ENGL 201 Syllabus

Introduction to Creative Writing

|Online Resources| |Key to Mechanical Errors|

ENGL 201-03: Spring 2005
MW 3:00-4:22 Vaughan Lit 103

Robert Love Taylor
Hours MWF 1-2 or by appointment
Office: Carnegie 201
email: rtaylor@bucknell.edu

Books:

Jason & Lefcowitz, Creative Writer's Handbook (4th edition)
Lawn, 40 Short Stories (2nd edition)

Course Outline (In Progress):

Wed., 1-19

Discuss "Storm Windows"; Assigned reading for Monday, 1-24: Handbook, Ch. 1-2.
Writing assignment emailed to me by noon Friday, 1-21: Handbook, p. 30. Choose one exercise, either 1, 2, 4, or 6.

Mon., 1-24 Discussion: Chapters 1 and 2. Workshop on exercises from p. 30.
Assignment for Wednesday: read Ch. 3 in Handbook, do exercise 1, pp. 42-43.

Wed., 1-26 Continue workshop. Discuss Ch. 3, "Point of View" in Handbook.
Write: exercise 3, p. 43 (Due Friday, noon).

Mon., 1-31 Point of view workshop; Discuss Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" (from 40 Short Stories)
Resource: A Lone Star quilt

Wed., 2-2 Continue point of view workshop; Discuss Ch. 4, Handbook; in-class exercise, pp. 68-69.
Write (due Friday noon): Exercise 1 and 2, pp. 74-75.

Mon., 2-7 Workshop on figurative language. Discuss Ch. 6, Handbook; focus: line length.
Write for next time: Ex. 4, p. 116

Wed., 2-9 Discuss (in Ch. 6) meter.
Write (due Friday noon): Metrical lines (Exercise on pp. 122-123)

Mon., 2-14 Workshop on meter. Discuss in Ch. 6: Lines & Rhymes. Lines & Free Verse.

Wed., 2-16 Discuss Ch. 6, pp. 131-144
Write (due Friday noon): Villanelle or Sonnet

Mon., 2-21 Workshop. Discuss Ch. 7
Writing for next time: Free choice from among suggestions in Ch. 7.

Wed., 2-23 Workshop. Discuss Ch. 8
Write (due Friday noon): Free choice from among suggestions in Ch. 7

Mon., 2-28 Workshop on poems

Wed., 3-2 Workshop on poems (continued)
Write (due Friday noon): Exercise on Description

Mon., 3-7 Workshop on description.
Discuss Chapter 9, pp. 178-195; Updike, "A & P" (in 40 Short Stories)

Wed., 3-9 Discuss Chapter 9, pp. 195-212; Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" and Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" (in 40 Short Stories); Bring 5 first sentences.

Due Friday: Portfolios for midterm evaluation; your portfolio should include all exercises in their original versions, mechanical errors corrected, your journal entries, and any revisions you may have done.

Spring Break

|Syllabus, Part Two|

Mon., 1-24	Discussion: Chapters 1 and 2. Workshop on exercises from p. 30. Assignment for Wednesday: read Ch. 3 in Handbook, do exercise 1, pp. 42-43.
Wed., 1-26	Continue workshop. Discuss Ch. 3, "Point of View" in Handbook. Write: exercise 3, p. 43 (Due Friday, noon).

Mon., 1-31	Point of view workshop; Discuss Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" (from 40 Short Stories) Resource: A Lone Star quilt
Wed., 2-2	Continue point of view workshop; Discuss Ch. 4, Handbook; in-class exercise, pp. 68-69. Write (due Friday noon): Exercise 1 and 2, pp. 74-75.

Mon., 2-7	Workshop on figurative language. Discuss Ch. 6, Handbook; focus: line length. Write for next time: Ex. 4, p. 116
Wed., 2-9	Discuss (in Ch. 6) meter. Write (due Friday noon): Metrical lines (Exercise on pp. 122-123)

Mon., 2-14	Workshop on meter. Discuss in Ch. 6: Lines & Rhymes. Lines & Free Verse.
Wed., 2-16	Discuss Ch. 6, pp. 131-144 Write (due Friday noon): Villanelle or Sonnet

Mon., 2-21	Workshop. Discuss Ch. 7 Writing for next time: Free choice from among suggestions in Ch. 7.
Wed., 2-23	Workshop. Discuss Ch. 8 Write (due Friday noon): Free choice from among suggestions in Ch. 7

Mon., 2-28	Workshop on poems
Wed., 3-2	Workshop on poems (continued) Write (due Friday noon): Exercise on Description

Mon., 3-7	Workshop on description. Discuss Chapter 9, pp. 178-195; Updike, "A & P" (in 40 Short Stories)
Wed., 3-9	Discuss Chapter 9, pp. 195-212; Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" and Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" (in 40 Short Stories); Bring 5 first sentences. Due Friday: Portfolios for midterm evaluation; your portfolio should include all exercises in their original versions, mechanical errors corrected, your journal entries, and any revisions you may have done.