Creative Writing I
English 322
Fall 2006
David Martinson@ndsu.edu
South Engineering 318 D
(701) 239-7050
Classroom: Minard 209
Meeting time: 2:00-3:15 TuTh
Office hours: 11:00-12:00 M-F
Course Description:
Imaginative writing with an emphasis on exploring multiple genres,
developing critical awareness and becoming acquainted with literary fine
arts. Prerequisite: English 120.
Course description explanation:
Creative Writing introduces students to a variety of genres of contemporary
writing including (but not limited to) poetry, fiction, drama and creative
nonfiction. Students will read, discuss and analyze assigned texts, write their own
work in a variety of genres, apply critical perspectives to their own work and the
work of other students, and publish a collection of work completed during the
course.
Course objectives:
 Students will understand and practice the creative writing process from prewriting through multiple experiments with language to the refining and
celebration of a completed writing product.
 Students will understand the descriptive and critical terms used in creative writing
and apply that understanding to individual and group writing activities.
Texts and Course Materials:
There is no assigned text for this course. Instead, students are required to select
and purchase individual texts for specific writing assignments after class
discussions of relevant criteria for specific genres. The majority of reading
material required for the course is available on web sites and within the NDSU
library. Students are responsible for all duplication and assignment expenses.
Evaluation procedures and criteria:
 Students must complete four major process oriented writing assignments in
different writing genres accounting for 55 % of the student’s grade.
o Creative non-fiction manuscript: A minimum 20 page personal essay (or
several shorter essays amounting to at least 30 pages) that addresses a
compelling issue in the writer’s experience. 15% of final grade.
o Poetry manuscript: A collection of at least 10 poems (totaling a minimum
of 200 lines) responding to class assignments. The collection must
demonstrate proficiency in writing formal poetry, free verse, experimental
poetry, and narrative poetry, and demonstrate use of persona, attention to
structure, attention to sound, and use of metaphor. The collection must be
prefaced by a critical introduction that addresses these criteria. 15% of
final grade.
o Fiction manuscript: A short story of at least 10 pages that focuses upon
character development, conflict, setting, point of view, theme, structure,
suspense, dialogue, description, imagery, and climax and resolution. 15%
of final grade.
o Collaborative drama assignment: Students must co-author a short play
inspired by a published poem. 10% of final grade.

Students must create a publication, a final writing project that showcases their
best work. The final project may be in the form of a chapbook, magazine,
compact disc recording, video recording, broadside collection, or other approved
format. The final project must be prefaced by a critical introduction written by the
student. 25% of final grade.

Attendance, homework, and class participation: Because this is a workshop course
you will be graded on attendance, preparation, and participation. Fargo-Moorhead
has a vigorous writing community offering prose and poetry readings, theater
presentations, bookshops, art galleries and museums. Some class activities will
take place off-campus to enable the class to participate in these venues. Three
unexcused absences are permitted. 20% of final grade.

All writing drafts must be word processed and printed on 8 ½” X 11” paper.
Double space your work and use 1” margins for all prose assignments. Give all
projects a title. Bring sufficient copies for every member of the class as well as for
the instructor. Publication assignments must be formatted according to
professional criteria.

Grading criteria:
o Each writing assignment must fulfill the requirements when it is assigned,
those that do not will receive an “F.”
o Writing assignments that barely fulfill the minimum requirements will
receive a “D.”
o A “C” writing assignment fulfills the minimum requirements.
o A “B” writing assignment fulfills the requirements and has evidence of
creative intelligence and critical perspective. It shows evidence of a
“rebirth of language.”
o An “A” writing assignment is surprising, compelling and creative. It
illustrates superior language usage, understanding, and vision.
Late writing assignments will be lowered a partial grade for each day they are
late, unless prior permission is received for an extended due date. You will not
pass this course unless all writing assignments are handed in.
All student work submitted in this course must be written for this class
during the course semester.

Grade distribution: A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), F (0-59).
Americans with disabilities statement:
Any students with disabilities or other special needs, who need special
accommodations in this course, are invited to share these concerns with the
instructor as soon as possible.
Academic honesty:
Plagiarism—the use of someone else’s words, work, and/or ideas without proper
academic credit—will not be tolerated and can result in failing this course. All
work in this course must be completed in a manner consistent with NDSU
University Senate Policy, Section 335: Code of Academic Responsibility and
Conduct.
Course calendar:
Daily attendance is required. After assignments are introduced you may be writing on
your own drafts, reading drafts by other students, writing critiques of other student work,
or participating in classroom critiques, discussions and in-class writing assignments. The
dates on the calendar are intended as benchmarks for presenting assignments, completing
drafts, and editing final assignments.