Creative Writing COURSE:
| HERITAGE UNIVERSITY 3240 Fort Road Telephone: 509-865-8564
Toppenish, WA 98948 Facsimile: 509-865-8629 Website: www.heritage.edu |
ONLINE SYLLABUS
Course Title: ENG 352/552 Creative Writing Credits: 3 (Undergrad) or 2 (Grad)
Semester and Year: Fall 2016
Instructor: Professor Dawn Cordray Class Location: ON-LINE https://myheritage.heritage.edu/ICS/
Telephone: 912-660-0395 (cell)
Office Hours: Any time; arrange by text or email cordraywriter@gmail.com
- Course description and prerequisites:
Individually centered course in the student’s choices of genre: fiction, poetry, drama, or nonfiction. The course will combine full peer-forum participation with online workshop activity and formal presentation. Matched with ENG 552.
2. Learner Outcomes:
- Explore some of the methods and terms for analyzing creative writing
- Become acquainted with some of the important themes, texts, and genres of creative writing
3. Course Guidelines and Expectations:
Assignments:
This online class includes 1) forum discussions of the readings and assignments using a Thursday/Sunday posting schedule along with a unit quiz, 2) one presentation/workshop for each of the three units, 3) formal peer critiques throughout the course. You will receive unit participation points (see Grading below) not only for quality of responses and critiques, but for posting on-time. Forum discussions have to happen during each unit they are assigned; if you are late, there is no one “there” to read what you’ve written! You’ll receive regular emails from me explaining the next unit’s assignments.
Forums:
Most weeks you’ll have a set of 3-5 forums (a, b, c, d, etc.) to answer over the assigned readings. Most forums have 2-4 questions, but you usually only have to answer ONE, your choice. Clicking Add A Post, write a thoughtful response for each forum (a, b, c, d, etc.) by Thursday that demonstrates you have read and understood the piece (Posting late is like walking into a classroom an hour after class has finished; there is no one there in the room to hear what you say.) Then clicking Reply, write a well-thought-out reply to at least two students by Sunday. If someone has already adequately answered one question, either choose a different question or say something new to expand on the idea. Since each response includes the day and time you posted, it’s easy to see who posted first—so avoid repetition. To earn full forum points you must add to the interest or further the discussion of the topic.
*Click on User List under Forums to keep track of the number of your posts and replies; you should always have at least twice as many replies as posts.
About using Internet sources in your forums: Your forum responses are designed to show what YOU have gained from your readings, and your own words and thoughts should always be the main part of your forum responses. However, you are encouraged to expand on your initial thoughts/responses by using university-level Internet websites (not SparksNotes, Cliffsnotes, enotes, etc. designed for those who have not read the assignments). Whenever you use information from the Internet in your forums, you must apply all the rules for documenting sources according to MLA/APA: 1) use quote marks for any three words in a row or more plus the parenthetical citation with full Works Cited/Reference note; 2) cite all paraphrased ideas from your source with parenthetical citation with full Works Cited/Reference note.
Peer Critiques, Workshops, and Final Presentation:
See full instructions under each Workshop in the menu. Final presentations of revised pieces are due in the final unit of the course. You’ll post your revised, polished piece in the genre of your choice (creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry) both in written and video formats. You’ll also write formal critiques of others’ final works.
- Technology:
- Students will use My Heritage at https://myheritage.heritage.edu/ICS/. Student login and password work for all Heritage access.
- Students are expected to use the Heritage Email system and check their email frequently (see instructor weekly information every Friday) to ensure effective communication between instructor and student.
- Internet Browser: Should have latest updates and support packages. It is strongly recommended students use High-Speed Internet connections rather than dial-up, as this will ensure better communication without lag time.
- Microsoft Word: All work must be saved as Version 2003 to ensure all participants can open and view the files.
- Texts and Study Aids:
- Imaginative Writing: The Elements of Craft, 4th edition. (3rd edition is also okay) Janet Burroway.
- Plot & Structure: Techniques & Exercises For Crafting A Plot To Grips Readers From Start To Finish. James Scott Bell
- Regular high-speed access to Heritage University’s online coursework: http://myheritage.heritage.edu
- Access to digital video recording for final presentation (YouTube through phone or camera with 3-minute minimum recording capacity)
- Assessment and Grading Procedures:
Online participation—three units, forums (posts and replies), 60 points
Workshop participation/critiques (three workshops, 10 pts each) 30
Your genre choice, video presentation/critiques 10 points
TOTAL 100 points
- Academic Honesty (excerpt from Heritage University Catalog)
Heritage University students have the responsibility to adhere to academic honesty in all their educational endeavors. Faculty has the responsibility to model academic honesty and to prevent, detect, and confront students who violate it. Academic dishonesty is serious and will carry appropriate sanctions ranging from a written record of the violation being placed in the student’s file, to course failure, and even to suspension or dismissal from the university. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and all behavior inconsistent with academic integrity and honesty.
- Course Schedule—See My Heritage course menu for all due dates (subject to change as needed):
Unit 1 Poetry—forums due Thurs of each assigned week (replies to others due Sunday)
Week 1
Introductions/Orientation tasks: Chapter 1 Burroway and Chapter 1 Bell, introduction to the course software.
Practice user skills on forums. Begin Unit I Poetry/Chapter 2, Image
Week 2
Forum discussions on assigned readings. Chapter 3 Burroway, Chapter 2 Bell, Voice and structure
Week 3
Forum discussions on assigned readings. Chapter 10 Burroway, Poetry
Week 4
Poetry Workshop: Prepare to present three or more short poems or one long poem (minimum of 30 lines total) for peer critiques.
Unit 2 Short Fiction— forums due Thurs of each assigned week (replies to others due Sun)
Week 5
Forum discussions of assigned readings: Chapter 4 Burroway, Chapter 9 Bell, Character and character arc
Week 6
Forum discussions on assigned readings. Chapter 5 Burroway, Chapter 4 Bell: Setting and starting strong
Week 7
Forum discussions on assigned readings. Chapter 9 Burroway, Chapter 5 Bell: Fiction and keeping pace strong through the middle
Week 8
Fiction Workshop: Prepare to present your short fiction piece(s) (minimum of 10 pages) for peer critique.
Unit 3 Creative Nonfiction— forums due Thurs of each assigned week (replies to others due Sunday)
Week 9
Forum discussions on assigned readings: Chapter 6 Burroway, Chapter 6 Bell, Story and story endings
Week 10
Forum discussions on assigned readings. Chapter 8 Burroway, Creative Nonfiction
Week 11
Creative Nonfiction Workshop: Prepare to present your nonfiction piece(s) (maximum of 10 pages) for peer critique
Unit 4 Presentation video of final revised selection (your choice), critiques—due online
Week 12
Review Chapter 7, Development and Revision.
Week 13
Focus on Drama/Reading/Slam Poetry/Performance
Week 14
Presentations of final pieces; final peer critiques.
Analysis of personal publication possibilities.
Week 15
Focus on getting published.
Week 16
Quiz over Terms due (under Coursework in menu).
Online course evaluation.
- Attendance:
Regular participation is expected and considered essential for successful academic work. Weekly online assignments are due on Thursday and Sunday to confirm attendance. If you must miss any deadline, communication is essential. Contact me in advance to make arrangements, or as soon as possible for emergencies, and take responsibility for the class work missed. Remember that Heritage University Student Affairs is ready to help solve problems that interfere with attending class. Call them at 509-865-0440, ext. 2001 or email them at studentaffairs@heritage.edu. However, if I do not hear from you, the Heritage University Catalog attendance policy states “a faculty member may recommend an administrative withdrawal [from a course] whenever a student misses two consecutive class sessions [one weekly online assignment deadline] and does not contact the instructor.” Prior to any such action, I will submit a Faculty Advocacy request asking Student Affairs to contact you. Your success in this class is my primary goal.
- 9. Credit Hour Requirements:
Federal regulations require that all courses follow the Heritage University definition of a credit hour as described in HU Policy. A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:
(1) One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction or instructor availability and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester, or
(2) At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit.
- Campus Security & Safety:
In an emergency, call 911. The University has an emergency notification system that allows students to receive notifications via email and text message to inform students of on campus emergencies and campus closures. You are encouraged to enroll in Rave Mobile Safety program by logging into https://www.getrave.com/login/Heritage. Free to the student and standard text rates apply.
Heritage University Campus Security: 509-961-4674
Heritage University Weekend Security: 509-314-9314
Regional Sites, please reference the Host Campus Security and Emergency safety plan.
Important Information: Disability Policy
Current law describes ‘disability’ as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity of an individual. As an institution of higher learning Heritage University wishes to make reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities. If you believe you have a disability which may warrant an accommodation, the first step is to contact Student Affairs on the Heritage University Campus (Toppenish) or call at 509-865-8515 (or 888-272-6190) or e-mail (studentaffairs@heritage.edu). You may also ask your instructor for assistance in communicating with Student Affairs.