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EWRT 40
EWRT
40, Intro to Fiction Writing –Fall 2006
Instructor: Prof. A. Arefi Voicemail:
864-8999 ext. 3050
Office: L-41 (first door)
E-Mail: aaa7068@fhda.edu
Office Hours: Wed 2:30-3:30
pm Website: http://faculty.deanza.edu<;wbr>/arefiazin/
Course Introduction:
EWRT 40 is an introductory creative
writing course for students who wish to explore and refine their techniques
of prose fiction through both critical analysis and intensive practice
in creative writing. This class emphasizes the fundamental elements
of creative writing: character, conflict, plot, setting and atmosphere,
point-of-view, imagery, language, and dialogue. During the first half
of the quarter, we will read and discuss published stories, trying to
understand how authors make successful use of various literary tools.
We will explore elements of fiction with in-class and take-home assignments,
using Writing Fiction as a technical guide. The second half of
the quarter is devoted to the fiction workshop of your own stories.
The ultimate goal of this course is to put the elements of fiction writing
together in well-crafted stories.
Course Prerequisite:
Eligibility is established through
successful completion of or qualifying for EWRT 1A.
Course Objectives:
- Identify the major
technical and stylistic elements of diverse literary works and analyze
their role in imaginative writing.
- Recognize the socio-cultural
context of diverse literary works and apply to analysis of literary
style and content.
- Analyze and critique
diverse student and professional examples of literary/imaginative writing.
- Apply knowledge of
creative process, literary elements/techniques, cultural knowledge and
self-knowledge, and critical lessons to your own writing.
Course Requirements:
- Regular attendance
and active participation in class discussions.
- Keeping up-to-date
on writing assignments and readings.
- Two stories, one of
which will be revised.
- Manuscript critiques
of each student story during workshop.
- Unannounced quizzes,
in-class assignments, and presentations.
Required Texts:
- Janet Burroway,
Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft,
7th Edition
- A Course Reader, available
from the instructor.
Course Evaluation
The grade break down is shown
in the table below:
| Assignment |
Percentage |
| Story
#1 |
10% |
| Story
#1 Revised |
20% |
| Story
#2 |
20% |
| Quizzes |
10% |
| Participation |
10% |
| Workshop
Critiques |
20% |
| Writing
Exercises |
10% |
| Total |
100% |
Grading Scale:
100-95% = A, 94-90 = A-, 89-85%
= B, 84-80=B-, 79-75% = C, 74-70=C-, 69-60% = D, 59%-below = F
Course Assignments:
Reading Assignments and Exercises:
Students are expected to keep up with the assigned reading and should
be prepared to lead discussions in class. Leadership and participation
in these discussions will be reflected in your grade. There will be
in-class and take-home writing assignments. In-class writing exercises
can be quite brief and fragmentary; take-home exercises are more sustained,
formal pieces of writing. Please be prepared to share all writing exercises
in class.
Quizzes:
The pop quizzes measure your preparation for class and your understanding
of class lecture and concepts covered. Quizzes will be given at the
beginning of the class period so do not be late. They are meant
to reward you for your preparation and your on-time attendance.
Participation:
You are expected to come to this class prepared with paper, pen, appropriate
text, having completed the reading and all assignments due, and ready
to participate in class discussion. Whether as a class or if you are
in small groups, your contribution is required and necessary.
You will be a crucial member of a writing community.
Workshops:
The workshop is the heart of this class and we will discuss it in great
detail when the time arrives, but as a general overview: you are to
treat one another's work with respect, as you would like yours to be
treated; you will point out the positive and make helpful constructive
criticism in order to help build the story, not to tear it down; you
are to be specific in your comments as generalities such as "I
liked the plot" are not helpful. Be honest. Be brave, both in your
writing and in your critique. Students must also provide a
one to two page critique of each of the stories being workshopped, and
bring two copies, one for me and one for the author.
Course Policies:
Attendance:
Attendance every day is required. You should come to class on time,
having done the reading and prepared to discuss. Because this is a workshop,
your contribution in class is extremely important. Attendance is crucial
to the exchange of ideas and words that take place in class. If you
have to be absent, please call to excuse yourself. If you have
three unexcused absences, I will assume that you have withdrawn, and
give you a W. Absent students will not be able to make up missed
in-class assignments. More than three absences are considered
excessive and will be reflected in your grade. Repeated tardiness is
also unacceptable.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas in direct quote,
paraphrase, or summary form and submitting them as your own.
This class demands originality and honesty. All work submitted
in this class must be your own individual work. I expect no copying
or cheating whatsoever, at any time, by any student. Plagiarism may
result in automatic failure of the course.
Late work:
As a rule, late work will not be accepted. If emergencies arise, please
see me in advance of the due date. If the late work is
accepted, it will be marked down for every class that it is late.
Format:
Stories and take-home exercises should be typed in 12-point font on
regular white paper, double-spaced, with one-inch margins all around.
Please include your name, the date and page numbers, and staple when
appropriate.
Respect:
In class we will be discussing a lot of issues as well as one another’s
writing. Each individual person's opinion must be respected. You are
to listen to each other and be considerate of one another at all times.
You can disagree with someone, but always in a respectful manner. It
is important that we have a safe classroom environment for sharing our
writings and ideas. Any disruptive or disrespectful behavior to me or
to your fellow classmates may be cause for dismissal from the class
and possible failure of the course. As part of respect, please remember
to turn off cell phones, pagers, etc. as they are disruptive
to the class. In case they do
go off, you will bring us treats to make up for it. J
And finally…welcome to EWRT
40! I am sure we are going to have a great and productive quarter! Be
creative!!
Note: This green sheet is subject
to change with advanced notice.
Daily Assignments
and Deadlines
Week 1: Story Form, Plot,
and Structure
Monday September 25th:
Introduction
Gordon Lish, “Fear: Four Examples”
Wednesday September 27th:
Burroway: “Story Form, Plot,
and Structure” pg. 30-48
Burroway: William Carlos Williams,
“The Use of Force” pg. 48-51
Burroway: Margaret Atwood, “Happy
Endings” pg. 64-66
Week 2: Showing and Telling
Monday October 2nd:
Burroway: “Showing and Telling”
pg. 74-88
Burroway: Sandra Cisneros, “Linoleum
Roses” pg. 89
Burroway: Tim O’Brien, “The
Things They Carried” pg. 90-102
Burroway: Joyce Carol Oates, “Where
Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” pg. 102-115
Wednesday October 4th:
Reader: Joyce Carol Oates, “Smooth
Talk: Short Story into Film”
In-class Movie: Smooth Talk
(1985)
Week 3: Characterization
Monday October 9th:
Burroway: “Characterization,
Part I” pg. 118-129
Reader: Katherine Mansfield, “The
Daughters of the Late Colonel”
Reader: J.D. Salinger, “The
Perfect Day for Bananafish”
Wednesday October 11th:
Burroway: “Characterization,
Part II” pg. 157-180
Reader: Philip Roth, “Conversion
of the Jews”
Reader: J.D. Salinger, “For
Esme, With Love & Squalor”
Week 4: Fictional Place and
Time
Monday October 16th:
Burroway: “Fictional Place and
Time” pg. 198-218
Burroway: Monifa A. Love, “Mount
Olive” pg. 218
Burroway: Tobias Wolff, “Bullet
in the Brain” pg. 248-251
Wednesday October 18th:
Reader: Richard Ford, “Optimists”
Reader: A. Manette Ansay, Excerpt
from Vinegar Hill
Week 5: Point of View
Monday October 23rd:
Burroway: “Point of View, Part
I” pg. 254-267
Reader: Annie Proulx, “Brokeback
Mountain”
Wednesday October 25th:
Burroway: “Point of View, Part
II” pg. 287-299
Burroway: Julia Alvarez, “Snow”
pg. 302
Reader: Robert Coover, “The
Babysitter”
Week 6: Theme & Revision
Monday October 30th:
Burroway: “Theme” pg. 357-366
(including Grace Paley “A Man Told Me The Story of His Life”)
Reader: Alice Munro, “Hateship,
Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage”
Wednesday November 1st:
Burroway: “Revision” pg. 395-407
In-Class Movie: Brokeback Mountain
(2005)
Week 7:
Monday November 6th:
Workshop Story #1
Wednesday November 8th:
Workshop Story #1
Week 8:
Monday November 13th
Workshop Story #1
Wednesday November 15th
Workshop Story #1
Week 9:
Monday November 20th:
Workshop Story #2
Wednesday November 22nd:
Workshop Story #2
Week 10:
Monday November 27th:
Workshop Story #2
Wednesday November 29th:
Workshop Story #2
Week 11:
Monday December 4th:
Workshop Story #1 Revised
Wednesday December 6th:
Workshop Story #1 Revised
Week 12: Final Exam
Monday December
11th:
Workshop Story #1 Revised
Final Exam:
Thursday December 14th,
4:00 – 6:00 pm
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