San Jos锟� State University English 71: Introduction to Creative Writing, Section 3, Spring 2011 Instructor: Joan McMillan Office Location: Faculty Offices 218 Telephone: (408) 924-4433 Email: Joan.McMillan@sjsu.edu (you may also contact me via the messaging system on mysjsu) Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 3:15 to 4:15, and by appointment (please feel free to make an appointment with me at a time that锟絪 convenient for you). Class Days/Time: Monday and Wednesday, 1:30 to 2:45 Classroom: BBC 128 Welcome to my class! Introduction to Creative Writing involves both the reading and production of poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction. Students will produce creative work in all three genres, and will submit a portfolio as a final class project. English 71 will also involve extensive reading in all three genres, with emphasis on the personal voice. Students will also examine the traditions of all three genres in light of their historical and cultural contexts, with a particular focus on the response of the human imagination and intellect in poetry, creative nonfiction, and fiction. Introduction to Creative Writing is a 3-unit, lower-division course designed, adopted, implemented, and administered by the Department of English & Comparative Literature at 无忧短视频 in accordance with the University锟絪 General Education Program Guidelines to fulfill Core General Education requirements in the C2 Letters area of Humanities & the Arts. Each student is required to produce daily in-class writing in response to the readings, and extensive writing assignments, both in and out of class. Notebook exercises are designed to help students grow and experiment as creative writers. Reading responses will be collected by the instructor at the end of each class session and returned with comments; all in-class creative writing should be kept together in a folder, notebook, or journal of the students锟� choosing. This course will involve discussion and writing workshops. Small groups will consist of four to five writers and will be used for critiquing writing in each genre. Students are required to attend; your grade will suffer if you do not attend these, as participation is a large part of your course  grade. Writing creatively is a courageous act which has the potential to change one锟絪 life, subtly or overtly, in nearly alchemical ways; this change is facilitated in large part by the writer锟絪 openness and willingness to be transformed by abundant reading and writing. Think of this class as your chance to walk a unique path of discovery about yourself, your classmates, and the world in which you live. English Dept. Student Learning Objectives: Students will demonstrate the ability to 1) read closely in a variety of forms, styles, structures, and modes, and articulate the value of close reading in the study of literature, creative writing, or rhetoric. 2) show familiarity with major literary works, genres, periods, and critical approaches to British, American, and World Literature. 3) write clearly, effectively, and creatively, and adjust writing style appropriately to the content, the context, and nature of the subject. 4) develop and carry out research projects, and locate, evaluate, organize, and incorporate information effectively. 5) articulate the relations among culture, history, and texts. ENGL 71 GE Learning Objectives: . Decipher and understand the form and content of assigned literary works; . Comprehend the historical and cultural contexts of assigned literary works; . Recognize the accomplishments of and issues related to writing by men and women representing diverse cultural traditions; . Acquire through both individual and collaborative/workshop efforts of a written and oral nature the skills necessary for reading, discussing, analyzing, interpreting, and锟絤ost importantly锟絜mulating and writing works of poetry, creative nonfiction, and short fiction; . Communicate such skills with clarity and precision; . Develop an appreciation of literary works as expressions of human intellect and imagination, and as representations of diverse human cultures; . Develop the ability to write literary works that express intellect and imagination and that represent diversity in human cultures; . Respond to literature through clear and effective communication in both written and oral work; . Read and respond to texts with both analytical acumen and personal sensibility;  . Appreciate how literary works illuminate enduring human concerns while also representing matters specific to a particular culture; . Write works of poetry, creative nonfiction, and short fiction that are of interest and value to the writer, to other students in the course, and to a diverse reading audience. Learning objectives for this course occur sequentially throughout the semester, through written responses to essays, stories, and poems; in weekly Notebook Exercises designed to foster creative thinking; via attendance at Center for Literary Arts programs; in peer writing workshops, and through the creation of edited and polished work in course assignments in each genre and the final portfolio, and through the final exam, a reading of their own creative work. Required Texts/Readings Textbook An Anthology for Creative Writers: A Garden of Forking Paths, Beth Anstandig and Eric Killough, ISBN #0-13-113501-5. Our textbook is available at the Spartan bookstore. English 71 Course Reader, supplied on the first day of class at no charge. This contains all the handouts for the semester, so please take as good care of it as you would a regular textbook! Other equipment / material requirements (optional) College-level dictionary and thesaurus. Binder paper for written responses to readings (collected daily); a notebook or journal of one锟絪 choosing for in-class creative writing. Library Liaison Toby Matoush is the English department librarian and can help guide you in resolving research and other library-related questions. Her email address is: Toby.Matoush@sjsu.edu. Classroom Protocol: Laptop and cellphone policy: We will be doing much in-class writing together during our time as a creative community. The extreme .connectedness. of our society on Facebook, myspace, Twitter, etc., can be disruptive to the flow of thoughts in a classroom and elsewhere. Therefore: Laptops are to be shut in this class. If there is a crucial and critical reason for needing your  laptop briefly (such as a registration appointment), please step outside the classroom and take care of the problem. Cellphones are to be turned off. If I see you texting, I will give you spare verbal warning. If you continue through the class despite clear warnings on the syllabus and from the teacher, your participation grade in this course will be strongly affected. No food may be consumed in class, but water, coffee, tea, etc., may be consumed quietly. You are responsible for regularly checking email from this class (which will be sent through the Joan.McMillan@sjsu.edu email address). Please do not ignore emails from me, as they contain important and often crucial information! Please be on time for class, ready to write and participate. If you are absent or anticipate an absence, please email me. All comments on other students锟� writing are to be courteous and delivered as kindly as possible. We are here to grow as creative writers and as effective critics, not stifle. If you disagree with someone, or with something in the readings or student writing, keep your disagreements on a civil and mature level. Participation is a full ten percent of your grade. My expectations for your participation include: turning in a daily response to the readings (we write this at the beginning of class); turning in all work on time; attending workshops; participating in discussions. What you get out of this class depends in large part on your willingness to give to it. As writers, we all make an essential contract to nurture our creativity and the work of the imagination, by showing up, being present, and engaging as fully as possible with these processes. If you have concerns of any kind regarding work for this class, please email me or use the .mysjsu. messaging system, or call my office at (408) 924-4433 Expectations for Writing: Though no subject is taboo per se in my course, I urge you to refrain from clich锟絛 science fiction and fantasy, stories that are highly derivative of videogame plots, and stories populated with characters such as elves, faeries, hobbits, trolls, wizards, gnomes, talking animals, etc. This is not to denigrate such works and characters (and they are not expressly forbidden), but it is my conviction that you must first know how to translate the world around you and your own life experiences into plausible fiction and nonfiction before you can tackle science fiction and fantasy in an effective manner. However, if you have been writing such stories before this class and wish to continue, or if you feel confident about your ability to write in these genres and have a strong desire to do so, please feel free to speak to me about it.  Gratuitous and extreme violence or offensive writing for the sole sake of splattering the page are not acceptable. If you have any questions, especially as you create your projects for this course, please take time to discuss your work with me via email or during my office hours. Dropping and Adding Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, etc. Information on add/drops are available at http://info.sjsu.edu/web- dbgen/narr/soc-fall/rec-298.html. Information about late drop is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/sac/advising/latedrops/policy/ . Students should be aware of the current deadlines and penalties for adding and dropping classes. Assignments and Grading Policy Your grade will be based on your completion of the following assignments: In-class Reader Responses: 5% Self-Portrait Diagnostic and Revision: 5% Weekly Notebook Exercise/one in-class writing: 10% Participation: 10% Creative Nonfiction assignment, 5-10 pages: 15% Fiction assignment, 5-10 pages: 15% Poetry, 4 poems: 15% Final Portfolio: 20% Final Exam: 5% Work that is over one week late will not be accepted. Work that is required to be uploaded to turnitin (Notebook Exercises, creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry, self-portrait diagnostic and revision, and any new work in the final portfolio) and is not uploaded will not be graded or returned until you have done so. All work must be original and generated in the timeframe of this course! Students will also be required to find one short piece of creative writing (poetry, 3-5 pages of fiction or nonfiction, etc.) to present to the class (a simple reading is fine, but creative presentations are more than welcome). Notebook Exercises (7 in all) are given two weeks ahead of their due date. They are designed to help you think creatively, draw from the well of your experiences and imagination, and view the world around you through the lens of a creative vision. They are to be typed and should be at least two to three pages in length. They will be graded on a points basis of 1-10. In addition, the instructor will have the class participate in daily in-class creative writing, and one of these exercises (your choice) must be typed and submitted with the Notebook Exercise. The in-class writing may be expanded and edited as you see fit, and there is  no length requirement. All work must be typed and submitted as a hard copy. No work will be accepted via email, or shoved under my office door. If you are having trouble fulfilling any assignment, please see me. I do not accept work that is over one week late. If you miss work for this course, including Reader Responses, YOU are responsible for keeping track of missing work and making arrangements with me to submit it. The final portfolio, consisting of your creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry for this course, as well as a review of a Center for Literary Arts event and three of your best Notebook Exercises, must be an edited version of the work you submitted (in other words, rewritten, revised, and polished. Please do NOT turn in work for the final portfolio that contains my corrections written all over it锟絠n other words, if you demonstrate that you did not bother to revise your work for the final portfolio, it will receive a failing grade). These are the guidelines I will be following for grading your creative work: 锟紸锟� work, in general, will: Fulfill all the assignment requirements Demonstrate a compelling idea, plot, or event Function well in terms of structure, voice, and style Engage the reader Lack clich锟絛 language Make unique associations and connections, on subtle or overt levels, through strong and original word and metaphoric choices Be free of spelling, punctuation, typos, and grammatical errors 锟紹锟� work, in general, will: Fulfill most of the assignment requirements, but might neglect small aspects of it Demonstrate a slightly less compelling or original idea, plot, or event Function generally well as a whole Demonstrate a generally engaging voice Incorporate some originality in word choice, associations, etc. May contain some clich锟絪 in terms of plot, language, characters, etc. Be relatively free of grammatical errors, typos, etc. 锟紺锟� work, in general, will: Neglect some aspects of the assignment requirements Be derivative of other works Not completely function as a whole (some parts may be underdeveloped or neglected) Incorporate some strong, and some weaker, word choices Lack concrete imagery Include cliched or over-used language  Have some spelling and punctuation errors, typos, etc. 锟紻锟� work, in general, will: Not fulfill the assignment requirements Not function as a whole Be a cursory response that demonstrates lack of motivation Show poor understanding of the assignment 锟紽锟� work, in general, will: Show no response to the assignment, a cursory or unmotivated attempt full of multilevel errors, or a paper turned in over one week past the due date. University Policies Academic integrity Students should know that the University锟絪 Academic Integrity Policy is available at http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/download/judicial_affairs/Academic_Integrity_Policy_S07-2.pdf. Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University and the University锟絪 integrity policy, require you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The website for Student Conduct and Ethical Development is available at http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/judicial_affairs/index.html. Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating on exams or plagiarism (presenting the work of another as your own, or the use of another person锟絪 ideas without giving proper credit) will result in a failing grade and sanctions by the University. For this class, all assignments are to be completed by the individual student unless otherwise specified. If you would like to include in your assignment any material you have submitted, or plan to submit for another class, please note that 无忧短视频锟絪 Academic Policy F06-1 requires approval of instructors. We will be using turnitin.com for the main projects submitted in this course (self-portrait, Notebook Exercises, nonfiction, fiction, and poetry). No work will be graded or returned until a copy has been uploaded to turnitin. Your work must be uploaded no later than midnight of the day the assignment is due. Disabilities If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that  students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the DRC (Disability Resource Center) to establish a record of their disability. The DRC website is: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu/, and their phone numbers are: (408) 924-6000 (Main Office) (408) 924-6542 (Deaf and HoH); (408) 808-2123 (ATC) Student Technology Resources (Optional) Computer labs for student use are available in the Academic Success Center located on the 1st floor of Clark Hall and on the 2nd floor of the Student Union. Additional computer labs may be available in your department/college. Computers are also available in the Martin Luther King Library. A wide variety of audio-visual equipment is available for student checkout from Media Services located in IRC 112. These items include digital and VHS camcorders, VHS and Beta video players, 16 mm, slide, overhead, DVD, CD, and audiotape players, sound systems, wireless microphones, projection screens and monitors. Learning Assistance Resource Center (Optional) The Learning Assistance Resource Center (LARC) is located in Room 600 in the Student Services Center. It is designed to assist students in the development of their full academic potential and to motivate them to become self-directed learners. The center provides support services, such as skills assessment, individual or group tutorials, subject advising, learning assistance, summer academic preparation and basic skills development. The LARC website is located at http:/www.sjsu.edu/larc/. 无忧短视频 Writing Center (Optional) The 无忧短视频 Writing Center is located in Room 126 in Clark Hall. It is staffed by professional instructors and upper-division or graduate-level writing specialists from each of the seven 无忧短视频 colleges. Our writing specialists have met a rigorous GPA requirement, and they are well trained to assist all students at all levels within all disciplines to become better writers. The Writing Center website is located at http://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/about/staff//. Peer Mentor Center (Optional) The Peer Mentor Center is located on the 1st floor of Clark Hall in the Academic Success Center.  The Peer Mentor Center is staffed with Peer Mentors who excel in helping students manage university life, tackling problems that range from academic challenges to interpersonal struggles. On the road to graduation, Peer Mentors are navigators, offering .roadside assistance. to peers who feel a bit lost or simply need help mapping out the locations of campus resources. Peer Mentor services are free and available on a drop 锟絠n basis, no reservation required. Website of Peer Mentor Center is located at http://www.sjsu.edu/muse/peermentor Our course syllabus is subject to change and transformation as the instructor sees fit. Please note that all readings are to be completed on the day they are indicated. The textbook title is abbreviated as .GFP. in the syllabus. The course reader is CR. All in-class responses to the readings shall be written on binder paper and submitted at the end of class. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR NAME AND DATE ARE ON THEM!!! I will return anything without a name and date to be fixed accordingly. Notebook Exercises and one in-class creative writing assignment of your choice are to be TYPED and handed together. Notebook Exercises should be double-spaced and as close to a page as possible; longer is fine; in-class writing can be any length, but must be typed and double- spaced. You are required to attend at least one event from the Center for Literary Arts and to submit a one-to-two page review by the final day of the course. Please consult http://www.litart.org for the calendar of visiting writers (I will be supplying this in class also and will be making announcements prior to each authors锟� appearance). The next few pages contain our course schedule; abbreviations for the texts are as follows: CR= English 71 Course Reader (please note that the reader is not paginated; we will be following it sequentially throughout the semester, so something to mark your place therein might be helpful for you). GFP= An Anthology for Creative Writers: A Garden of Forking Paths Course Schedule 1 1/26 Wednesday: introductions, go over syllabus, general miscellany, Notebook Exercise #1 assigned, due 2/9 2 1/31 2/2 Monday: selection from Meredith Hall锟絪 Without a Map CR; nonfiction piece assigned, due Monday, 2/28; Self-Portrait assigned, due Monday, Feb. 14 Wednesday: Reading: GFP 5, Thomas Lynch, .The Undertaking,. GFP 13, Mitch Albom, .The Ninth Tuesday.  3 2/7 2/9 Monday: Reading: GFP 61, Linda Hogan, .Walking,. GFP 541, William Stafford, .A Way of Writing;. Wednesday, Feb. 9, Notebook Exercise #1 due, along with one in-class writing assignment (typed); Notebook Exercise #2 assigned, due 2/23; reading: selection from Judith Ortiz Cofer锟絪 Silent Dancing, CR; GFP 67, Mary Karr, .From The Liar锟絪 Club锟� 4 2/14 2/16 Monday: Self-Portrait Diagnostic due; reading: GFP, Nancy Mairs, .On Being a Cripple. Wednesday: GFP 33, Andre Dubus, .A Woman in April,. selection from This Boy锟絪 Life, CR 5 2/21 2/23 Monday: nonfiction rough draft due (3 or more pages); reading: GFP 26, Bernard Cooper, .101 Ways to Cook Hamburger,. and GFP 468, .Marketing Memory. Wednesday: Notebook Exercise #2 due, along with one piece of in-class writing (typed); Notebook Exercise #3 due 3/9. Nonfiction workshop. Reading: GFP 116, David Sedaris, .The Youth in Asia,. GFP 18, Dave Barry, .Borrring. 6 2/28 3/2 Monday: final nonfiction piece due, 6-10 pages minimum. Fiction piece assigned, due 4/11/ Reading: GFP 235, ZZ Packer, .Brownies,. Edwidge Danticat, .Night Women,. CR Wednesday: reading: GFP 156, Ron Carlson, .Bigfoot Stole My Wife. and .I am Bigfoot. 7 3/7 3/9 Monday: reading: GFP 225, Walter Mosely, .Pet Fly,. GFP 178, Philip K. Dick, .Beyond Lies the Wub. Wednesday: Notebook Exercise #3 due; one in-class writing assignment (typed) due; Notebook Exercise # 4 assigned, due 3/23. Readings: GFP 269, Mark Richard, .Strays;. GFP 197, Denis Johnson, .Work.  8 3/14 3/16 Monday, March 15, Alan Gurganus, .Reassurance,. CR; GFP 427, Richard Bausch, .So Long Ago. Wednesday: Reading: GFP 161, Angela Carter, .The Quilt Maker;. GFP 383, Rick Moody, .Primary Sources. 9 3/21 3/23 Monday: GFP 144, Sherman Alexie, .Because My Father锟�,. GFP 189, Gish Jen, .Who锟絪 Irish?. Wednesday: Notebook Exercise #4 due, along with one piece of in-class writing (typed); Notebook Exericse #5 assigned, due 4/6. Fiction rough draft due, minimum 3 pages. GFP 129, Melissa Pritchard, .A Private Landscape,. GFP 250, Grace Paley, .Friends. 10 3/28 to 4/1 SPRING BREAK! Have fun! Our class resumes on Monday, April 4 12 4/4 4/6 Monday, reading: CR, Kazuo Ishiguro, .A Family Supper. CR; GFP 543, Luisa Valenzuela, .Writing With the Body. Wednesday: Notebook Exercise #5 due; Notebook Exercise #6 assigned, due 4/20 Fiction workshop. Reading: GFP 173, Michael Chabon, .The Little Knife,. GFP 534, CR , David Foster Wallace, .Everything is Green. 13 4/11 4/13 Monday, Fiction final piece due; 6-10+ pages minimum. Poetry assignments begun. Readings: Allen Ginsberg, .A Strange New Cottage in Berkeley. CR, Walt Whitman, .Whoever You Are.... CR, two poems by William Blake, CR Wednesday: Readings: GFP 325, Yusef Komunyakka, .Believing in Iron;. .Facing It. CR; GFP 326, Stanley Kunitz, .Day of Foreboding. 14 4/18 4/20 Monday, : Readings: GFP 317, Jane Hirschfield, .The Kingdom锟� GFP 335, Naomi Shihab Nye, .Blood;. Li Young-Lee, .The Gift. CR. Poem #1 due. Poem #2 assigned. Self-Portrait revision assigned, due 5/11 Wednesday: Notebook Exercise # 6 due, Notebook #7 assigned, due 5/4. Readings: GFP 357, Carolyn Forche, .The Colonel;. GFP 398, Gary Snyder, .The Ship in Yokohama;. GFP 378, Philip Levine, .Traveling Music,. GFP 400, Elizabeth Tornes, .Sleep;. GFP 401, David Young, .Four About Metaphysics.  15 4/25 4/27 Monday, : GFP 519, Erica Jong, .My Grandmother on My Shoulder,. GFP 305, Tess Gallagher, .Each Bird Walking;. Ruth Stone, .Poems,. CR; poem #2 due, poem #3 assigned Wednesday. Readings: GFP 324, Ruth Ellen Kocher, .Poem to a Jazz Man;. GFP 315, Bob Hickock, .AIDS;. Pablo Neruda, .The Beetle,. CR 16 5/2 5/4 Monday: readings: GFP 314, Jim Harrison, .Rooster;. GFP 326, Larry Levis, .The Poem Returning as an Invisible Wren to the World,. GFP 337, Adrienne Rich, .Amends.. Poem #3 due. Poem #4 assigned Wednesday: Notebook Exercise #7 due, along with one piece of in-class writing. Readings: GFP 310, Beckian Fritz Goldberg, .Being Pharaoh,. GFP 329, William Matthews, .A Happy Childhood;. GFP 321, Denis Johnson, .The Veil,. 17 5/9 5/11 Monday: Poem #4 due. Readings: GFP 340, Dennis Schmitz, .About Night;. Sylvia Plath, .Tulips. CR., poetry workshop Wednesday: Readings: GFP 327, Thomas Lux, .The Man Inside the Chipmunk Suit;. GFP 307, James Galvin, .Against the Rest of the Year,. Rumi CR, self- portrait revision due. 18 5/16 Monday: Final portfolio due; self-evaluation and self-grade; class party 19 5/19 Tuesday, May 19th: A Student Reading! Be prepared to have this from 12:15 to about 2:00 in our classroom (it will likely be much shorter), but other venues and times might be explored, TBA Thank you very much for being in my class; I wish you good writing and a wonderful summer!