Course Syllabus
Course Number/Name: ENG-226 Introduction to Creative Writing
Section #: 1
Course Room (Pelham HS): #12
Term: Fall 2013
Faculty Name: Jennifer Nugent
Email address: jnugent@pelhamsd.org
Phone Ext: (603)635-2115
Required TEXTBOOK(s) and Supplemental Materials:
Sellers, Heather. The Practice of Creative Writing: a Guide for Students.
Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2008, 0-31243-647-5.
Collins, Billy. Sailing Alone Around the Room. Random House, 2002,
9780375755194.
Wallace, Daniel. Big Fish. Penguin, 2003, 0-14200-427-8.
Teacher selected models from additional sources
COURSE PREREQUISITES: Essay Writing
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students develop their skills in writing poetry, prose, fiction,
and drama, while working on specific exercises in a supportive critical environment.
Because of the strong emphasis on peer editing, students must be mature enough to
give and receive constructive criticism regarding sensitive, often personal, work. Some
exercises expose students to the protocols, as well as the problems associated with
particular genres of writing; others assist the writer in mastering specific writing skills.
Students read texts by various published authors for instructional support. Grammar
and punctuation skills are reinforced as needed.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: At the end of this course, the student will have acquired
increased competence in creative writing through practice in reading, writing, and
speaking listening and viewing.
CCSS Course Competencies: The students in Introduction to Creative Writing
will have the opportunity to master the following competencies in reading,
writing, speaking, listening, and viewing.
Reading:
1. Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate
elements of a story or drama.
2. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text,
including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific
word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or
language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful.
3. Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure specific parts of a
text contribute to its overall structure and meaning as well as its aesthetic
impact.
4. Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of structure an author uses.
Writing:
5. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of texts, using valid reasoning
and relevant and sufficient evidence.
6. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using
effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
7. Demonstrate mastery of the conventions of standard English grammar and
usage when writing.
8. Use the recursive writing process to avoid plagiarism.
Speaking/Listening/Viewing:
9. Present information, findings, and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and
distinct perspective with a line of reasoning.
10. Make strategic use of digital media in presentations to enhance understanding
of findings, reasoning, and evidence.
11. Demonstrate a command of conventions of standard English grammar and usage
in writing and speaking.
12. Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions
hearing others’ ideas and then expressing personal ideas clearly and
persuasively.
13. Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and
rhetoric.
Language:
14. Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different
contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend
more fully when reading or listening.
Pelham High School School-wide Expectations for Student Learning
 Use effective reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing skills.
 Behave appropriately and responsibly with regard to others, oneself, and to
one’s surroundings.
READINGS/ASSIGNMENTS/EXAM SCHEDULE:
*Summer Writing Project
All students in Creative Writing classes at Pelham High School must complete summer
writing. Their independent summer writing allows for practice and development of
individual writer’s voice, encourages creative written expression, and promotes lifelong writing skills. Students appreciate writing as they write at their own pace. They
have an opportunity to utilize summer writing in discussions and assessments during
the course of their semester in Creative Writing.
*Semester Independent Project
Students are expected to generate a substantial creative work that extends beyond
the course curriculum. They must write a proposal for the Independent Project and
must obtain teacher approval for all project ideas. There will be benchmarks to check
on progress throughout the course. The final “publishable” product will be presented
to the class for teacher and peer critique during the last weeks of the course.
*Ethereal Patter
Students will work together to produce a cohesive, artistically and aesthetically
pleasing, technically accurate literary magazine. Members of the class will lay the
groundwork for production of Ethereal Patter during semester one and will be invited
to participate in the Ethereal Patter Creative Writing Club during semester two.
2 Days
Brainstorming and Process
Introduction: Writing Process, Semester Independent Project, Arrangement, Drafting
and Revising, Journaling, MLA Documentation and Rules on Plagiarism
Reading Assignment: The Practice of Creative Writing Ch. 1 (11-25), Ch. 2 (27-38)
Writing Assignment: Daily Journal, Summer Writing Assignment
20 Days
Short Fiction
Topics: Creative Form & Construction, Voice, Monologue, Dialogue,
Character/Conflict/Plot Development
Reading Assignment: The Practice of Creative Writing Ch. 4 (101-139), Ch. 5 (141-155)
Big Fish (Wallace), Short story models chosen by teacher
Writing Assignments: Daily Journal, Monologue, Dialogue, Science Fiction, Fantasy
20 Days
Poetry
Topics: Voice, Imagery, Poetic Conventions, Narrative Impulse, Lyrical Impulse, Forms
of Poetry, Using Space and Punctuation
Reading Assignments: The Practice of Creative Writing Ch. 6 (199-217), Ch. 8 (279293), Contemporary and canonical poetry models chosen by teacher
Writing Assignments: Creating Metaphor, Experience/Impression Poems, Ekphrasis
Writing, Couplets, Sonnets, Odes, Elegies, Ars Poetica
20 Days
Creative Nonfiction
Topics: Voice, Imagery, Form & Construction
Reading Assignments: The Practice of Creative Writing Ch. 9 (314-342), selections of
creative nonfiction chosen by teacher study of contemporary professional works
Writing Assignments: Moment of Being, Personal “Soundtracks,” Biography, Personal
Voice, Travel Writing
20 Days
Scriptwriting & Final Challenge Projects (Extending Our Writing)
Topics: Structures & Forms, character development through dialogue, Pushing limits
and rules of writing
Reading Assignment: The Practice of Creative Writing Ch. 10 (367-381), Ch. 11 (382393)
Writing Assignments: Monologues, Dialogues
8 Days
Independent Project & Chapbook Preparation & Presentation
COURSE EVALUATION CRITERIA: Final evaluation is based upon the completeness and
quality of the student’s chapbook and Independent Semester project, the quality of
the student’s class and workshop participation, and graded craft essays.
Assessment
Reading Response
Writing Final Drafts
Speaking/Listening/Viewing (conferencing, recursive peer editing process)
Language (vocabulary, grammar)
Formative Assessments (journaling, brainstorming)
Final Exam, Chapbook & Independent Project
Grading Scale
97-100 points
93-96
90-92
87-89
83-85
80-82
A+
A
AB+
B
B-
77-79
73-75
70-72
69-65
<65
10%
40%
10%
10%
10%
20%
C+
C
CD
F
Course Policies
Absence/Tardy
A student who has an authorized absence/tardy will be allowed to make up work in
this class. It is the responsibility of the student to see that missed work is made up
within a time equal to the absence. Please make every effort to contact the
instructor via e-mail (jnugent@pelhamsd.org) when absent from class.
Word Processing and Remote Access
Students are required to word process or type all final drafts. Students are
encouraged to use Google drive and/or the remote access to the PHS computer
system: <remote.pelhamsd.org>.
Retakes
Please refer to the student agenda handbook for information on rewrites. Speak to Ms.
Nugent if you have questions.
Food
In accordance with the school policy, no food is allowed in the classroom; only
colorless water is permitted. The water is for personal use, not for sharing.
Attendance policy for Southern NH University (Dual-Enrollment):
Southern New Hampshire University subscribes to the belief that an assumption of
responsibility is at the center of learning and accomplishment. The responsibility of
attendance belongs to the student. Attendance is required in all courses. Being absent
and/or late for class may impact a student’s grade, and in the case of excessive
absences, may result in failure or the instructor withdrawing the student from the
course. Missing more than 10 percent of the scheduled class time may be considered
excessive.* Students are responsible for all missed work, assignments, etc. The
instructor’s policies on attendance and making up work must be included in the
syllabus. Documented absences resulting from legitimate circumstances, such as
personal illness, involvement in sanctioned university events, a death in the
immediate family, etc., should not negatively impact a student’s grade or academic
standing. Notwithstanding the previous statement, once a student has missed enough
classes that the instructor believes that the student cannot meet the goals of the
course within the remaining time frame, the student may be given a failing grade,
withdrawn from the class, or be considered for an Incomplete (I) and given a defined
period to complete remaining course work.
*Colleges determine the number of hours a course meets by the number of credits the course
carries. PHS uses the number of days the course meets.
You will keep this entire syllabus in your binder.
As you sign below, you have been informed of the requirements of Introduction to Creative
Writing. You may phone Ms. Nugent at 635-2115 or e-mail her at jnugent@pelhamsd.org.
Name of Student (Please print) ___________________________________________________
Signature of Parent/Guardian_________________________________________Date________
Signature of Student_________________________________________________Date________