The University of Western Ontario

WRITING 211

Fundamentals of Creative Writing

Fall 2005

Tuesday, 1:30-2:30 PM
Thursday, 1:30-3:30 PM

Instructor:
T. Green
tgreen23@uwo.ca
www.tmgreen.com

Room: UC 74A
Office Hours: Tuesday, 12:30-1:30 & 2:30-3:30 PM
Thursday, 12:30-1:30 PM
 
 

COURSE OUTLINE

1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION

     
    Students will explore fundamentals of creative writing by writing creative nonfiction, poetry and fiction. In classroom discussion and small workshops, students will examine their own work and that of others in an attempt to understand what makes a piece of prose or poetry come alive, trying always to apply what has been learned to improve their own writing.

    Students will keep a journal throughout the course, to be submitted as part of final grade on December 1, near end of course (grade value: 10%). Entries (maximum: 1 page each) are expected to be made a minimum of twice weekly throughout the course.

    There will be a workshop participation mark (grade value: 10%).

    2. REQUIRED TEXTS

(above texts available in university bookstore)

3. RECOMMENDED TEXT
(novel: available from instructor)


4. SCHEDULE

 WEEK 1: Thursday, September 8: Introduction to course

Assigned reading for next class (Sept 13): On Becoming A Novelist
by John Gardner.

Assigned writing for next class: 1-page written response (in journals):
Pick the sentence from the Gardner book that makes the most sense to you,
explaining your reasons clearly. Be prepared to share your response in class
discussion.

* Tuesday: class discussion and sharing of written responses assigned September 8. * Thursday: writing workshop; students will work from passages in On Becoming
A Novelist (plus handouts).

Assignment for next class: download "Autobiography" from www.tmgreen.com.
Read and bring to next class (September 20), along with 3 written questions you
have about what you have read.

* Tuesday: Autobiography/Memoir; class discussion and sharing of questions/responses assigned September 15.
Handout (provided): "Learning to Chill Out" by Frank McCourt.

* Thursday: writing workshop: researching your own life: students will work on
5-paragraph autobiography/memoir, due next class (Tuesday, September 27).

* Tuesday: 5- paragraph (1-2 pages) autobiography/memoir due September 27 at
beginning of class (grade value: 10%). "Inventing the Truth:" class discussion.

*Thursday: "Time Travel to a Place:" writing workshop for 2-page piece,
due next class (Tuesday, October 4).

* Tuesday: 2-page "Time Travel to Place" assignment due October 4 at beginning of
class (grade value: 10%).

* Thursday: writing workshop: "journaling: it’s in the details;" bring journals to class for
sharing/discussion
 

* Tuesday: poetry introduction

* Thursday: writing workshop; work toward 1st poem using the given shared-template.
Poem #1 (10-20 lines) due next class (Tuesday, October 18).

* Tuesday: Poem #1 due October 18 at beginning of class (grade value: 10%).
Selected professional poetry handouts: reading and class discussion.

* Thursday: writing workshop for 2nd poem, using one of 3 given
templates.
Poem #2 (10-20 lines) due next class (Tuesday, October 25).

* Tuesday: Poem #2 due October 25 at beginning of class (grade value: 10%).
Selected professional (and student) poetry handouts: reading and class discussion.

* Thursday: writing workshop: establishment of criteria for good poetry; grading and
evaluation of poetry, based on criteria established as a class.

Reading Assignment for next class (November 1): stories 1-36 (pages 17-116) from
Flash Fiction.

Writing Assignment for next class (November 1): Select the 3 stories (of the 36 read)
that you liked the best, and explain clearly the reasons for your choices in a page or

two of journal entry. Be prepared to read and share your responses in class discussion.

* Tuesday: fiction introduction; class discussion and sharing of written responses
assigned October 27.

Writing Assignment for next class (November 3): Write a "flash fiction" (circa 750
words) modeled on the story you admired most of the 36 read. Print and bring
sufficient copies to share with the class.

* Thursday: writing workshop: discussion, commentary, observation re student flash
fictions assigned November 1.

Reading Assignment for next class (November 8): stories 37-72 (pages 117-215)
from Flash Fiction.

Writing Assignment for next class (November 8): As before, Select the 3 stories (of
the 2nd set of 36 read) that you liked best, and explain clearly the reasons for your
choices in a page or two of journal entry. Be prepared to read and share your
responses in class discussion.
 
 

* Tuesday: class discussion and sharing of written responses assigned November 3.
Writing Assignment for next class (November 10): As before, write a "flash fiction"
(circa 750 words) modeled on the story you admired most of the 2nd set of 36 read.
Print and bring sufficient copies to share with class.

* Thursday: writing workshop: discussion, commentary, observation re student flash
fictions assigned November 3.
Workshop a 3rd "flash fiction," based on a personal experience.
On Tuesday, November 15, students will submit 2 (their choice) of the 3 flash
fictions which they have written and workshopped with the class.

* Tuesday: 2 "flash fictions" due November 15 at beginning of class
(grade value: 20%).
Introduction to the short story.

*Bring text What We Talk About When We Talk About Love to today’s class.*

Reading Assignment for next class (November 17):
First 9 stories (pp. 3-78) from What We Talk About When We Talk About Love

Writing Assignment for next class (November 17): Select the story that you liked
the best (of the 9 read) and explain clearly the reasons for your choice in a page or
2 of journal entry. Be prepared to read and share your responses in class discussion.

* Thursday: discussion re short stories assigned last class; sharing of written journal
responses assigned November 15.
Short story writing workshop and exercises: character, setting.

Reading Assignment for next class (November 22):
Second-half of Carver stories (stories 10-17; pp. 79-159)

* Tuesday: class discussion re Carver stories assigned last class.
Short story structure.

* Thursday: workshop and exercises; working from story models;
story ideas; point-of-view.

General Writing Assignment: students will begin working on drafts of their own
short story (10-15 pages in length, typed, double-spaced),
due Tuesday, December 6 (grade value: 20%).
 
 

* Tuesday: handouts: sample stories; models.
Discussion re Shadow of Ashland (recommended bonus text) and voluntary
response paper.

* Thursday: Journals to be submitted at beginning of class (December 1);
grade value: 10%.

Writing workshop: students should make copies to share with the class
of portions of their own stories which they feel could benefit from workshopping
with class. Final drafts due next class (December 6).
* Bonus assignment due (voluntary). *

* Tuesday: Completed draft of student short story (10-15 pages, typed, double-
spaced) due December 6 at beginning of class (grade value: 20%).
Class discussion re stories and experience of writing a story.

Summary evaluation. Discussion of learned experience.
 

5. EVALUATION SUMMARY

Regular attendance and participation in workshops is required.
Students will be graded on the writing they produce in each of the 3 course sections
(creative nonfiction 20%, poetry 20%, fiction 40%), as well as a separate grade
for the submitted journal (10%) and a workshop participation mark (10%).

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Prerquisite: At least 70% in Writing 101F/G or Writing 121F/G

No audits allowed.

3 hours; 0.5 course

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Plagiarism: ‘Students must write their essays in their own words. Whenever students take an idea or a passage from another author, they must acknowledge their debt both by using quotation marks where appropriate and by proper referencing such as footnotes or citations. Plagiarism is a major academic offence (see Scholastic Offence Policy in the Western Academic Calendar). The University of Western Ontario uses software for plagiarism checking. Students may be required to submit their written work in electronic form for plagiarism checking.’