Course Syllabus

ENGL 2250 Introduction to Creative Writing

Course Description

Introduction to Creative Writing focuses on at least three different genres (i.e. fiction, poetry, nonfiction, graphic novels, or others) and guides students through the creative process, creative writing theory, and genre-specific writing techniques. Additionally, students will participate in peer workshopping of their own writing projects. Because reading literature is so closely tied to writing literature, the class also includes analysis of literature, allowing students to read like a writer. ENGL 2250 is recommended as a preparatory class for genre-specific creative writing classes at Snow College.

Justification

Creative writing classes are popular with students. The department's genre-specific creative writing classes fill very quickly even though they don't offer GE credit. Additionally, the English and Philosophy Department finds that many potential majors want to be creative writers and that creative writing clubs and activities are well attended.ENGL 2250 enriches the GE offerings in the Humanities area by offering students a creative learning experience different from what they would find in a regular literature class. The course is similar to 2000-level GE credit-bearing creative writing classes at other USHE schools.

General Education Outcomes

1. A student who completes the GE curriculum has a fundamental knowledge of human cultures and the natural world. Students will contribute to their fundamental knowledge of the humanities by reading selections of literature from different literary genres and using class discussion to explore the ways literature represents different cultures and the ways they influence contemporary ideas. Students will demonstrate their consideration of readings and their interpretations of the texts in class/online discussion, reading journals, and/or literary analysis essays.
2. A student who completes the GE curriculum can read and research effectively within disciplines. Students will read a variety of literary texts of different literary genres and will be quizzed on different literary and creative writing techniques. They will also be encouraged to research, as needed, to complete their original creative writing. They will demonstrate these abilities through in class/online discussion, reading journals, original creative writing, peer workshopping, and/or literary analysis essays.
3. A student who completes the GE curriculum can draw from multiple disciplines to address complex problems. Creative writing is inherently interdisciplinary, as writers engage with ideas and problems from multiple fields of inquiry as part of their writing projects. This interdisciplinarity will be addressed explicitly as students learn about the vast array of knowledge and skills they may need to call on as creative writers. Students will demonstrate understanding of these abilities in class/online discussion, literary analysis essays, and/or original creative writing.
4. A student who completes the GE curriculum can reason analytically, critically, and creatively. Students will critically evaluate rhetorical and creative choices authors make in order to understand and interpret genre-specific literature and creative writing theory. Students will understand how to apply their learning to the creation of their own unique literary product. Students will demonstrate their ability to read and think critically through class/online discussion, reading journals, original creative writing, peer workshopping, individual conferences, and/or literary analysis essays.

General Education Knowledge Area Outcomes

1. Students will examine literary texts in multiple literary genres with an eye toward understanding what purpose literary genres serve in asking questions on the human experience and allowing humans to experience language. Students will demonstrate their understanding of genre and how genre communicates human thought and experience through class/online discussion, reading journals, creative writing, and/or literary analysis essays. Students will examine literary texts in multiple literary genres with an eye toward understanding what purpose literary genres serve in asking questions on the human experience and allowing humans to experience language. Students will demonstrate their understanding of genre and how genre communicates human thought and experience through class/online discussion, reading journals, creative writing, and/or literary analysis essays.
2. Understand how knowledge is created through the study of language systems, literature, and/or philosophy. Students will study the creative process in order to understand how to tap into their own understanding of the world and their own responses to written or experiential knowledge. They will participate in creating knowledge through the practice of invention, drafting and revision. They will demonstrate their understanding of literature and the creative writing process through their original creative writing and/or literary analysis essays.
3. Understand cultural traditions within an historical context and make connections with the present. Students will examine cultural traditions in the form of literary analyses of different genres of literature both in historical and contemporary contexts. They will also examine personal histories for the purpose of discovering creative writing material and using that knowledge to create unique pieces of writing. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of cultural traditions through class/online discussion, reading journals, original creative writing, and/or literary analysis essays.
4. Critically read and respond to primary texts (original, uninterpreted) from a Humanities’ perspective. Students will read, study, and discuss different literary genres. Literary texts will provide a foundation from which students will derive information on how genre is used to convey meaning through structure and technique. Students will demonstrate their knowledge through class/online discussion, literary analysis essays, and original creative writing.
5. Write effectively within the Humanities discipline to analyze and form critical and aesthetic judgments. Students will be able to read, interpret, and analyze texts representative of excellence in creative writing. Students will demonstrate their critical and aesthetic judgments through the regular practice of analytical writing in literary analysis essays. Students will be assessed through their original creative writing, reflection essays, individual conferences, and/or peer workshopping.

Course Content

While precise content in ENGL 2250 may vary based on the texts adopted and the individual preferences of the instructor, the course will include readings from at least three genres of creative writing, which may include fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and drama or more specialized genres like graphic novels. As students study and analyze each specific genre, they will explore both general techniques of effective creative writing and genre-specific techniques for creating their own finished pieces of literature.In order to allow students to encounter broad perspectives and creative writing techniques, texts selected as exemplary writing, and genres and forms of writing taught should represent a variety of cultures, topics, time periods, and ideas.