Course Instructor

Bruce Closser
Nethery Hall 116
Phone: 7172 (office); 473-5480 (home)
E-mail: closserb@andrews.edu
Hours as posted

Course Description and Objectives

In this creative writing course you will produce a series of short narratives. Our class discussions and activities will emphasize such elements as characterization, plot, point of view, setting, and theme. You will write a number of short, in-class pieces and four longer narratives more fully. Our class will make regular use of small group activities in which you will share your writing with each other, providing advice and support as you develop your narratives. As a result of the course, you should be better able to analyze how short fiction is written.

As a result of this course, you will:

1. Learn and practice various discovery techniques for finding narrative ideas and concepts that can be the basis for stories.
2. Analyze through reading, practice, and class discussion the various elements of narrative writing: characterization, setting, plot, setting, and theme.
3. Become comfortable with the narrative writing process, including finding ideas, developing narratives, and revising.
4. Respond maturely to each other's writing, providing supportive and critical comments which will better show each writer the crucial importance of audience and readers.
5. Explore through reading and discussion the range of short story styles and approaches.

Course Textbook

At the Book Store, please obtain a copy of the following text:

Madden, David. A Pocketful of Prose: Vintage Short Fiction . Boston: Thomson, Heinle, 1992.

Course Assignments

Readings  You will read several short stories from the textbook which will serve as illustrations of principles we discuss in class. For each story you will do a brief 1-page analysis in which you examine selected elements of the short story which we have been discussing in class, and you will analyze what elements of the story you might want to employ in your own writing.

In-class activities  As a way of practicing strategies and principles of short fiction and rehearsing stories you might write, you will complete various in-class writing activities. These activities will also serve as a record of your attendance; they cannot be made up in the event of unexcused absences.

Short Stories  You will write four different short stories during the semester. The first story is a Story by Imitation. For this assignment take one of your favorite short stories and imitate it in some way. The second project is a Story from Personal Experience in which you construct a fictional story based on events you've experienced over a selected period of time. In the third project, you'll write a Story from Research; build this story around research you are doing for some class, for instance. The final story is your Personal Project. Do what you want in this project; perhaps you've always wanted to write a detective story or a chapter from a novel you have been considering. More details about each project will be presented as necessary. Each story should be between 8 and 15 double-spaced pages in length and is due when indicated in the schedule of activities below.

Readers' Group Responses  Each of you will be assigned to a group in order to read and respond to each other's stories. Each readers' group will publish its stories on a class web page. Each member of the group will read each group member's story and offer a response consisting of observations about the parts of the story which the reader finds effective and suggestions for ways the writer might effectively revise the story.

Writer's Journal  During the semester keep a journal in which you record personal events that you might find helpful in future short story efforts. Write down events that happen to you or to others. Record conversations you participate in or overhear. Practice descriptions of characters or settings. Make lists of ideas for plots. A minimum of five pages per week is expected.

Publishing Effort  Submit one of your stories for publication to some magazine or student anthology. The English department publishes an anthology of student fiction. You may also research other sources where you might submit your stories.

Collection of Personal Short Story Favorites  Develop a collection of your own favorite short stories. For each story complete a one-page analysis or response to each story. What elements of this story set it apart from other stories you've read? Why is it one of your favorites?

Evaluation

Although I will read and respond to each story you write, I will not assign grades to individual stories. Rather your grade for this course will be established by contract. You decide which grade you wish to work toward and complete the requirements for that grade. The requirements for each grade are described below. NOTE: I reserve the right to assign a plus or minus to a grade based on such factors as quality of writing, degree of class participation, and record of attendance. The details of the contract are spelled out below:

To earn a C:  Complete all four assigned stories and related in-class activities. Read and respond to all assigned short stories from the anthology. Complete all Reading Group responses. Maintain an attendance record of at least 80%.

To Earn a B:  All of the above, PLUS keep a Writer's Diary in which you complete five entries per week during the semester. See above for a description of what you might include in this diary. Maintain an attendance record of at least 90%.

To earn an A  All of the above, PLUS significantly revise and submit one of your stories for publication OR develop a collection of favorite short stories not assigned for class (minimum 10 stories); for each story provide a one-page analysis/response. Maintain an attendance record of at least 95%.

Tentative Schedule of Activities

The following schedule of activities outlines how our semester will proceed, but it should be considered tentative since we may need to adjust it as the course proceeds.

Week 1
8/25	Introduction; scavenger stories. Start Writer's Journal. What makes a short story? Introduction to Project 1.
8/27	What is plot? Why does my story need a plot? What are some typical plots?
Week 2
9/1	Labor DayHolidayNO CLASS
9/3	The Rocking Horse Winner / Flowering Judas
Week 3
9/8	What viewpoint should I use? What are the benefits of differing viewpoints?
9/10	A Rose for Emily / The Killers
Week 4
9/15	Project 1 Reading Groups
9/17	Project 1 Conferences NO CLASS
Week 5
9/22	Submit Project 1. Introduce Project 2
9/24	How do I open a short story? What sort of hook should I use?
Week 6
9/29	Bliss / The Necklace
10/1	How do I create believable characters? Why is motive important?
Week 7
10/6	Araby / The Chrysanthemums / A & P
10/8	Project 2 Reading Groups
Week 8
10/13	Fall RecessNo Class
10/15	Project 2 Conferences NO CLASS
Week 9
10/20	Submit Project 2. Introduce Project 3.
10/22	How do I create effective dialogue? How do I make dialogue sound natural?
Week 10
10/27	Magic Barrel / Young Goodman Brown
10/29	How do I create powerful settings? When does setting come in a story?
Week 11
11/3	The Fall of the House of Usher / Why I Live at the P.O.
11/5	Project 3 Reading Groups
Week 12
10/10	Project 3 Conferences NO CLASS
10/12	Submit Project 3. Introduce Project 4
Week 13
10/17	How do scene and summary differ? How do I connect scenes together? How do I manage time in my stories?
10/19	Paul's Case / A Good Man Is Hard to Find
Week 14
10/24	What's the purpose of Theme?
10/26	Thanksgiving BreakNo Class
Week 15
12/1	Gooseberries / To Room Nineteen / Going to Meet the Man
12/3	Reading Groups
Week 16
12/8	Final Examination, 3-5 p.m. Submit Revised Project 4, along with all materials to be considered for course grade.