English 201
Shawn Malley
Morris 5, x2382
Office hours: T/Th 2-3 pm
Creative Writing II: Prose
Conducted mainly in the workshop method, this will be a practical course in writing
prose fiction. Emphasis is placed on developing and expanding writing skills through a
variety of in-class exercises and homework assignments. Our method each evening will
be to “warm-up” with in-class writing, then move on to discuss—and read from—your
assignments. Along with these exercises you will be responsible for composing two new
short stories. We will devote several classes to reading the final submissions before the
group. Evaluation will be based on successful completion of each week’s assignments
(and by this I mean evidence of effort) and the stories themselves, which will evince the
skills you have developed in the course. I place emphasis on hard work, seriousness,
playfulness, and a willingness to learn, to experiment, to read your work aloud and be
critical of it, to listen and evaluate others, and, for a season, to be a writer.
Method of Evaluation:
Participation and Helpfulness 20%
Writing Assignments (5)
50%
Short Short Story (5 pps)
10%
Long Short Story (10 pps)
20%
Note: A copy of Tom Bailey’s thorough essay on the creative writing process,
“Character, Plot, Setting and Time, Metaphor, and Voice,” is on reserve in the library. I
suggest you read it, because the critical/creative terminology that we will employ in this
course (and that I assume you know) is discussed in detail in the essay.
January 8 Introduction: Why Write?
10 In-class writing (fresh adjectives)
15 In-class writing (free writing)
17 Assignment #1 due (Shopping Carts)
22 In-class writing (description)
24 In-class writing (tell a story)
29 Assignment #2 due (Character)
Interim Participation and Helpfulness Mark 5%
31 In-class writing (post-card)
February 5 In-class writing (tone and effects)
7 Assignment #3 due (On the Job)
12 In-class writing (prose analysis)
14 In-class writing (Valentine’s Day)
19 Assignment #4 due (Dramatic Monologue)
21 In-class writing (fill in the blanks 1)
First Story Due Thursday, February 21
Reading Week
March 5 In-class writing (story endings)
7 In class writing (fill in the blanks 2)
12 Assignment #5 (Point of View)
14 Writing workshop Day
19 Story reading and editing workshop
21 Story reading and editing workshop
26 Story reading and editing workshop
28 Story reading and editing workshop
April 2 Story reading and editing workshop
4 Story reading and editing workshop
Final Story due by Monday, April 9
Participation and Helpfulness Grading Scheme
Criteria
9-10
7-8
Points
1-3
0
Student always
attends classes.
Student regularly
attends classes.
Student often
misses classes.
Student rarely
attends classes.
____
Level Of
Engagement In
Class
Student
proactively
contributes to
class by offering
ideas and asking
questions at least
once per class.
Student
proactively
contributes to
class by offering
ideas and asking
questions once
per class.
Student rarely
contributes to
class by offering
ideas and asking
questions.
Student never
contributes to
class by offering
ideas and
asking
questions.
____
Listening Skills
Student listens
when others talk,
both in groups and
in class. Student
incorporates or
builds off of the
ideas of others.
Student listens
when others talk,
both in groups
and in class.
Student does not
listen when others
talk, both in
groups and in
class.
Student does
not listen when
others talk, both
in groups and in
class. Student
often interrupts
when others
speak.
____
Preparation
Student is always
prepared for class
with assignments
and required class
materials.
Student is
almost always
prepared for
class with
assignments and
required class
materials.
Student is rarely
prepared for class
with assignments
and required class
materials.
Student is
almost never
prepared for
class with
assignments
and required
class materials.
____
Attendance
Total---->
____