Creative Writing
English …
Spring 2014-Tinajero
Instructor: Robert Tinajero, Ph.D.
Office: SFOA 1120
Office Phone: 817-515-4616 (e-mailing me is best)
Office Hours: Mon/Wed
9:25-12:25
Tues/Thurs
2:00-4:00
Fri
--e-mail: roberto.tinajero@my.tccd.edu inlcude name and section number in subject line)
Twitter Username: TCCDEnglish
Creative Writing I
(3-3-0). Writing laboratory of literature genres.
Includes lectures on recognition and use of
literary devices. Recommended prerequisite: ENGL
1301.
Required Texts:
- The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Publisher: Vintage
Cost: Used $1 on Amazon
ISBN-10: 0679734775
ISBN-13: 978-0679734772
- On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Publisher: Scribner
Cost: Used $5 on Amazon
ISBN-10: 1439156816
ISBN-13: 978-1439156810
[this book will be provided to you]Love Revolution by Robert Tinajero
[you will have to find and download a free screenplay during the semester]
You will also be asked to print out copies of poems, short stories and articles from the internet.
Materials:
-
Binder with plenty of paper for note taking and in-class writing assignments
A blank-page, blank-cover book for your children’s book project
Course Objectives:
Students will become familiar with the field of Creative Writing and spend time learning about
different genres and producing creative writing of their own. An emphasis will be placed on
Poetry, Short Stories, Screenplays and Creative Non-Fiction. The students will produce (1) a
small book of Children’s Poetry (2) a number of poems including some Formal Poems (2) a short
story (3) a short screenplay (4) creative non-fiction essays in a blog and (5) a creative work of
their choosing. Students will also be tested on various pieces of information.
Attendance + Late Work:
It is very important that you attend each class period in order to participate in discussions, group
activities and in-class assignments. Attendance affects participation and thus affects your
Professionalism grade. I make no distinction between excused and unexcused absences. The
only way you can receive an excused absence is if you must attend a school-related event and you
have proof of that event. If you miss class you are responsible for obtaining class notes and
assignments from fellow students. Being late or leaving early will count as half an absence.
Because you will be using the information we discuss in each class period, it is very important
that you attend class. 20% of your final grade will include class participation, absences and
overall class conduct. Ten points are subtracted from your grade for each class period your
work is late.
Plagiarism:
Do not turn in someone else’s work. I hope you are inspired by the writers we will be reading but
you are to create your own original work. Suspected cases of plagiarism and/or academic
dishonesty can lead to getting a zero on the assignment and being dropped from the class.
Grades:
Children’s Poetry Book
Poetry Packet
Short Story (including drafts)
Screenplay
Creative Non-Fiction Blog
Student’s Choice – Creative Piece
Average of Tests
Professionalism
[Our poetry reading will allow you to get some extra credit]
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
25%
15%
Weekly Semester Calendar:
Week 1
[Intro.]
Introduction of class, myself and students
Discuss Syllabus
Introduction to Creative Writing (in context of University/World)
[please buy all your textbooks and class materials]
[Poetry]
Week 2
Poetry Introduction: Form, Imagery, Metaphor/Simile, Tone, Creativity
Open Form vs. Closed Form/Formal poetry; diversity of poetry; canon formation
Read Information on Poetry
[Students: begin writing some new poems]
HOMEWORK: please bring a children’s poem that you enjoy
Week 3
Looking at a number of specific poems.
Children’s Poetry: Shel Silverstein, Dr. Seuss and poems students brought in
Adult Poetry: [from packet] Espada, Rumi, Giovanni, Zagajewski, Soto, Benn, Rozewicz, Mora,
Tinajero, Def Poetry, etc.
[Homework: study for exam]
Week 4
Exam 1 over all the poetry information
Bring blank book to class
Receive instructions for Poetry Assignment
Work on Children’s Poetry Book
Work on Adult Poems and Formal Poems
[Homework: Finish Children’s Poetry Book and Your Poetry Packet]
[Short Stories]
Week 5
Children’s Poetry Book and Your Poetry Packet Due at Beginning of Class on Tuesday
Introduction to Short Stories: (Invention, Organization, Characters, Plot, Flow, Dialogue,
Imagery, Place/Setting, etc. from class PowerPoint)
Read and discuss parts of Stephen King’s On Writing (Chapter “On Writing”, sections 1-4)
Week 6
Read and discuss short stories: “Sexy” by Lahiri, House on Mango Street by Cisneros, etc.
Stephen King’s On Writing, Chapter “On Living: A Postscript”, sections 6-7
[Homework: Study for Exam on Short Story information]
Week 7
Exam on Short Story information
Begin work on writing your short story: outline, plot, characters, dialogue, place/setting, etc.
Begin writing your short story
[Homework: Continue writing your short story]
Week 8
Strong Draft of your Short Story Due – Bring Two Printed Copies to Class
Students will do Peer-Review of one other student’s story
Continue Peer-Review, writing of your story and one-on-one time with professor
[Homework: Finish Final Draft of Short Story
Week 9
Final Draft of Short Story Due
[Screenplay]
Week 10
Introduction to Screenplay Writing (with an emphasis on dialogue and movement ques)
View movie clips and read accompanying screenplay
Week 11
Continue looking at movie clip/screenplay examples
Begin work on creating general outline for entire movie
Begin work on writing 1-3 main scenes of the movie
[Homework: Continue work on screenplay]
Week 12
Continue work on screenplay
Screenplay Due
[Creative Non-Fiction]
Week 13
Introduction to creative non-fiction
Elements of creative non-fiction
Begin reading examples of creative non-fiction
Set up Blog at www.wordpress.com
Begin writing creative non-fiction pieces
Week 14
Continue reading examples of creative non-fiction
Continue work on creative non-fiction pieces (Dallas Observer Unfair Park, etc.)
Find a “story” in your family, at your work or at TCC
Week 15
Blog due
Read/Discuss a number of creative pieces: poems, short stories, plays, comics, essays, etc.
Def Poetry, Rumi, Clifton, Neruda, Espada, Soto, Lahiri, etc.
Week 16
***Student-Chosen Project Due on Day/Time of Final Exam***
Discuss Publishing and Careers in Creative Writing; also discuss resources for Creative Writers
and MFA programs in Creative Writing
They wept together for the things they now knew
But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?
We are responsible for those who love us
A house all my own. With my porch and my pillow, my pretty purple petunias. My
books and my stories...
My soul is from elswhere/ I’m sure of that/ and I intend
to end up there