Late or incomplete work is not acceptable. All work must be completed and sufficient copies distributed according to the deadlines on the course calendar. The +/- grading system will be used for this course. Attendance Because this is a workshop-style course, your attendance is essential. Each student is allowed three (3) missed classes; however, if you miss days in which you have either your own creative work due or a written critique of another students work due, you will be disrupting the entire class. Each additional absence above the noted three will cause 4% to be deducted off your final grade for the semester. Personal Communication Devices
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Turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other personal communication devices before the start of class. Do not use such devices during class. Course Calendar Wed, Aug 24 Fri, Aug 26 Introduction to the Course Syllabus, Course Structure, Writing and Workshop Protocols and Schedule Short Fiction Assign Groups, What is Creative Writing?, Imitation and Emulation, Close Reading, Writing Style Group Assignment Short Fiction Narrative Summary vs. Immediate Scene, Writing Dialogue Short Fiction Characterization and Exposition Short Fiction Point of View Labor Day Holiday Short Fiction Proportion, Expansion, Compression Last day to drop without a W Short Fiction Group 1 Stories Due Short Fiction Group 1 Stories Discussed Short Fiction Group 1 Stories Discussed Short Fiction Group 2 Stories Due Short Fiction Group 2 Stories Discussed Short Fiction Group 2 Stories Discussed Short Fiction Group 3 Stories Due Short Fiction Group 3 Stories Discussed Short Fiction Group 3 Stories Discussed Short Fiction Group 4 Stories Due Short Fiction Group 4 Stories Discussed

Mon, Aug 29 Wed, Aug 31 Fri, Sept 2 Mon, Sept 5 Wed, Sept 7 Fri, Sept 9

Mon, Sept 12 Wed, Sept 14 Fri, Sept 16 Mon, Sept 19 Wed, Sept 21 Fri, Sept 23 Mon, Sept 26 Wed, Sept 28 Fri, Sept 30 Mon, Oct 3

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Wed, Oct 5 Fri, Oct 7 Mon, Oct 10 Wed, Oct 12 Fri, Oct 14

Mon, Oct 17 Wed, Oct 19 Fri, Oct 21 Mon, Oct 24 Wed, Oct 26 Fri, Oct 28 Mon, Oct 31 Wed, Nov 2 Fri, Nov 4

Mon, Nov 7 Wed, Nov 9 Fri, Nov 11

Mon, Nov 14 Wed, Nov 16

Short Fiction Group 4 Stories Discussed Poetry Introduction to Poetry: Writing, Reading, Imitating Poetry Sound and sound devices Poetry Line Poetry Imagery, Figurative Language Group 1 Poems Due Poetry Group 1 Poems Discussed Poetry Group 1 Poems Discussed Poetry Group 2 Poems Due Poetry Group 2 Poems Discussed Poetry Group 2 Poems Discussed Poetry Group 3 Poems Due Poetry Group 3 Poems Discussed Poetry Group 3 Poems Discussed Poetry Group 4 Poems Due Assignment of film or television pilot to be previewed for scriptwriting workshop Poetry Group 4 Poems Discussed Poetry Group 4 Poems Discussed Script Introduction to The Formula, 3-Act Structure, Elements of Scriptwriting, Collaboration Script Introduction continued Script Story Ideas, Writing Treatments

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Fri, Nov 18 Mon, Nov 21 Wed, Nov 23 Fri, Nov 25 Mon, Nov 28

Script Formatting Script Writing Dialogue and Action Script Group 1 Scripts Due Thanksgiving Holiday Script Discuss Group 1 Scripts Group 2 Scripts Due Script Discuss Group 2 Scripts Group 3 Scripts Due Script Discuss Group 3 Scripts Group 4 Scripts Due Last class day Discuss Group 4 Scripts Q&A regarding portfolio Turn in portfolio

Wed, Nov 30

Fri, Dec 2

Mon, Dec 5

Day of Final

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University Policies Because of the Universitys effort to go green (by cutting back on photocopying), University Policies can now be viewed at the following site: http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies I have read the policies for CRWT 2301 and understand them. I agree to comply with the policies. I realize that failure to comply with these policies will result in a reduced grade for the course.

Signature: ______________________ Date: ________________________

Name (print): __________________________ UTD e-mail address: __________________________