Creative Writing Program

All students, including majors and non-majors, must take one 200-level Intro (either 270, 271, or 272) before advancing to Intermediate 300 level workshops in prose or poetry. The same is required of non-majors who wish to take creative writing workshops, though some professors may choose to waive this requirement for junior and senior non-majors. The requirement is never waived for majors. Note that 300-level workshops in Playwriting and Screenwriting do not require any pre-requisite.

Students who have completed the 200-level requirement may move into any Intermediate workshop.

A 300-level intermediate course is a prerequisite for an advanced course. Students who wish to take an advanced course must receive a positive assessment of readiness from their intermediate instructor in order to enter advanced workshops.

Please see http://www.creativewriting.emory.edu/students/index.html for more information about the Creative Writing Program requirements.

CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAM COURSE ATLAS
SPRING 2012

Permission is required to enroll in all creative writing classes. Students must fill out an application, which can be printed out from the website at http://www.creativewriting.emory.edu/students/courseapp.html or picked up at the Creative Writing Program office (N209 Callaway Center). Please bring your completed applications to the Creative Writing Program office.

E-mail submissions will NOT be accepted with the following exceptions: if you are not on campus this semester (i.e., study abroad, a semester off, at Oxford College, etc.) or are mobility impaired. Those students may e-mail their applications to pvitari@emory.edu.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

~~Applications~~ ~~must be returned to the Creative Writing Program office by 5 p.m., Tuesday, October 18, 2011. This is the deadline for ALL students.~~

Late applications will be accepted until the end of add-drop for both available spaces in open courses and for the waiting list. Please e-mail Paula Vitaris at pvitari@emory.edu to inquire about open courses. ***OPUS is NOT an accurate picture of availability*** as students who have been accepted into a class may have not yet pre-registered or added in.

The list of accepted students will be posted online at: http://www.creativewriting.emory.edu/students/acceptedstudentslist.html

If you have been accepted into a Creative Writing workshop, you must request a permission number from Paula Vitaris at pvitari@emory.edu. You may also call (404-727-4683) or go to the Program office in N209 Callaway Center to obtain the permission number.

ENGCW 271: Introduction to Poetry Two sections MAX: 15

Teeter Monday 2-5 p.m.
Brodak Wednesday 1-4 p.m.

Content:

Teeter's section:

An introduction to the study and practice of writing poetry. Students will write and revise their own poetry, participate in a weekly workshop of evaluation and criticism (using Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process), read and analyze contemporary poetry in context, develop critical response skills and vocabulary, explore the elements and techniques of poetic craft, and learn to write reflectively on their own aesthetics and goals as writers. Students should budget for photocopying.

Brodak's section:

An introduction to the study and practice of writing poetry. Students will write and revise their own poetry, participate in a weekly workshop of evaluation and criticism, read and analyze contemporary poetry in context, develop critical response skills and vocabulary, explore the elements and techniques of poetic craft, write formal explication essays on poems or collections of poems, and learn to write reflectively on their own aesthetics and goals as student writers. Students should budget for photocopying.

Texts:

Teeter's section:

The Book of Forms, Lewis Turco
Wingbeats: Exercises and Practice in Poetry, Scott Wiggerman and David Meischen, eds.
American Hybrid: A Norton Anthology of New Poetry, David St. John and Cole Swenson, eds.
Primate Behavior: Poems, Sarah Lindsay
Lawrence Booth’s Book of Visions, Maurice Manning
Liz Lerman's Critical Response Process: A method for getting useful feedback on anything you make, from dance to dessert, Liz Lerman and John Borstel
The Triggering Town, Richard Hugo

Brodak's section:

Writing Poems, 8th ed., Michelle Boisseau and Robert Wallace, eds.
One book of contemporary poetry of the student's choice

Assessment:

Teeter's section:

Students will be evaluated on writing, and critical reading skills, and their ability to grasp the basic elements of poetry. Writing (including exercises, drafts and a revision) will make up 60 percent of final grades; critical reading skills (shown through reading responses and critiques of student work), 20 percent; class participation, 20 percent.

Brodak's section:

Students will be evaluated on four key components of the course: (1) Final Portfolio, which will be comprised of revised poems along with additional reflective writings and drafts which show a thoughtful revision process (50%), (2) Essays: two short academic essays will be required, one will be an explication of a poem, the other an evaluation of a book of contemporary poetry (20%), (3) Journal, in which students will respond to prompts and issues related to class discussion (15%), and (4) Participation, which will be determined by discussion, written comments, group work, and other activities (15%).

Extracurricular activities:

Students are required to attend on-campus readings and colloquia sponsored by the Creative Writing Program outside of class time and are encouraged to attend any other activities sponsored by the Program.

Pre-requisite: None

ENGCW 272: Introduction to Fiction Three sections MAX: 15

Armour-Hileman Tuesday 2:30-5:30
Neal Wednesday 1-4
White Thursday 2:30-5:30 p.m.

Content:

Armour-Hileman's section:

In this introduction to fiction writing workshop students will explore essential elements of the fiction writer’s craft. Each class period will include a) exploration of an element of the craft and examination of the way it works in published stories, b) writing exercises to increase students’ skills at employing an element of the craft, c) reading with the eye of a writer—discussion of both published work and student work to analyze how it works and to offer productive critique for future drafts. Students will be strongly encouraged to experiment with keeping a writers’ journal throughout the semester. This course will prepare students for intermediate and advanced workshops in fiction. Students should budget for photocopying.

Neal's section:

ENGCW 272 is a workshop in literary fiction where, after learning about and practicing craft, students will write and revise their own short stories and read/respond to those of others. We will first learn how to find ideas for stories, and then we will work on developing those ideas into stories by merging the specific elements of fiction: characterization, setting, point of view, dialogue, and plot. The workshop will require students to critique each other, and in turn, to understand the revision process. Students will write several scenes, two short stories, and revisions of those stories. Additionally, students will keep a notebook where they will practice writing techniques as assigned. Students should budget for photocopying.

White's section:

This workshop serves as an introduction to the writing and critical reading of short fiction for beginning students. Emphasis will be placed on “reading as writers,” i.e. looking closely at how authors craft their text. Particular attention will be paid to point of view, voice, setting and dialog. In addition to writing responses to the stories they read, students will write several short creative pieces, each focusing on one element of craft. Students will also write a draft of a complete short story (15 page minimum), and significantly revise that draft for the final exam. As part of the revision process, students will have their stories discussed and critiqued by their fellow classmates, in a constructive workshop setting. This course will prepare students for intermediate and advanced workshops in fiction. Students should budget for photocopying.

Texts:

Armour-Hileman's section:

The Making of a Story: A Norton Guide to Writing Fiction and Nonfiction, Alice LaPlante.
Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott
Writing for Story: Craft Secrets of Dramatic Nonfiction, Jon Franklin

Recommended:
The Elements of Style, William Strunk and E.B. White
50 Great Short Stories, Milton Crane
New Sudden Fiction: Short-Short Stories from America and Beyond, Robert Shapard and James Thomas

Neal's section:

Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft, 8th ed., Janet Burroway and Elizabeth Stuckey-French, eds.
Stories on e-reserve
Photocopies of student stories for workshop

White's section:

Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott
One Writer's Beginnings, Eudora Welty
Stories on e-reserve. (These will serve as the primary text for the class. Students are required to print and bring them to class.)
Two lightweight notebooks
Copies of student stories for workshop

Assessment:

Armour-Hileman's section:

Students will leave the course with a portfolio that includes a) a series of short exercises showing an introductory ability to work with the elements of craft explored in class (one third of final grade); b) a few short critiques of others' work, and one self-critique showing an ability to analyze text with the eye of a writer and give constructive criticism. Combined with in-class participation, the critiques count for one third of final grade; c) a final writing project consisting of a short story, a chapter of a longer work, or a series of micro-fiction (one third of final grade). The final project will go through at least two drafts. The project will be assessed on the degree to which it exhibits a good understanding of the elements of craft explored in class as well as the degree to which it exhibits the ability to receive constructive criticism and revise a piece of fiction.

Neal's section:

Students will be assessed on their ability to act like a writer. Additionally, students will be assessed on their ability to hone their fiction craft over the course of the semester, demonstrating the ability to enrich a story via strong character, believable plot, and sustained narrative, not to mention articulate, controlled language. Students are required to write a minimum of 300 words a day for the duration of the course: this requirement makes up 40% of the final grade. Craft responses account for 20%. Class participation is 30%. A Final Portfolio of creative work is10%.

White's section:

Reading responses: 10%; Writing journal: 10%; Writing assignments: 40%; Participation: 40%. As part of their participation grade, students are required to attend on-campus events in the creative writing program’s Reading Series each semester. Students must attend at least one event (the formal reading or the colloquium) for every writer who participates in the semester’s Reading Series. Extra credit will be given for attending off-campus author readings in the greater Atlanta area.

Extracurricular activities:

All sections:

Pre-requisite: None

ENGCW 370R: Creative Writing: Intermediate Fiction Two sections MAX: 15

Grimsley Tuesday 2:30-5:30
Williams Thursday 2:30-5:30

Content:

Grimsley's section:

A workshop in the creation of one longer work of short fiction, a single story of approximately 30 pages. Students will workshop the fiction piece while it is in progress, will rewrite the story during the course of the semester with feedback from the workshop sessions, and will polish and revise the story for final submission at the end of the semester. The workshop will be structured around the elements of fiction as they relate to the construction of longer works. Work will include reading short stories and writing short papers in response to them, and attendance and response to readings in the Creative Writing Program's Reading Series. Students should budget for photocopying.

Williams' section:

A workshop in the writing, critical reading, and revision of reality-based short stories. The course emphasizes the elements of fiction, in generating and shaping story material, in drafting, and in revision. Course requirements will vary depending on the experience of those in the workshop, but almost certainly will include two story drafts, and a significant revision of one of those drafts. Students should budget for photocopying.

Texts:

A story collection to be selected from the class list.

Williams' section

Stories on Reserves Direct

Assessment:

Grimsley's section:

Students will be assessed on their ability to write clearly and with proper grammar, the shaping of narrative prose, and the logic and artistry of their story choices. Highest grades will be given to writers whose work is without need of major overhaul or who make extraordinary progress in their writing over the course of the semester. Writers who need substantial correction either in the use of language, the shaping of a story, the logic of a story, or the meeting of class deadlines will receive lower grades. Failing grades will be given to students who fail to meet substantial class objectives.

Williams' section:

Students will be assessed on their ability, their mastery of the elements of short fiction, their ability to write and revise short fiction, and their critical reading skills. Writing will be 60% of final grades; critical reading skills (demonstrated in critiques of published work and student work), 20%; class participation, 20%.

Extracurricular activities:

Students are required to attend readings or colloquia by visiting writers in the Creative Writing Reading Series outside of class time, and are encouraged to attend any other activities sponsored by the Program.

Pre-requisite: Any 200-level Creative Writing workshop.

ENGCW 371R: Creative Writing: Intermediate Poetry Brodak Monday 2-5 MAX: 15

Content:

As an intermediate-level poetry workshop, students will focus primarily on writing and revising their own poetry through participation in a weekly workshop of evaluation and criticism. Students will also read, analyze and respond to contemporary poetry in context, explore advanced techniques of poetic craft (including translation), learn about publishing poetry in print and online, and learn to write reflectively on their own aesthetics and goals as student writers. Students should budget for photocopying.

Texts:

The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Poetry, J.D. McClatchy, ed.
The Eye of the Poet: Six Views of the Art and Craft of Poetry, David Citino

Assessment:

Students will be evaluated on three key components of the course: (1) Final Portfolio, which will be comprised of revised poems along with additional reflective writings and drafts which show a thoughtful revision process (60%), (2) Essays: two formal academic essays will be required, one will be an explication of a poem, the other an essay on a specific issue of poetic form of the student’s choice (25%), and (3) Participation, which will be determined by discussion, written comments, group work, and other activities (15%).

Extracurricular activities:

Students are required to attend on-campus readings and colloquia sponsored by the Creative Writing Program outside of class time, and are encouraged to attend any other activities sponsored by the Program.

Pre-requisite: Any 200-level creative writing workshop.

ENGCW 373R: Creative Writing: Advanced Fiction Williams Tuesday 2:30-5:30 MAX: 15

Content:

An intensive workshop in the writing of the short story. Students will write, and workshop, as much new work as the class size makes possible. Revision—moving to finished work—will be a major priority. The workshop design presumes that participants are practiced in the elements of a fiction writer’s craft, and are intrigued with the possibilities of the short story form. Workshop members will read a wide range of work by established writers; prepare a class presentation on one story collection; and acquaint themselves with resources available to writers outside the academy. Students should budget for photocopying.

Texts:

Stories on Reserves Direct

Assessment:

Students will be assessed on their mastery of the elements of short fiction, their ability to write and revise short fiction, their critical reading skills, and class participation. Writing and revision will be sixty percent of final grades; critical reading skills (demonstrated in short story collection class presentation, critiques of published work and critiques of student work), 20 percent; class participation, 20 percent.

Extracurricular activities:

Pre-requisite: ENGCW 370R, Intermediate Fiction

ENGCW 374R: Creative Writing: Advanced Poetry York Monday 2-5 MAX: 15

Content:

This course will ask students to focus on developing a coherent body of work, to be realized in a chapbook of 8-10 poems. We will, in equal measure: (a) undertake generative exercises that help students develop new work based on past successes; (b) examine six contemporary poetry collections that can provide imaginative and organizational models; and (c) discuss student poems in a workshop environment. Students should budget for photocopying.

Texts:

The Black Ocean, Brian Barker
The Diminishing House, Nicky Beer
Lighthead, Terrance Hayes
Ideal Cities, Meitner, Erika.
Isolato, Szporluk, Larissa
Dear Darkness, Kevin Young

Assessment:

Students will be evaluated on (a) their level of engagement, as measured in class participation, (b) the degree to which they can articulate and realize a project through a proposal, one-on-one conference review, and mid-term review; and (c) the degree of improvement discernible in the work, from the initial presentation to the final chapbook. Final grades will be comprised by evaluations of presentations (25%), participation in class discussion (20%), one-on-one conferences (10%), project proposal (10%), midterm review (10%), and final chapbook (25%).

Extracurricular activities:

Pre-requisite: ENGCW 371R, Intermediate Poetry

ENGCW 375R: Creative Writing: Advanced Playwriting Skibell Tuesday 2:30-5:30 p.m. (Crosslisted with THEA 375R, Advanced Playwriting) MAX: 15 (ENGCW: 10/THEA: 5)

Content:

In a round-table setting, students will workshop their own work, critique their fellows' work, and delve into the art of playwriting and dramatic narrative, while reading and acting in each other's scenes. Writing and reading intensive. Students should budget for photocopying.

Note: Students wishing to take Playwriting as either ENGCW 375R or THEA 375R should submit their application to Paula Vitaris in the Creative Writing Program office, N209 Callaway Center. Application/deadline information here: http://www.creativewriting.emory.edu/students/courseapp.html

Texts:

Plays from the Contemporary American Theater, Brooks McNamara, ed.
Nine Plays of the Modern Theater, Harold Clurman, ed.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed on their writing and critical reading skills. 50% of the grade will come from the students’ written work (15% for the first two assignments and 20% for the final assignment) and 50% from class participation (discussions, reading, written critiques of classmates’ work).

Pre-requisite: ENGCW 372R/THEA 372R, Playwriting

Extracurricular Activities:

Students are required to attend on-campus readings sponsored by the Creative Writing Program outside of class time, and are encouraged to attend any social activities sponsored by the Program.

ENGCW 378R: Creative Writing: Screenwriting Skibell Wednesday 2-5 p.m. (SAME AS FILM 402 00P, Screenwriting) MAX: 15 (ENGCW: 10/FILM: 5)

Content:

This workshop will introduce the fundamentals of writing for film. We will explore the basic elements of storytelling -- character, plot, setting, structure dialogue, etc. -- and how each is used in writing for the screen. Students will learn the various formats used for film scripts. Editing skills will be sharpened in discussion and evaluation of each other's work-in-progess. The course will concentrate on the creation of a two short screenplays as well as technical consideration of technique, character development, and dramatic structure. Classes will be conducted as workshops in which the main emphasis is on the students' own work, with much in-class writing and improvisation. Students should budget for photocopying.

Note: Students applying for this course as FILM 402 00P should submit their application to Paula Vitaris in the Creative Writing Program office, N209 Callaway Center. Instructions and deadlines here: http://www.creativewriting.emory.edu/students/courseapp.html

Texts (Recommended)

Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting, Robert McKee

Extracurricular activities:

Pre-requisite: None

ENGCW 491R: Creative Writing: Honors Faculty

Permission required: Honors students only.

Pre-requisite: Written approval of project by honors thesis director. Please review honors application guidelines at http://www.creativewriting.emory.edu/students/HonorsProgram.html