Types of Creative Writing: Poetry & Creative Non-Fiction

The
Course

The
first eight weeks of the course focuses on the writing of Creative Nonfiction,
and the second eight weeks, on Poetry. The course is designed as an
introduction to each genre. We’ll do lots of writing both inside and outside of
class, in addition to reading and discussing the work of accomplished writers
from a wide range of traditions and sensibilities. Class time will be devoted
primarily to writing exercises, work shopping student writing, and discussing
assigned readings.  My goal for the class
is that by the end of term, you will have begun (or continue) to develop a
writer’s voice distinctly your own.

Required texts
(available from Revolution Books in Puck’s Alley*)

  • The Teachers and Writers Handbook of Poetic Forms, Ed. Ron Padgett*
  • The Truth of the Matter: Art and Craft in Creative
    Nonfiction
    ,Dinty
    W. Moore*
  • Course Reader (available from EMA Copiers, Campus Center,
    near Pizza Hut)

Also required:  Journal

Assignments & Grades

  • Online
    Responses     30%
  • Attendance,
    Participation & Discussion     20%
  • Portfolio     50%

 

 

Course Requirements

 

  • Online
    responses
    :  For each assigned reading, an online
    response will be due on our class website.
  • Attendance,
    Participation & Discussion:
      during both class and workshop sessions;
  • Portfolio:  This will
    consist of three parts:
  1. A Collection of revised and polished Poetry (5 pages), and Creative Nonfiction (7-8
    pages), a total of 12-15 pages or so, written during the semester.;
  2. ALL
    original Drafts (with my comments);
  3. Free-writing
    exercises completed in class.

 

 

To pass the course, all work must be completed.