ENG 256 IS: Creative Writing, Fall 2017, Session II

Instructor: Dr. Mary Wheeling

Office Location: Fulmer Annex Office Suite, #6 (next door to our classroom)
Office Hours: MW 12:30-2:30, TR 2:00-3:00, F 9:00-12:00
Phone: 302-225-6361
E-mail: [email protected]
Contact Hours: 42
Credits: 3

Textbooks:
LaPlante, Alice. Method and Madness: The Making of a Story, NY: W.W. Norton, 2009.

Course Description:
The course provides a treatment of the elements of fiction, drama, [memoir,] and poetry from
the writer's point of view. Students work with the instructor and other students to analyze their
creative works. Imagination and personal experience are both employed as tools used during
the creative process of writing. With consultation from students, the instructor will determine
specific genres to emphasize.

Prerequisite:
ENG 175, ENG 176

Course Materials:
The text listed above, as well as handouts and audio-visual materials presented in class and
provided on the courses Campus Web pages.

Learning Objectives/Goals:
Upon completion of Creative Writing, students should be able to

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 1. develop a portfolio of imaginative writing through techniques of drafting, revising,
workshopping, and public reading;
2. critique imaginative texts with a focus on craft;
3. analyze imaginative texts.

Topics Covered:
1. Fiction: critical analysis of published examples, practice of effective short story writing
and peer critique
2. Drama: critical analysis of published examples, practice of effective scene writing and
peer critique
3. Non-fiction narrative: critical analysis of published examples, practice of effective non-
fiction writing and peer critique
4. Poetry: critical analysis of published examples, practice of effective poetry writing and
peer critique
5. Writers techniques of drafting, revising, workshopping (including critical analysis of
peers work), preparing for publication, and giving a public reading
Total contact hours: 42.00

Course Format:
ENG 256 will be run in a workshop setting, in which students will write in and out of class and
share their work-in-progress for feedback from their peers and professor. We will also use
class time to revise our work and respond to in-class assignments. We will analyze and
discuss lauded works by published writers. Each student will present an oral report on a poet
(Adopt-a-Poet). Students should read the assigned readings by their due dates and stay up-
to-date with the assigned writing schedule.

Course Policies
Attendance
Creative Writing is a workshop-based course in which students rely on each other for feedback
regarding their writing. Therefore, absences create a hardship for both students receiving and
students giving critiques. Absences also prevent missing students from learning about and
practicing the elements of craft introduced that day. For this reason, regular attendance is
required.
Late arrivals and early departures are disrespectful to the rest of the class and will be noted.
If you know in advance that you must miss a class this semester (for example, for athletic
events, business trip, or scheduled medical procedure), you must notify me in writing the first
week of school so that any affected workshops or presentations can be appropriately
scheduled.

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Portfolios
Always keep all hard copies of materials returned to you from workshops and conferences.
These belong in your portfolio folder until the end of the semester when your portfolio is
evaluated. Consult the official portfolio assignment for complete details. You should also save
electronic copies of your work.

Late Assignments
Late writing assignments and presentations will be penalized according to how late they are
submitted.

Make-Up Tests and Assignments

Missed workshops and in-class activities, including quizzes, cannot be made up, due to the
time- and situation-sensitive nature of the work.

Grading Policy
Grades for in-class activities, workshops, portfolio, and adopt-a-poet will be weighted as
follows:
The Portfolio (comprehensive folder of your semesters writing, workshopping, and revisions)
will count as 40% of your final grade.
Activity, Assignment, Homework, and Workshop grades will be averaged to count for 40%
of your final grade.
The Adopt-a-Poet research and presentation project will count for 20% of your final grade.

I follow GBCs undergraduate grading scale for issuing final letter grades. Select Grading
System at http://catalog.gbc.edu/content.php?catoid=1&navoid=27 to see the scale.

Getting Extra Help

You are encouraged to email or see me in person with any questions about the course. Im
available on a drop-in basis during my office hours (see page 1 of Syllabus), or at other times
by appointment. Please email ahead to schedule.
If you have a physical, learning, or other disability that might hinder your access to or
performance in the class, please let me know so we can discuss appropriate accommodations.
At the Hirons Library and Learning Centers Academic Resource Center (ARC), you can
schedule tutoring, reviews, or proctored tests. For location, hours, appointment procedure,
visit the ARC website (https://www.gbc.edu/academics/academic-resources/tutoring-
support.html). Phone the ARC at 302-225-6229 or email [email protected].

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Classroom Behavior Expectations
We have to work together sometimes on very personal material this session. Please show
respectful behavior toward your professor and fellow students:
1. Keep your electronic devices on silent and out of sight during class.
2. Arrive on time to class and after break and stay until class is dismissed.
3. Do not talk to others during class unless part of an assigned activity.

Academic Integrity
All courses taught at Goldey-Beacom College are governed by the GBC Academic Honor
Code. A full description of the Honor Code and related procedures is available on the web at
Goldey-Beacom College Academic Honor Code (http://go.gbc.edu/honor-code).
Remember that ignorance of the proper use of sources is no excuse for a violation. Any
alleged academic dishonesty in this class will be addressed according to official procedures. It
is the professors prerogative to determine the appropriate penalty for academic offenses.
Penalties for violations of the Honor Code in my class can range from a zero on the work in
question to an F for the entire course.
I require all work submitted to be produced originally for this course. Recycling old
assignments or simultaneously submitting the same work to ENG 256 and another class
defeats the purpose of our unique learning process and gives you unfair academic advantage.

College Policies & Resources

Academic Honor Code

Please familiarize yourself with the Goldey-Beacom College Academic Honor Code
(http://go.gbc.edu/honor-code). All courses are governed by this policy.

Accessibility at GBC
The Financial Aid/Advisement Office serves as the first point of contact for students to discuss
consideration for reasonable accommodations and as the location to provide documentation
for requested accommodations, as required. Please visit the Financial Aid/Advisement Office
on campus for more information.

Hirons Library & Learning Center

The Hirons Library and Learning Center (HLCC), located in the Jones Center, contains a
variety resources to support your research throughout your time at Goldey-Beacom College.
Search for information to help you complete your next class assignment using our
robust discover tool (https://www.gbc.edu/academics/academic-resources/library-
technology-services/), which includes over half a million full-text journal articles, eBooks,

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 print books, and government documents. We also have individual databases
(http://gbc.libguides.com/az.php) like Mergent Online and RIA Checkpoint that support
specific majors such as accounting.
Within the HLLC, the Academic Resource Center (ARC) is available to assist you with
your tutoring needs. Visit the ARC website (https://www.gbc.edu/academics/academic-
resources/tutoring-support.html) to learn more about the services the ARC provides.
Computers, printers, and a scanner are available for you to use to complete
assignments as well. Visit the Library and Technology Services website
(https://www.gbc.edu/academics/academic-resources/library-technology-services/) for
details regarding computing options and hours of operation within the HLLC.

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