ENGL& 236: Creative Writing I

Class Program

Distribution

Humanities Lecture

Credits 5 Lecture Hours 55

In this course, students will develop the basic techniques that writers use to create imaginative and effective writing in fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and/or plays/script. They will create a portfolio of their work from the course with polished pieces and work in progress. Students will enhance their own technique by reading and discussing published works of creative writing. They will learn to make use of constructive criticism, talk about their own work concisely, and edit their work.

Prerequisites

None

Quarters Offered

Winter,

Spring

Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge or skills:

Demonstrate understanding of the assigned literary genres, and as avenues toward creative expression.
Create new works that show an introductory competence within the techniques of effective use of basic prose and more structured modes of expression, focusing on the formal conventions of each genre.
Demonstrate problem solving and critical thinking skills through critiques of others’ work and by processing critiques of their own writing.
On an introductory level, demonstrate an informed appreciation of the craft of writing by identifying and contrasting qualities of published and unpublished texts, and judging their effect on readers.
Demonstrate the ability to make use of criticism as an avenue toward enhancing editing skills within their own writing.

Institutional Outcomes

IO1 Communication: Students will be able to communicate clearly and effectively.

Course Content Outline

The course involves an exploration of different elements of effective creative writing, with specific focus on the unique features of each genre being taught.
For each of these elements, students will:
1. read published works by established writers that demonstrates the technique
2. discuss these examples in class, with an eye toward analyzing the craft of the piece
3. perform and share regular in-class, “low stakes” writing exercises that allow for individual practice of these techniques
4. write formal creative Short Writing Assignments that will be critiqued and edited.
5. Repeat the above for each of the genres of creative writing being taught.
Students will also be required to create a portfolio of works created within the course. The work is not expected to be perfect, but each section of work should have polished pieces and works in progress.