Undergraduate Course Curriculum Description (as of Fall 2011)
200-level courses
(291/292/293: Beginning Poetry/Fiction/Nonfiction Writing)
This is the introductory course in the Creative Writing sequence, which presumes
no familiarity with writing in poetry/fiction/nonfiction.
This is the foundational course in the genre sequence, and required
preparation for the intermediate and advanced courses.
Each course has a required textbook.
Pedagogical goals include: substantive written practice--via
exercises--in the techniques of genre writing; practice--via discussion of both
exemplary poems/stories/essays by published writers, and of the written work of
classroom peers--in the critical analysis of texts; and introduction to the
critical terms of craft in the genre, so as to model and develop a vocabulary
for discussion. For the first 10-11
weeks of the semester, this course will focus on: written exercises in craft;
in-class discussion; copious reading of exemplary texts; and the writing of a
story or essay, or a series of poems.
The final weeks of the semester comprise the “workshop” component of this
course, where the story/essay/poems will be discussed.
300-level courses
(391/392/393: Intermediate Poetry/Fiction/Nonfiction Writing)
This course is the “bridge” course in the Creative Writing sequence, serving to
move students beyond their foundational practice in the introductory course,
while preparing them for the rigorous engagement in critical analysis in the
advanced course. Pedagogically,
this is the most rigorous and demanding course in the sequence, involving total
immersion in writing practice--at least four books to read and discuss (and any
other additional readings as required); three stories or essays, or a
substantial collection of poems to write; continued practice of craft via
written exercises; deeper practice of analysis via written critical response to
exemplary texts; and a “workshop” component.
400-level courses
(491/492/493: Advanced Poetry/Fiction/Nonfiction Writing)
This course is designed as a professional workshop seminar, engaging solely in immersive craft analysis--via discussion and writing--of both student work and exemplary texts in the genre.