ENG 236-001: INTRODUCTORY TOPICS IN CREATIVE WRITING
"GAMING, WORLD BUILDING, AND NARRATIVE"
SPRING 2011 COURSE POLICIES
M/W 12:30-1:45 | CRT 118
Instructor: Trent Hergenrader
Email: wth@uwm.edu (preferred method!)
Office: Curtin 508
Phone: (414) 369-2026 (cell/text/voicemail) / (414) 229-6022 (office – no messages)
Office hours: Mon/Wed 11:15-12:15, and by appointment
Course site: http://eng236.wordpress.com
Prerequisites
You must have received a grade of C or better in English 233 - Introduction to Creative Writing.
If you work with an advisor at the SAC, please bring your VISA statement to me within the first
week of class.
Course Description
In this course students will use games and gaming principles to collaboratively construct a deeply
immersive post-apocalyptic world. Students will populate this world with people to meet, places
to find, and things to discover, and then will develop well-rounded characters who will explore
this created world through role-playing gameplay. Students will then write a series of flash fiction
stories describing the unique experiences of their characters.
To round out our knowledge of the varieties of post-apocalyptic narratives across media, we will
read a selection of post-apocalyptic short stories, watch two post-apocalyptic films, and play and
discuss the post-apocalyptic role-playing video game Fallout 3. As we read, watch, and play, we
will catalog our observations in a wiki that can be referenced as students begin building their
unique post-apocalypse, developing their characters, and writing short narratives.
Course Goals
The course creative writing goals are:
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To collaboratively create a well-detailed, truly immersive world including its social,
political, economic, and technological structure
To create of unique, well-rounded characters with individual attributes, abilities, and
motivations, and have these characters interact in realistic ways
To experiment writing in first and third person POV, paying close attention to style and
tone of the scenes based on the character, setting, and situation
To learn how narrative functions across media
To provide and accept constructive criticism and incorporate this feedback into revised
work
To publish work on the Internet for public viewing and feedback
The technical skills to be introduced/developed include:
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Google Docs for creating and collaborating on writing exercises
Wiki creation and maintenance for the inventory of people, places, things in the created
world, and as a repository of story narratives
WordPress blogging service for writing responses to course texts, including embedding
hyperlinks and media into web pages
Photoshop for image editing; audio and video editing software as time and student
interest allow
Materials
Required Course Materials
 Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse, John Joseph Adams, ed.
ISBN-10: 1597801054
 Fallout 3 or Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition*, Bethesda Studios.
- Available for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3.
- Check PC system requirements carefully before purchase, especially for laptops.
- Check Half.com, Ebay, Overstock.com, and other discount/used outlets.
- Many video rental stores also offer games and console rentals.
*GOTY Edition features 5 Add-on packs for extended gameplay.
 Selected gaming dice (purchase by week 8)
 Required films will be placed on reserve at the library. Of course students may choose to
rent the films from other sources as well.
 Other readings will be posted to the course D2L site or distributed in class.
Other Suggested Materials
 Fallout 3: Prima Official Game Guide, David Hodgson.
ISBN-10: 0761559965
 Second Person: Role-Playing and Story in Games and Playable Media, Pat Harrigan and
Noah Wardrip-Fruin, eds.
ISBN-10: 0-262-08356-6
 See the "For Further Reading" section at the end of Wastelands: Stories of the
Apocalypse for an excellent bibliography of post-apocalyptic novels.
 Fallout: New Vegas, Bethesda Studios.
- Available for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3.
Other Suggested Films
> 28 Days Later
> The Book of Eli
> A Boy and His Dog
> Escape from New York
> I Am Legend
> Last Man on Earth
> Mad Max
> Night of the Comet
> The Omega Man
> On the Beach
> Panic in Year Zero!
> Planet of the Apes
> The Postman
> The Road Warrior (Mad Max 2)
> Steel Dawn
> The Quiet Earth
> Waterworld
Terminology
It will be helpful to understand the following gaming terms:
Character - a fictional person.
Game Master/GM - The judge, referee, and/or arbitrator in a role-playing game. Controls all NPCs.
Non-Player Character/NPC - Any character controlled by the Game Master during a role-playing game.
Player - A human being who participates in a game.
Player Character/PC - Any character controlled by a player during a role-playing game.
Role-Playing Game/RPG - A game in which a player assumes the role of a main character.
RPG Video Game - An RPG played on the computer where the machine acts as the GM to determine game
outcomes.
Tabletop RPG - An RPG played with pen, paper, and usually dice where a person acts as the GM to
determine game outcomes.
Coursework
This course has a number of different components adding up to 1000 points. During the semester
you will be required to write different kinds of texts, and you will also be required to participate
in class discussions, to engage in role-playing sessions, and to provide thoughtful critiques in
workshop.
Category
Blogs posts on fiction
Blog posts on films
Blog posts on Fallout 3
Comment on blog posts
Qty.
2
1
2
5
Pts/ea.
30
30
30
5
Total
60
30
60
25
Items in wiki
Places in wiki
NPCs in wiki
10
5
5
5
10
10
50
50
50
Flash fiction stories (1K words)
Final short story (4-5K words)
4
1
50
200
200
200
Class and Role-playing participation
Workshop participation
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175
100
1000 points
Technical Requirements
Although this class will use a variety of digital technologies, no prior experience is required;
more experienced students will be asked to share their knowledge with beginning students.
However, students must have regular and consistent access to the following:
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Computer (PC or Mac)
Internet access
Google/Gmail account
Public blog (WordPress, Livejournal, Blogger, etc.)
PC, Xbox 360, or PS3 able to run Fallout 3
The first two items are free in every campus computer lab; the second two items can be obtained
for free online.
Students who do not have access to play Fallout 3 have options, the best of which is playing the
game along with classmates. Students may also wish to rent a console and Fallout 3 for the
duration of Weeks 4 and 5 in order to experience gameplay.
If you have concerns about the technical requirements, your instructor is happy to answer
questions and help you find solutions.
Class Conduct
All electronics (including phones, media players, laptop computers, etc.) should be turned off
before class begins. Students may not excuse themselves from class to take calls. Eating and
drinking are allowed but must not disrupt class activities.
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a serious offence and has severe consequences, including possible expulsion from
the university. Please let me know during the course of the semester if you have any question as
to what constitutes plagiarism.
Writing Center
The Writing Center offers terrific free services to writers of all abilities and can provide
assistance for any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming ideas to helping polish final
drafts. The Writing Center can be found in Curtin 382. Appointments with experience tutors can
be made by calling 414-229-4339 or can be scheduled online at www.writingcenter.uwm.edu.
Administrative Drop
Students who do not attend the first week of classes will be administratively dropped from the
course.
Go to http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/SyllabusLinks.pdf for official information on other course
policies and procedures according to University guidelines.
Course Calendar
Week 1
Mon
1/24
Wed
1/26
Course introduction
Discussing readings from Wastelands
Week 2
Mon
1/31
Wed
2/2
Discussing readings from Wastelands
Discussing readings from Wastelands
Week 3
Mon
2/7
Wed
2/9
Discussing the film "The Road"
Discussing the film "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome"
Week 4
Mon
2/14
Wed
2/16
Fallout 3 - Discussing Player Characters (PCs) and venturing out
Fallout 3 - Discussing Places and cultural Items
Week 5
Mon
2/21
Wed
2/23
Fallout 3 - Discussing Non-Player Characters (NPCs) and motivations
Fallout 3 - Discussing politics, societies, economies
Week 6
Mon
2/28
Wed
3/2
Wiki introduction and creating Items
Continue creating post-apocalyptic Items
Week 7
Mon
3/7
Wed
3/9
Discussion and creation of Places
Continue creating post-apocalyptic Places
Week 8
Mon
3/14
Wed
3/16
Discussion and creation of NPCs
Continue creating post-apocalyptic NPCs
Week 9
Mon
3/21
Wed
3/23
Spring break
Spring break
Week 10
Mon
3/28
Wed
3/30
Wiki catch-up and review of role-playing game (RPG) principles
Wiki catch-up and PC creation
Week 11
Mon
4/4
Wed
4/6
PC Creation Q&A
Playdate - Party Introductions
Week 12
Mon
4/11
Wed
4/13
Playdate 1 - Parties Setting Out (Groups A, B, C)
Playdate 1 - Parties Setting Out (Groups D, E, F)
Week 13
Mon
4/18
Wed
4/20
Playdate 2 - Party Exploration (Groups A, B, C)
Playdate 2 - Party Exploration (Groups D, E, F)
Week 14
Mon
4/25
Wed
4/27
Playdate 3 - Party Discoveries (Groups A, B, C)
Playdate 3 - Party Discoveries (Groups D, E, F)
Week 15
Mon
5/2
Wed
5/4
Playdate 4 - Party Finale (Groups A, B, C)
Playdate 4 - Party Finale (Groups D, E, F)
Week 16
Mon
5/9
Wed
5/11
Final Workshop / Completed Story
Final Workshop / Course Evaluations