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SyllabusMASSASOIT COMMUNITY COLLEGE Professor Louis M. Rosenberg, PhD Fall, 2011
ENGL 119‐1 Creative Writing 3 credits
This is a course designed for those students who have mastered grammatical skills and who have a desire to express
themselves creatively in fiction (short story or novel), drama (plays or screenplays) and/or poetry. This course is conducted
as a workshop, with readings of the students' works followed by creative criticism. The objective of the course is to write for
publication, so the course includes a realistic appraisal of the possibilities in the publishing market.
Prerequisites: English Composition II (ENGL102) or Permission of Instructor
REQUIREDCOURSEMATERIALS
Textbooks
Creative Writer’s Handbook (5th Edition) Philip K. Jason, et al Longman ISBN: 9780136050520
Dry Augusten Burroughs Picador ISBN: 9780312423797
Technology
Daily access to the Internet and email
Ability to perform basic Internet operations necessary to life in the 21st century
OTHERLEARNINGRESOURCES
ONLINE You will be submitting assignments, downloading information, and interacting with me and other class members online. See “Technology” section for more information.
ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER
It vital to your success that you engage the full resources of the college’s resource center, particularlythe Writing Center. However, you are not limited to these resources. Your college’s library holds workshops throughout the semester covering topics such as research methodology, computer‐ and Internet‐based operations, etc., and you are strongly urged to participate in those workshops which address a skill(s) you’re lacking. Although it is yet another time commitment (usually, an hour or so), participation in these workshops will save you countless hours of trial‐and‐error during the completion of assignments. Check your college’s website, our course website, and your Student Handbook for more information about the academic services provided to you.
MASSASOIT COMMUNITY COLLEGECreative Writing Dr. Lou Rosenberg
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CONFERRING WITH ME
I am available to you both (quickly) after class, via email and “online meetings,” and by appointment. To contact me via email, navigate to the website (lourosenberg.com/edu) and choose LOU > CONTACT LOU. And to book an appointment with me, navigate to the website and choose LOU > BOOK AN APPOINTMENT. It’s important that you meet with all of your professors regularly throughout the semester.
LEARNINGOUTCOMES1. To develop daily writing habits 2. To learn to give and receive creative criticism 3. To gain an acquaintance with the imaginative writing field 4. To develop the skills as a “world observer”
TEACHINGPROCEDURES&METHODOLOGY
WORKSHOP
Since there is virtually no lectures, we will discuss both the assigned readings and their own writing in a workshop environment.
Your writing will be evaluated by the class.
While arrogance and other forms of insecurity, jealousy, and overall mediocrity are expressly forbidden (and will result in the swift and immediate dismissal from the course), true, honest feedback is essential to the evolution of your work. We all want the same thing for you: your success!
THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY
Throughout the semester, you will submit your work to various publishing avenues, both online and print magazines.
You will gain firsthand knowledge of how to “write for publication.”
We will review the protocol required by the industry with respect to o proper manuscript formatting, o proper query letter writing, and o telephone etiquette (when speaking with editors and agents).
The not‐so‐basic track of how published stories become feature films and television MOWs1.
READINGS Throughout the semester, you will read from the textbook as well as other
published authors and poets, and we will use these creative works as shining examples of motifs, tropes, style, structure, etc.
PORTFOLIOS Your portfolio is the central feature of the course, and, by the end of the
course, it will contain your very best work. It is the portfolio, class participation, and attendance that comprise the grading rubric.
FINAL EXAM Such that this course is one which earns you college credit, we cannot avoid
the requisite Final Exam. Your Final Exam, then, will reflect various aspects of your portfolio as well as the major aspects of the assigned readings.
1 Movie of the Week
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GRADEDISTRIBUTION
EVALUATIONOFSTUDENTPROGRESSTo evaluate your progress, I will take into consideration the extent to which those talents you have
demonstrated at the outset of the course have evolved. You will also be graded on the quality (as opposed to
the quantity) of your performance in the workshops. I strive for the elimination of that traditional, objective
“bar” which students must at least meet in order to pass a course at the lowest grade possible (D‐, usually),
while the level and degree of mastery of which is reflected as ascending grades that mark their
academic/intellectual competitiveness. With this so‐called “bar” effectively dismissed from the equation,
individual merit can flourish in the student and offer a compelling and adaptable matrix of evaluative
possibilities for the professor.
Life happens! While every student is graded equally and objectively, I am certainly willing to allow concessions (such as an extension on a particular assignment) should a student demonstrates just‐cause. Having said this, all students are expected to operate at the “college level” at all times. Nothing less is acceptable.
Term Exams20%
Class Participation
35%
Assignments30%
Final Exam15%
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WORKSHOPS
During most class meetings, your performance is evaluated. This evaluation is based on the following criteria.
Overall helpfulness
Lucidity of comments
Relevancy of comments
Willingness to consider and reconsider comments from others
Clear evidence of how past workshops have assisted in overall creative growth
GRADED ASSIGNMENTS
Fiction&Poetry
Fiction and Poetry are graded using a rubric. The rubric seeks to illuminate both the creative and industrial merit of the submission. While each rubric is designed specifically for that particular assignment it hopes to reflect, here are some key elements, in no specific order.
The use of language o Is it forced, full of cliché? o For dialog, is it authentic to the particular characters? o The ability to make the impossible possible. o Is the use of poetic license (essentially, rule‐breaking) clearly intentional?
To what degree does it serve to augment the particular scene or the overall milieu of the story?
o Is it consistent in voice, tone, and thesis of the work?
Originality o Consistent, clear, and creative use of the human condition in reaction to all
reflective, motivational, and native structural forces throughout the story or poem
There is no exception to this, even if the story or poem takes place in distant galaxies, is any type of farce, satire, or parody, is an internal/external space opera, a monologue, or is impressionistic.
There must be significant and poignant places in the story or poem where you humanize (or “naturalize”) the aliens, monsters, criminals, foil character(s), environment, etc. such that without it, the story or poem couldn’t exist.
Plot/Structure o The rationality of the plot o The extent to which the interactions of all characters is influenced or
affected by the protagonist’s actions as he/she is compelled through the plot by outside and interior obstacles, roadblocks, and/or past circumstances, thus forcing the antagonist to adapt to the point of his/her demise
o A structure that is, at once, unique, credible, and accessible, especially concerning scenes involving deus ex machina
Characters’ credibility, both functionally and creatively o The degree to which the protagonist’s actions and reactions relate to
his/her (in this particular order)… (a) individual nature (b) cultural folkways and mores
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(c) universality
Journaling,Exams,&OtherTraditionalAssignments
These assignments are graded, as the subtitle suggests, traditionally.
FINAL EXAMINATION
Students will sit for a Final Exam, which is open‐notebook, and I often allow students to work in small groups (of no more than two or three). Please understand that the Final Exam may not be made up under any circumstances, whatsoever and that it will cover the full arch of the course.
TERM EXAMS
You will sit for several Term Exams throughout the semester. The Term Exams will cover both lecture and reading material. Unless otherwise instructed, you may use you course notes on all exams, and I usually allow the exams to be written in small, quiet groups. However, students may not use any electronic devices, (including computers, PDAs, electronic dictionaries, etc.) during any exam because allowing these amenities would put those without them at a disadvantage. Therefore, if you take notes on a computer, simply print them out and bring them to the exam. Attention ESL Students: While you are certainly welcome to use ancillary
materials (dictionary, computer, etc.) during the lectures, you may not use them during any the exams. As aforementioned, only notebooks are allowed.
CONFERENCING WITH ME
All appointments are booked on the website. See Technology section for further information.
ATTENDANCEAs this course is based heavily on class participation (see grading chart, above), your presence at each and every
meeting is essential. Therefore, you are allowed only two absences. Further absences will result withdrawal
from the course.
A brief note on late arrivals. Students are either “absent” or “present.” Therefore, if you arrive after
attendance has been taken, you are still considered “absent.” One of the most important aspects of a
successful writer is self‐discipline. So, get to class on‐time!
If you find that you must miss a class, it is your responsibility to see a fellow student to obtain the lecture
notes as well as any announcements that were made. Remember that I may alter an assignment’s due‐date
and/or language, announcing such changes during class. Of course, these changes will also be reflected on the
website, but such updates may not be immediate.
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It is important to note that the following assignment types are not eligible for make‐up. Therefore, late arrivals and absentees will miss these grading opportunities:
In‐Class Assignments (workshop surveys, etc.) Term Exams Midterm and Final Exams
ASSIGNMENTPOLICIES
MANUSCRIPTS FOR REVIEW DURING THE
WORKSHOPS
Without exception, all manuscripts (including poetry) must be typed.
You will submit your manuscripts online, by their deadlines. They will then be collected, photocopied, and, finally “workshopped.”
During each workshop, we will complete a brief survey form for each work that we review. These will be collected by me, graded (as “class participation”), scanned, and then uploaded to the course’s website where they will be accessible to all writers in the course. This way, you’ll be able to refer to your surveys at any time throughout your writing process.
In the true spirit of a creative writing course, you will find that much of your work will be revision. Therefore, to earn credit for each submission (or draft, depending upon the particular assignment), significant editing must be evident.
MISSING THE DEADLINE
Missing a deadline will cost you 30 points for that particular assignment. So, be sure to meet your deadlines!
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is the use of someone else work/intellectual property without giving credit. If I suspect plagiarism, I will require you to engage with me in an oral defense. If after the oral defense I believe that you did, in fact, plagiarize, you will fail the course. Generally, I handle plagiarism issues internally, without involving the administration.
BACKUP COPIES AND THE ARCHIVING OF
ALL SUBMITTED ASSIGNMENTS
You are required to backup throughout the course (or, in the case of written assignments, keep copies of) all of the assignments that you submit and that are returned to you. Further, you must have ready access to these backups should I request them. Such backups, however, do not in any way (including the grading or regarding of an assignment) supersede my authority as final arbiter for the course.
MISSING AN IN‐CLASS ASSIGNMENT DUE TO AN ABSENCE OR LATE
ARRIVAL
As a general rule, in‐class assignments cannot be made up. However, if you believe that your situation is unique, I encourage you to speak with me.
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TECHNOLOGYYour class website functions as the central hub for the course. It is where assignments, discussions, scheduling
of appointments, course announcements, communications, booking appointments with me, etc. coalesce.
Therefore, you must have access to the site on a daily basis as you are responsible for its official content – i.e.
announcements, changes to assignments, class cancellations, etc.
General Technology Requirements:
Technological issues of any kind are not valid excuses for missing deadlines, announcements, etc.2
Those who do not own a computer will have to make daily visits to their university’s computer lab, their local library, etc.
Time‐management is of the utmost importance – you should never work up to the eleventh hour. This is especially important concerning the composition and timely submission of assignments as technological issues do occur. You will always have a three day window during which to submit your online assignments.
Again, Technological issues of any kind are not valid excuses for missing deadlines,
announcements, etc.
Those who are “technologically challenged” are encouraged to visit their university’s computer
lab immediately and work with a lab technician on the basic functions of the Internet and word
processing. There are also free community courses on the basic operations of the Internet, the
computer and its universal software (word‐processing, browsing the web, etc.). Ours is a
technological world, and to be the least bit competitive one must have mastery over such
fundamentals as reading/replying/writing emails, uploading files, using a word processor, using
a search engine (such as Google), as well as the ability to interact with a particular website’s
technology (such as submitting forms, etc.).
2 Technological issues include, but are not limited to: Internet connectivity issues (where the student cannot access the Internet due to a disruption of service, whether or not it is the fault of the student or the service or computer or software that he/she is using); loss of data due to an unforeseen malfunction of computer hardware or software or transmission (Internet) errors; use of software/hardware that is not compatible with Professor Rosenberg’s servers; compatibility issues where the student’s assignment cannot be accessed by Professor Rosenberg; email delays of any kind; emails not received due to spam control software on the student’s computer/email service; Internet page errors of any kind; file size issues where a student’s file is rejected because it exceeds the maximum upload size; the use of improper software (as outlined herein); etc.
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ASSIGNMENTSBelow is a general schedule of assignments. This schedule will almost certainly change as we progress through
the semester, so be sure to check your course’s website for up‐to‐the‐moment information.
Not to worry! You will always have plenty of advanced notice concerning any type of change to
the syllabus.
Unless otherwise indicated (below), students are not responsible for any of the assignments in the text(s).
All readings are to be completed before the date on which they are assigned.
A more thorough explanation of each assignment is found on your course’s website.
WEEK OF READINGS FROM THE TEXT ASSIGNMENTS
9/4 Introduction to the course.
Sample writing assignment due (Thursday)
9/11 Lectures on the craft Submission of your Semester’s Project
proposal
9/18 Working Like a Writer
Journal/Research/Invention
Journal Entry 1
9/25 Point of View Journal Entry 2
10/2 Language is Your Medium Journal Entry 3
Term Exam
10/9 The Elements of Poetry Journal Entry 4
10/16 Practicing Poetry
Poetry Problems
Journal Entry 5
10/23 The Elements of Fiction
Narration and it’s Techniques
Journal Entry 6
Term Exam
10/30 Creative Nonfiction Journal Entry 7
11/6 Stories and Nonfiction Journal Entry 8
11/13 The Elements of Drama Journal Entry 9
Term Exam
11/20 Dialogue and its Problems Journal Entry 10
11/27 Plays and Screenplays Journal Entry 11
Term Exam
12/4 & 12/11
TBA