Appropriate for First Year students.

TimeDaysLocationInstructorGERCreditOPUS Class NumberSyllabus (Tentative)
2:30pm-5:30pm
Th
Schwartz Center 142
White, Susan. HAPW. 42041 TBA.

January 18, 2012- May 01, 2012

Catalog Description: Every semester. Introductory workshop in fiction writing. Counts as a prerequisite for 300-level intermediate workshops but not for Advanced Fiction, Advanced Poetry, or Advanced Playwriting. May not be repeated for credit.

Semester Details:

This workshop serves as an introduction to the writing and critical reading of short fiction for beginning students. Emphasis will be placed on “reading as writers,” i.e. looking closely at how authors craft their text. Particular attention will be paid to point of view, voice, setting and dialog. In addition to writing responses to the stories they read, students will write several short creative pieces, each focusing on one element of craft. Students will also write a draft of a complete short story (15 page minimum), and significantly revise that draft for the final exam. As part of the revision process, students will have their stories discussed and critiqued by their fellow classmates, in a constructive workshop setting. This course will prepare students for intermediate and advanced workshops in fiction.

Students should budget for photocopying. 

All Creative Writing courses are permission-only. Students must submit an application to the Creative Writing Program office in N209 Callaway Center. The application deadline is 5 p.m., Tuesday, October 18. (Late applications will be accepted through the end of add-drop in the spring.)  Students can check on their acceptance into classes HERE. Accepted students must contact Paula Vitaris at pvitari@emory.edu for a permission number.

Required Textbooks, Articles, and Resources

  1. Anne Lamott. Bird by Bird.
  2. Eudora Welty. One Writer's Beginnings.
  3. Stories on e-reserve. These will serve as the primary text for the class. Students are required to print and bring them to class.
  4. Two lightweight notebooks.
  5. Copies of student stories for workshop.

Grading

Assignment/ExamDetails% of Total Grade
AssessmentReading responses: 10%; Writing journal: 10%; Writing assignments: 40%; Participation: 40%. As part of their participation grade, students are required to attend on-campus events in the creative writing program¿s Reading Series each semester. Students must attend at least one event (the formal reading or the colloquium) for every writer who participates in the semester¿s Reading Series. Extra credit will be given for attending off-campus author readings in the greater Atlanta area.
Extracurricular ActitiviesStudents are required to attend on-campus readings and colloquia sponsored by the Creative Writing Program outside of class time and are encouraged to attend any other activities sponsored by the Program.

The schedule of courses on O.P.U.S. is the official listing of courses, including days and times they meet and the General Education Requirements they satisfy. Students should use course descriptions as general guidelines. Course requirements, grading details, book lists, and syllabi are subject to change.