CREATIVE WRITING
SYLLABUS
** homework readings are due the next class day unless otherwise noted
January / February / March /
April / May
JANUARY
Thurs 20
INTRODUCTIONS
Homework:
Alliteration and Assonance (Handbook, 8 and 16)
Alliteration/Assonance Exercise
Mon 24
** ALLITERATION / ASSONANCE EXERCISE DUE **
Introduction to Ghazal
Exchange e-mails with ghazal partners
Homework:
Writing a Ghazal
(be sure to see samples in handout
and in Penguin, p331)
Thurs 27
CLASS CANCELLED
Homework:
Writing Ghazal
E-mail partners
Read "Facing It" (Penguin, 33)
"How to Use This Body" (Penguin, 35)
and "Order in the Streets" (Penguin, 74)
Mon 31
CLASS CANCELLED
Homework:
Finish Ghazal
Bring both books to class
FEBRUARY
Thurs 3
** GHAZAL DUE **
Rhyme and the Villanelle
Homework:
Writing a VILLANELLE
Read "Villanelle" (Handbook, 197)
Pay close attention to wonderful examples
of villanelles by Dylan Thomas and Theodore Roethke
Also be sure to explore Bishop's villanelle "One Art" (p239, Penguin)
Mon 7
Discussing Roethke's poem
Homework:
Writing a villanelle
and "The Language of Bees" (Penguin, 80)
Bring Penguin Book to class
Bring draft of your villanelle to class
Thurs 10
Discussing Bishop's poem
Workshop on your draft
Homework:
Finish your villanelle
Mon 14
** VILLANELLE DUE **
Introducing the Sonnet
Homework:
Writing a sonnet
Read "Sonnet" (Handbook, 178)
and see handout samples
Read "Syllabic Verse" (Handbook, 185)
Read "Foot" (Handbook, 76)
Thurs 17
Discussion of Sonnet
Homework:
Writing a sonnet
Bring 2 stanzas to class
Bring Penguin book to class
Read "Metaphor" and "Rhyme" (Handbook, 112 and 152)
Read "I Knew a Woman" (Penguin, 115)
"Old Men Playing Basketball" (Penguin, 118)
"Nude Interrogation" (Penguin, 158)
"Digging for China" (Penguin, 202)
Mon 21
Discussing modern sonnet
Homework:
Keep writing your sonnet
Bring Penguin book to class
Read "The Hammmock" (Penguin, 205)
Read "The Poet, Trying to Surprise God" (Penguin, 323)
Thurs 24
Discussion of poems in Penguin book
Homework:
Finish writing your sonnet
Mon 28
** SONNETS DUE **
Homework:
Writing Haiku (bring drafts to class)
Read "Locking Yourself Out, Then Trying to Get Back In" (Penguin, 327)
"Black Silhouettes of Shrimpers" (Penguin, 329)
"My Uncle Guillermo Speaks at His Own Funeral" (Penguin, 334)
MARCH
Thurs 3
MORE ON SONNETS (DEADLINE EXTENDED)
Homework:
Finish writing your haiku
Mon 7
** SONNETS DUE **
HAIKU discussion
Homework:
WRITE HAIKU FOR THURSDAY
Thurs 10
** HAIKU DUE **
Workshopping Bouts-Rimes
Homework:
Work on your Bouts-Rimes
Mon 14
SPRING BREAK
Work on your Bouts-Rimes
Thurs 17
SPRING BREAK
Work on your Bouts-Rimes
Mon 21
Bring Bouts-Rimes drafts to class
Homework:
Read "Car Crash While Hitchhiking" (Penguin, 26)
Finish your Bouts-Rimes
Car project
Thurs 24
** Bouts-Rimes Due Today **
Discussion of "Car Crash"
Homework:
Car project
Bring draft to class
Mon 28
Workshop on Car Project
Homework:
Finish Car project
Thurs 31
** CAR PROJECT DUE **
Homework:
Read "Ysrael" (Penguin, 106)
APRIL
Mon 4
Discussion of "Ysrael"
Homework:
Read "Snow" (Penguin, 147)
Read "A Story About the Body" (Penguin, 202)
Thurs 7
Workshop
Homework:
CAR PROJECT REVISION
Mon 11
Discussion
Homework:
Finish CAR PROJECT REVISION
Thurs 14
** CAR PROJECT REVISION DUE **
Homework:
Read "It's Water, It's Not Going to Kill You" (Penguin, 291)
Begin story 2
Mon 18
Discussion
Homework:
Read "Your Fears Are Justified" (Penguin, 289)
Read "Mockingbird" (Penguin, 290)
Read "Tomorrow's Bird" (Penguin, 302)
Finish story 2
Thurs 21
** STORY 2 DUE TODAY **
Homework:
Poetry Revision
Mon 25
Poetry Workshop
Homework:
Poetry Revision
Thurs 28
** POETRY REVISION DUE TODAY **
Homework:
Story 2 revision
MAY
Mon 2
Workshop
Homework:
Story 2 Revision