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Creative Writing
The Creative
Writing Program is a rigorous program for student writers
of serious purpose who want to develop their potential through
a series of workshops and individual projects. Students work
through a syllabus of reading, exercises, and assignments
in classes that divide their time between presentations of
assignments and discussions of student work. Most advanced
work is accomplished through individual projects.
There is a large
demand for writing courses at all levels. Most courses and
all individual projects require submissions and application
forms that are designed to assess students' serious commitment
to the nature and structure of the classes. Students who receive
a grade of B- or lower in CRWR 201 are normally discouraged
from pursuing the major.
Major.
Students must complete at least 25 hours in Creative Writing
which must include the following: Creative Writing 201; three
of the five workshops (poetry, fiction, playwriting, nonfiction,
translation) that are offered on a regular basis; and two
independent projects, one intermediate and one advanced, which
should be in the same genre. Seniors in advanced projects
will work on projects of substantial quality, and will normally
give a reading during their final semester.
Twelve hours
of literature (in English, in translation, or in a foreign
language) are also required, above the beginning level. Students
are encouraged to take literature courses in the genre(s)
in which they are writing. Film, theory, and other courses
that do not focus primarily on written literature will not
count toward this requirement, even if they are offered by
the English Department. A list of recommended literature courses
will be available in the Creative Writing Office prior to
registration each semester.
First-year students
are advised to take CRWR 110 and 120, but only one of these
courses will count toward the 25 hours required for the major.
Students must
have taken CRWR 201 before applying for 300-level poetry or
fiction workshops, and must have completed the relevant 300-level
workshop (and normally one other 300-level workshop as well)
before pursuing an individual project in a given genre.
CRWR 380/381,
470/471 and 480/481 are repeatable for credit, but only two
credits of Reading for Writing (470/471) may count toward
the major. CRWR 220 and 331 do not count toward the major.
The Program encourages
cultural diversity among students and welcomes students of
all cultural backgrounds.
Playwriting
Concentration. The basic major requirement of 37 credits
is reconfigured as follows: In Creative Writing, at least
20 hours, which must include CRWR 201, 330, 380/81 (in playwriting)
and 480/81 (in playwriting). At least 13 hours must be taken
at the 300 or 400 level, and at least one other 300-level
workshop is recommended. In theater and other departments,
at least 14 hours, including at least nine in literature (from
English, Theater, or other departments), at least six of which
must focus on drama; and at least five hours in acting, design,
or technical theater taught by the Theater Department.
Transfer of
Credit. No creative writing courses taken elsewhere will
be accepted for the creative writing major without the approval
of the Director of Creative Writing. Only half of the twelve
literature hours may be transferred; those also require approval
of the Director.
Winter Term.
Various faculty will sponsor projects on worthwhile topics that
students have carefully designed in consultation with them before
the registration deadline. Winter Term workshops, supervised
by faculty and directed by advanced students, will be offered
to students who have not taken CRWR 201.
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Courses
of Instruction
110. Technique
and Form in Poetry 3 hours
3HU
First Semester.
Extensive reading of published poetry from a creative writing
perspective. Writing includes weekly exercises aimed at exploring
the various techniques of poetry used in the assigned reading.
The class combines lecture-demonstrations and discussion of student
exercises. Notes: 35 places reserved for first-year students,
15 for sophomores. Enrollment Limit: 50.
120. Technique
and Form in Fiction 3 hours
3HU
Second Semester.
Extensive reading of published fiction from a creative writing
perspective. Writing includes weekly exercises aimed at exploring
the various techniques of fiction used in the assigned reading.
The class combines lecture-demonstrations and discussion of student
exercises. Notes: 35 places reserved for first-year students,
15 for sophomores. Enrollment Limit: 50.
201. Poetry/Prose
Workshop 4 hours
4HU,
WR
First and Second
Semester. The reading and writing of poetry, short fiction, and
some drama. Students must submit a completed application form
and a typed sample of recent work (at least two genres, due in
Program office Thursday, June 13, 2002 for first semester, and
Thursday, January 16, 2003 for second semester). Notes:
Not open to first-semester first-year students and seniors; juniors
discouraged; some second-semester first-year students may be admitted.
Consent of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 12.
Mr. Chaon, Ms.
Alexander, Ms. Tufts
260. Nature
Writing 1 hour
1HU
First Semester.
First Module. Reading of modern and contemporary authors on nature
and the environment; weekly writing. Admission based on a completed
application form and writing sample (due in Program office by
Thursday, January 16, 2003). Consent
of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 15.
310. Poetry
Workshop 3 hours
3HU,
WR
First and Second
Semester. The writing of poetry. Intensive discussion of student
work, accompanied by assigned reading. Admission based on a completed
application form and a writing sample of 6-8 poems (due in Program
office by Thursday, June 13, 2002 for first semester, and Thursday,
January 16, 2003 for second semester). Prerequisite: CRWR
201. Identical to ENGL 395. Consent of instructor required.
Enrollment Limit: 12.
Ms. Collins, Ms.
Alexander
320. Fiction
Workshop 4 hours
4HU,
WR
First and Second
Semester. The writing of short fiction. Admission based on a completed
application form and a writing sample of at least 12 pages of
fiction, made up of at least 2 separate pieces (due in Program
office by Thursday, June 13, 2002 for first semester, and Thursday,
January 16, 2003 for second semester). Prerequisites:
CRWR 201.
Identical to ENGL 397. Consent of instructor required. Enrollment
Limit: 12.
Mr. Chaon, Ms.
Watanabe
330. Playwriting
Workshop 4 hours
4HU,
WR
Second Semester.
A workshop focused on discussion of student work and on selected
examples from modern and contemporary drama, working toward
a staged reading of an original one-act play. The course presupposes
considerable knowledge of drama. Admission based on a completed
application form and writing sample (due in Program office by
Thursday, January 16, 2003). Identical to ENGL 398. Consent
of instructor required. Enrollment Limit: 12.
331. Playwriting
Lab 1 hour
1HU
Second Semester.
For actors who are available to students in the playwriting
class; to try out work in progress and be available for any
productions that result. See CRWR 330. Note:
CR/NE grading. Consent of instructor required.
340. Nonfiction
Workshop 4 hours
4HU,
WRi
First and Second
Semester. The writing of personal narratives which employ the
techniques of both the traditional essay and fiction, with an
emphasis on nonfiction as a literary art form. Students will
read work by modern and contemporary authors with an eye toward
understanding the variety of modes which come under the current
heading "creative nonfiction" (memoir, meditation, travel, cultural
critique, etc.), and will be asked to employ a number of these
methods and approaches in their own work. Admission based on
a completed application and writing sample (due in Program office
by Thursday, June 13, 2002 for first semester, and Thursday,
January 16, 2003 for second semester). Recommended
preparation: CRWR
201. Identical to ENGL 396. Consent of instructor required.
Enrollment Limit: 12.
350. Translation
Workshop 3 hours
3HU,
CD
First Semester.
Major writers in modern and contemporary poetry and some classical
examples studied by translating them into effective American
English. Exercises and assignments in the first half will help
students focus on a project of their own design in the second
half. Guest appearances by local and visiting writers. This
course has no prerequisites, but some knowledge of a foreign
language and some experience in writing poetry are required.
Admission is based on a completed application form and writing
sample (due in Program office by Thursday, June 13, 2002). Identical
to CMPL 350. Consent of instructor required. Enrollment Limit:
16.
380, 381. Intermediate
Writing Projects 2-3 hours
2-3HU,
WR
First and Second
Semester. Students will work individually with an instructor
in a single genre. Majors should have completed at least two
and preferably three of their required 300-level workshops
before applying. Applications due in Program office by Thursday,
June 13, 2002 for first semester, and Thursday, January 16,
2003 for second semester. Faculty sponsoring projects include:
Ms. Alexander, Mr. Chaon, Ms. Collins, Ms. Grim, Mr. Hobbs,
Ms. Jackson-Smith, Ms. Tufts, Mr. Van Nortwick, Mr. Walker,
Ms. Watanabe, Mr. Young. Prerequisites: Workshop in
the genre of specialization (i.e. poetry, fiction, nonfiction,
playwriting or translation) and one other workshop. Consent
of instructor required.
470, 471. Reading
for Writing 1-2 hours
1-2HU
First and Second
Semester. This course is normally taken in conjunction with
CRWR 480/81 (occasionally 380/81); it is not a substitute for
required literature courses, and it is not a private reading.
Advanced students, upon consulting with a faculty sponsor, will
select a reading list and
keep a journal
of their critical responses (and/or discuss the material they
contract to cover with the instructor). Faculty sponsoring
projects include: Ms. Alexander, Mr. Chaon, Ms. Collins, Mr.
Walker. Ms. Watanabe, Mr. Young. Note: CR/NE grading.
Consent of instructor required.
480, 481. Advanced
Writing Projects 3-4 hours
3-4HU,
WR
First and Second
Semester. Students will work individually with an instructor
in a single genre. Applications due in Program office by Thursday,
June 13, 2002 for first semester, and Thursday, January 16,
2003 for second semester. Faculty sponsoring projects include:
Ms. Alexander, Mr. Chaon, Ms. Collins, Ms. Grim, Mr. Hobbs,
Ms. Jackson-Smith, Ms. Tufts, Mr. Van Nortwick, Mr. Walker,
Ms. Watanabe, Mr. Young. Prerequisite: An intermediate
writing project in the same genre. Consent of instructor
required.
490. Senior
Colloquium 1 hour
1HU
First and Second
Semester. A one-credit colloquium for senior creative writing
majors, concentrators, and others who have taken a substantial
number of creative writing courses. A variety of topics will
be covered in meetings with various faculty, staff, and visiting
writers, and some sessions may be devoted to discussion of student
work (topics will be determined in part by discussion with students
at the first session). Some reading and written work will be
required. Students may take the course twice, but those who
have not been enrolled before will be given priority. Note:
CR/NE grading. Consent of instructor required. Enrollment
Limit: 12.
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