“The truth about stories is, that’s all we are.” Thomas King
Human beings make sense of their worlds through the art of storytelling. Through weekly reading and writing, students will learn how to appreciate short fiction and creative nonfiction. This class will focus on the craft of the short story, which we will explore through discussions and workshops of stories. We will read stories and analyze short stories with a focus on narrative techniques—plot, character, place, setting, dialogue, and theme. This will be a fun and engaging course—students will evaluate, discover, and appreciate the short story. We will discuss the different elements of short stories. We will look at the effectiveness of short stories (how authors create meaning).
We will ask and answer the following questions:
- What makes a short story?
- What is the difference between fiction and creative nonfiction?
- What is plot, conflict, climax?
- How do writers use narration?
- How do we write characters and dialogue?
Our Short Story Readings will include (among others):
“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
“The Shawl” by Cynthia Ozick
“Araby” James Joyce
“Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
“Hills Like White Elephant” by Ernest Hemingway
“The Man Who Was Almost a Man” Richard Wright
“Yellow Woman” Leslie Marmon Silko
“Sonnyʻs Blues” James Baldwin
“The Pain Scale” Eula Biss
“Repeat After Me” David Sedaris
(Subject to change.)
Assignments:
- Weekly posts on Laulima that will critically engage with the texts– 250 words minimum.
- Weekly creative writing exercises (from prompts) that engages with a specific writing technique—500 words minimum.
- Creative writing portfolio – 1500 words minimum.
- Creative and critical reflection of your writing process—3-page minimum.
- Final examination