1191

Creative Writing – English 1191 Fall 2006 – Final Portfolio Requirements

When is my portfolio due?
Your final portfolio is due by 12:00 NOON on December 20, 2006. You may turn your portfolio in to me in person in my office (Hellems 09) from 10:00 A.M. until noon, or you may put your portfolio in my mailbox in Hellems 101 any time before noon. Please keep in mind that Hellems 101 closes at 5:00P.M. on weekdays, and is closed on weekends. You may turn your portfolio in earlier if you choose. I will not accept any late portfolios.

What should I include?
Include your best, most meaningfully revised work from this semester.
* You need to include two genres of writing (select from poetry, drama or fiction).
* Both pieces must have undergone revision work.
* Include at least one earlier draft for each piece you submit.
* Please include a brief writer’s analysis of each piece. Why did you write the piece, what elements of craft were you employing, what revisions did you make in the final draft, what do you love/hate about the piece?

How do I submit it?
Please use the folder I have provided to submit your final portfolio. Put one piece of writing in one side, along with your earlier draft and writer’s analysis. Put the other piece in the opposite side, along with your earlier draft and writer’s analysis. Write your name on the front. If you lose the folder I give you, buy another two-pocket folder and do the above.

What will I be graded on?
Your final portfolio represents 20% of your semester grade. For each piece you will be graded on the elements of craft we have discussed this semester: voice, imagery, setting, character and story. You will also be graded to a great degree on your revision efforts. You should carefully review any critical comments that I, or your classmates, have provided, and do your best to consider and, if it works, incorporate these suggestions. If you do not choose to incorporate suggestions, you should note your decision and reasons for not doing so in your writer’s analysis.

How can I get my work returned to me?
You may include a large, self-address, stamped envelope if you would like me to mail your portfolio. Otherwise, I will keep your portfolios for one year. I won’t be teaching next semester, so I won’t have office hours. You can contact me to set up a meeting to get your portfolio (by law I cannot leave graded material in a public space). Spring semester is my last semester here at C.U., so do contact me by the end of the semester if you’d like your work returned.

Will class meet during the final exam period?
No, we will not meet as a class during the final exam period. I will, however, be in my office (Hellems 01) from 10:00 A.M. until noon on Wednesday, Dec. 20 to accept your final portfolios and for discussion. If you have a conflict with another final during this time, and would like to schedule another time to meet and turn in your portfolio, let me know.

These readings will take the entire class period, so we will start immediately. Please be respectful of your classmates and be on time. You must show up both days, even if you aren't reading.

You will have ten minutes. Please choose either 2-3 poems, a piece of fiction, a selection of writing exercises, or a dramatic piece.

If you choose a dramatic piece, you must cast your characters and stage directions reader ahead of time (from within the class) and get the script to your actors well ahead of time. This will ensure a successful reading. Your actors do not have to act, but they should be familiar with the script and the characters.

Tuesday, Dec. 12:
Danielle
Kourtni
Jenny
Zoe
A.J.
Dustin
Peter
Melissa

Thursday, Dec. 14
Natalie
Kori
Ryan
Jennifer
Rob
Keelin
Kayla

Please see email sent Dec. 5 for workshop groups. You should email your story to your group by Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 5. Please print and comment on the two stories you receive, and bring them to class to give, along with your typed responses to the workshop questions below, to the authors.

Workshop questions:

Please read your two workshop stories carefully, keeping in mind that this is a first draft. Also keep in mind the assignment:

Elements of craft I will be looking for in your story:

1. A story set in the present. This means no flashbacks or backstory (if you want me to make an exception, please discuss it with me).
2. A plot that begins immediately with a clear conflict.
3. Two main characters, no more than three. If you introduce peripheral characters they should be minimal. Your main characters should be rounded and complex. What do they want? What are their obstacles?
4. The use of concrete, significant detail (think objects, setting).
5. Setting that is significant to the action of the story.
6. A clear and specific voice and point of view (who is telling this story from what perspective and why?). Be consistent in your point of view – use only one for the story.

Then please answer the following questions in detail:

1. Is there a clear conflict? What is it? Could it be strengthened? Clarified?
2. Who are the two main characters? What do you know about them? What more would you like to know about them?
3. Are there other characters? Are they necessary to the conflict or do they detract from the central conflict?
4. What role does setting play in this story? Does the author use concrete, significant detail in his/her writing?
5. Is the point of view consistent? Is the verb tense consistent (either present or past tense)?

Please type your responses for the author and feel free to write notes on your copy of the story.

We will workshop these stories on Thursday of this week. DO NOT MISS CLASS. DO NOT COME LATE.

The last week of class you will be reading a piece of your work to the class. The piece can be of any genre (poetry, drama, fiction).

You will have a 10 minute time limit so that we can fit everyone in.

If you choose to read a dramatic piece you can "stage" it, meaning that you may choose actors to "perform" the piece, and a stage directions reader. If you choose to do this, please select your actors ahead of time and rehearse with them.

If you choose to read poetry you should select two or more poems.

Thursday, Nov. 30 - NO CLASS

Tuesday, Dec. 5 - First Draft Fiction Assignment due, Discuss Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, Set up workshop groups for Thursday

Thursday, Dec. 7 - Workshop Fiction Assignments, Bring 2 copies of written critiques of stories - DO NOT MISS CLASS

Tuesday, Dec. 12 - Final Draft of Fiction Assignment Due, Begin class readings

Thursday, Dec. 14 - Class party, Finish class readings

Wednesday, Dec. 20 - Final Portfolio Due by 12Noon in my office or my mailbox (Must included two genres, more guidelines to be announced last week of class)

* First Draft of Fiction Assignment (2 copies) - see guidelines on separate post

* Read Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates (Gwynn)
* Email me two discussion questions on the story by Monday, Dec. 4

* First draft due Tuesday, Dec. 5 at the beginning of class for workshop on Thursday, Dec. 7
* Bring two copies of your story
* First draft can be from 3-8 pages, double-spaced, typed, 1” margins
* Final draft due Tuesday, Dec. 12 at the beginning of class.
* 5-7 pages, double-spaced, typed, 1” margins


Elements of craft I will be looking for in your story:

1. A story set in the present. This means no flashbacks or backstory (if you want me to make an exception, please discuss it with me).
2. A plot that begins immediately with a clear conflict.
3. Two main characters, no more than three. If you introduce peripheral characters they should be minimal. Your main characters should be rounded and complex. What do they want? What are their obstacles?
4. The use of concrete, significant detail (think objects, setting).
5. Setting that is significant to the action of the story.
6. A clear and specific voice and point of view (who is telling this story from what perspective and why?). Be consistent in your point of view – use only one for the story.

Please email or meet with me if you have questions about the assignment.

English 1191 – Intro to Creative Writing
Dramatic Writing Assignment

* Due Tuesday, Nov. 28 at the beginning of class
* Format with the guidelines provided starting on page 370 of Burroway
* 5-7 pages, typed (not including Title page and Character page)


Requirements of scene:

1. Set the scene – imagine the curtain rising, what does the audience see? We should have an idea of place & time.
2. Two characters, no more than three
3. At least one significant object
4. A clear negotiation (A wants something from B, B wants something from A) with one character wining
5. Use of obstacles (possibilities: physical, other person’s will, internal) to complicate the negotiations
6. Use of at least one “prop” – sound, lighting, costume, setting
7. Clear stage directions
8. Action, not exposition
9. Dialogue, not conversation

Writing:
"Try This 10.6" exercise on page 348 of Burroway.

You may also want to try some of the other dramatic exercises in Burroway, just to work on scene-writing.

No Reading. We'll read scenes and (hopefully) watch a few in class on Thursday.

See Burroway, pgs 369-372 for the specific format I'd like you to use for your dramatic scenes.

Reading:

(1) Burroway, Drama Section, pages, 337-349

(2) First section of Paula Vogel's play, How I Learned to Drive: pgs. 1238-1256 (stop at the end of Uncle Peck's monologue on pg. 1256)

Please bring your copy of Gwynn to class on Tuesday!

Writing:
Jack and Amy are boyfriend and girlfriend. They are in a restaurant, and are having a fight. Jack has hurt Amy’s feelings, and is trying to make up to her, but Amy is still angry with Jack, and wants to stay angry.

(1) Write a paragraph in either first person POV or limited omniscient POV telling this scene, using little or no dialogue.

(2) Write a half-page or page long scene using only dialogue and action depicting this situation.