Welcome to the English 31 home page. Here is the catalog description for English 31. Below, you will also find information on everything you need to know before you come to class, such as textbooks, requirements, grading, and attendance policy. For complete course description and information on specific assignments such as journals and the portfolio, you must attend class. You are welcome to browse through and email me with any questions. I look forward to seeing you in class.
CATALOG DESCRIPTION AND COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The student learns the craft and principles of dramatic narrative and poetry through a variety of short assignments. A final project may be written in any field of interest: short story, article, movie/TV script, stage play, or book. Analysis and lecture are presented both for those desiring to write experimentally, and for those interested in the demanding world of publication.
Course Objectives:
Through discussions, oral presentations, quizzes, and written assignments:
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The student will identify and demonstrate--in written work--devices and strategies available to a writer, such as point of view, voice, figurative language.
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The student will examine form and structure in an individual piece, such as a short story, vignette, haiku; the student will demonstrate an understanding of these forms by writing a short story, vignette, haiku, dramatic dialogue, etc.
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The student will apply the fundamental elements needed for an effective critique, assessing how a reader communicates with a writer, moving past surface considerations to larger issues, such as tone, purpose, clarity, audience.
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The student will analyze his/her strengths and limitations as a writer through discussions, written appraisals and portfolio selections.
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The Oxford Book of American Short Stories by Oates; |
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Here, Bullet by Brian Turner; |
| Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. |
| Writing assignments, 100 points total. |
| Journal, 100 points. |
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Portfolio, including revisions, 100 points. |
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Numerous in-class writings and class participation, 100 points. |
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Oral presentation -- on a particular writer and her/his work, 100 points. |
I cannot grade creative work. The creative process requires time and effort, and you may need support to achieve your goals as an experimental writer. If you hand in all work on time as required, and you attend all classes or miss no more than two weeks of class, you will receive a B.
If you do less than above but still make enough points overall to receive credit in the course, and you miss no more than two weeks of class, you will receive a C.
Plagiarism will earn you an automatic F. I make no bones about this! Do not copy the written work of any other author nor download information from the internet.
An A, as always, is reserved for excellent performance. Revise all your work and do extra journal entries; attend all classes; provide intelligent and gentle critiques on all work.
Required. You are responsible for all work assigned, whether or not you are in class. Two weeks of class absences will lower your grade one full letter.
