Pulaski Technical College Course Syllabus ENGL 2331 Creative Writing II FALL 2011 I.

Instructor Information

Name: Melody Berning Office: Online Class Telephone: Contact me ONLY by email Office hours: by appointment Mailbox location: Bldg A (NLR Campus) Email (Campus): mberning@pulaskitech.edu Emergency when Blackboard is down and confidential communications: everette16@gmail.com
II. Catalog Description

3 Credit Hours (3 lecture hours per week) This is an intermediate level workshop/lecture course designed to build on the concepts introduced in Creative Writing I. The main focus of the course is the improvement of student writing of original work in multiple genres. Emphasis will be placed on studying the fundamental techniques, theory, and practice of creative writing. Reading and detailed discussion of student and published writing is required. PREREQUISITE: ENGL 2330 with a grade of C or better or consent of instructor.
III. Course Resources

SUGGESTED textbook (Not Required): Burroway, Janet. Imaginative Writing: The Elements of Craft. New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 2003. ISBN 0-321-08191-9 PLEASE NOTE: There will be ample prompts shared during the semester. Where the textbook appears in the syllabus, there are alternative resources. Remember, this is your Creative Writing course. IV. Division Objectives

The Fine Arts and Humanities Division upholds and promotes the general education objectives stated in the PTC Catalog by requiring students taking classes in the Fine Arts and Humanities Division to: 1. Think critically 2. Act with integrity

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
V.

Write across the curriculum Demonstrate computer literacy Demonstrate information literacy Demonstrate cultural literacy and sensitivity Understand the importance of civic/community involvement

C Course Objectives and Course Content

The student will: 1. 2. 3. 4. Generate creative writing projects in both prose and verse. Learn techniques, styles, and forms for imaginative writing. Participate constructively in a workshop environment. Explore structures and techniques used in published fiction and poetry.

* All writing assignments must be completed and evaluated in order for students to pass this course. Students will read and analyze published literary works in a critical manner in order to investigate and study the craft of creative writing, write in various genres and forms, critique other students work, and have their own work critiqued. As a writers workshop community is only as good as the individuals who compose it, each student will be expected to exhibit enthusiasm, ambition, effort, and accomplishment, the necessary qualities for a writer. VI. Attendance Policy
Agencies granting financial assistance may be notified of the violation of the attendance policy by students receiving financial aid. In an online class, eligibility for financial aid is based on student participation. Logging in to the course does not constitute participation. Examples of participation include, but are not limited to, posting to the discussion board, submitting an assignment, taking an assessment, or emailing the instructor about the course. Students who do not participate will not be able to collect financial aid for an online class. Instructor Mel Berning runs routine Tracking Reports detailing each students every move in their Berning online course. Attendance is taken starting the first day of the semester, with the exception of students who enroll after classes have started. Teachers have the right to count students as absent if they arrive late to class, leave class early, or go in and out of the classroom during class time. Teachers have the right to lower a students grade based on excessive absences. Teachers have the right to enforce PTCs administrative drop policy for days of consecutive nonattendance. Such particulars as determined by the instructor are detailed in the paragraphs below.

While numbers become irrelevant in an online environment each absence (or class equivalent day) after THREE absences (or three class equivalent days) will lower your final grade for the class. Absences are NOT excused or unexcused, so use your three absences wisely. Any rare exceptions to this policy will be determined on a case-by-case

basis; it is your responsibility to contact me immediately to inquire about an exception if such a situation occurs. Since this is an online course, bad weather is not an excuse, unless there is a loss of power, in which case, communicate with me about delays as soon as possible (see contact data beginning this syllabus. If you show SIX consecutive absences, in other words you are a NO SHOW ONLINE in that time structure, you will be dropped from the class. You will also be dropped from your online Creative Writing II class when your participation is severely lacking, or you display discourteous behavior. You are expected to login to the website several times a week and contribute to the ongoing discussions and Journal Exercises. It is crucial that you stay active in our online classroom, and there will be multiple assignments throughout the week that you are expected to contribute to. I do not accept late work. Plan well and get your work done before the deadline. In the case of a computer crash, you must go to a local library (or other place where you can get online) and complete your work. You must also contact me immediately and let me know of your situation. Situations like these are considered on a case-by-case basis.
VII. Classroom Policies

The PTC Student Handbook rules and regulations will be enforced in this class at all times. Professional behavior is required. Punctual attendance and intelligent participation are expected. Particulars as determined by the instructor are detailed in the paragraphs below. Participation helps determine borderline grades. Participation points will be deducted for inappropriate behavior including but not limited to private conversations, text messaging sessions, cell phone/pager interruptions, sleeping in class, eating or drinking loudly in class, doing work for other classes during our class time, going in and out of the classroom, and not being prepared for class. Visitors, including children, are not allowed in class. If your behavior is disruptive, you will receive a warning. If the disruption persists, you will be asked to leave class, and you will be counted as absent. More severe disruptions warrant no warning. Appropriate behavior is expected for all communications, including any notes, email messages, or telephone conversations. Participation is crucial in our online class. You are expected to actively participate in ongoing discussions and to read and comment on your classmates posts. You will also be critiquing your classmates works. All participation on the Message Boards is expected to be civil, polite, and enlightening. There will be no tolerance for rude or overtly negative comments. Be aware of your tone (without facial expressions, gestures, and inflections, sometimes Message Board postings come across as rude or inconsiderate when that is not the intention of the writer. Be very aware of the language used in your postings; the words themselves must be carefully chosen to say exactly what you mean to say). Intentional postings meant to demean, degrade, or otherwise put down fellow students is not tolerated and will warrant removal from the class and a grade of F.

Additionally, appropriate behavior is expected for all communications, including any notes, email messages, or telephone conversations. VIII. Grading

Letter grades will be based on the following scale all based on attention, believing in writing, creativity, dreams, and your FINE PORTFOLIO production:

A B C D F
I do NOT implement a letter grade in EACH WORK SUBMITTED, but on your work as a whole. Inquire to me directly when you are concerned about your grade. Your progress depends on your online presence and delivery. END RESULTS TO CREATIVE WRITING II: Minimum 20 pages solid creative writing showing strides toward bettering your stature as a writer and reader. Grades are determined by such things as plagiarism (DONT DO IT), participation, attendance, peer editing, QUALITY WORK, etc. Because this is a workshop where everyone must contribute and contribute on time, late work is not accepted. You must submit all work by 11:59 pm on Saturday of the week it is on the syllabus unless otherwise specified . All of our work in this class will be on the Message Boards (also called Discussion Boards). There are three (4) main Message Boards where we will work every week: the Discussion Board, the Journal Exercise Board; plus, Likewise, we will also work on the Writing Workshop Board (Poetry) and the Writing Workshop Board (Prose and related), where your and your classmates works will be critiqued. CAUTION ABOUT DUE DATES: While stipulated here, I DO NOT implement due dates on Blackboard. Blackboard records ALL ONLINE CLASS ACTIVITIES, i.e., login and log-out times and a students online duration. TRANSLATION: MINIMUM online class presence must be THE EQUIVALENT to a LIVE class setting. Chances are, attendance at its minimum will NOT warrant a high grade. BE ADVISED: I am open to scheduling one-on-one visits with a student. I also track down students who have not LOGGED IN online during any week, OR havent participated during the course, e.g., shared his or her work, contributed comments. Expect to participate regularly here: Discussion Questions: Your Discussion Questions will be based on the readings from our textbook (and other relevant sources). You are required to answer the question and then respond to at least 2 of your classmates postings. You should post your answer early in the week (by Wednesday), and then your replies to your classmates posts. For your replies, it is not enough to simply write I agree/disagree statements. The idea is to generate an online discussion (like a classroom discussion on a really good day) and collaborate on ideas. If you do disagree, be sure to do so in a respectful way. Never put down the writer

in any way. All Discussion Question posts (answers and replies) are due by 11:59pm Saturday night. The answer and the replies are worth a total of 10 points. Late posts will not receive credit. Journal Exercises: Each week you will complete a Journal Exercise. You will be given suggestions or assignments, and you are to go wherever the writing takes you. The finished product that is posted is expected to be polished, shaped, and ready for publication. Grammar and spelling rules should be followed (unless there is a stylistic reason to break the rules). You can (and are encouraged to) rate your classmates posts based on a 1-5 Star Rating. You can also leave a brief comment. This is not the place for critique, so only positive comments are allowed: EX: I liked the scene. The character is interesting. Great poem. If you dont have something nice to say here, then dont say anything at all. Your Journal Exercises are worth 20 points total and are graded on adherence to the assignment, creativity, and uniqueness. They are due by 11:59pm Saturday night. Writing Workshop: Eights times over the course of the semester you will submit your original work to the class for critique. You will post your poem, short story, or other creative writing to the Writing Workshop Board. Each member of the class will critique all works. Constructive criticism will be offered to help you edit, shape, and polish your work. One piece per workshop is accepted (1 poem, or 1 short story or creative nonfiction up to 1500 words). This can also be a piece from the Journal Exercises in the class, or something you did outside of class, or a piece you wrote several years ago. Use what you are learning in the class to apply to your original work. Work is graded on creativity, voice, uniqueness, use of language, and other elements. Submissions for the Writing Workshop MUST be posted by 11:59pm Wednesday night of the week it is assigned. Late posts will not receive credit. Critiques: Eight times over the course of the semester you will critique your classmates works. Six of these will be for the Writing Workshop, and two will be for the Portfolio Workshop. You will be given specific items to comment on/critique, and you are expected to offer solid, specific, constructive criticism to help the writer edit his/her work. Critiques will be graded on how helpful they are for the writer. Critiques are due by 11:59pm on Saturday night. Late posts will not receive credit. Final Portfolio: Your Portfolio is your best work that you have to show what you can do and how you have grown as a writer. The Final Portfolio is the final product of what you have accomplished in our class. Grading will be based on revision, voice, creativity, uniqueness, and other elements. PLEASE NOTICE: While the entire semester is about developing your collected works, substantial time is provided. All works submitted must be original. PTC takes plagiarism very seriously. There will be no tolerance for submitting something that someone else wrote, either in whole or in part, as your own original work. If you are found to have plagiarized, you will receive an F for the assignment and the information will be submitted to the appropriate review board for further sanctions. You have your own creativity and ideas; use them, not others.

IX. Academic Integrity It is expected that all students who attend PTC conduct themselves in a manner appropriate for the college experience. Academic integrity is a vital component of collegiate behavior. The PTC Student Handbook states, The gaining of knowledge and the practice of honesty go hand-in-hand. The handbook also states, The responsibility and authority of initiating discipline arising from violations of the rules against dishonesty during the process of the course are vested in the instructor of that course.

The complete Academic Integrity Policy can be found in the PTC Student Handbook. X. Accommodation Policy

Services for Students with Disabilities: PTC is committed to fulfilling all federal requirements as stated in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Accommodations are available to students who have documented disabilities. Students who request accommodations must register with the Coordinator of Disability Services in Counseling Services (501-812-2220 or www.pulaskitech.edu) prior to the semester of planned enrollment, and must provide recent documentation of medical, educational, and/or psychological records. Students who need accommodations should inform the instructor at the beginning of the course. Accommodations will only be provided if the instructor receives a letter of approved accommodations from the Coordinator of Disability Services. Failure to provide sufficient notification may result in a delay of services. XI. Course Evaluations Students may be asked to evaluate their instructor and course near the end of the semester. These student evaluations are very important to the improvement in the quality of instruction and course materials. All results are anonymous and shared with the faculty only after the semester is over and grades have been posted.
XII. Information Literacy

PTC is committed to the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education as established by the Association of College and Research Libraries and endorsed by the National Forum on Information Literacy. Therefore, all courses will incorporate an information literacy component so that, by graduation, all students will be able to recognize the need for information, then locate, evaluate, synthesize, and communicate information in an ethical manner. Information literacy encompasses critical thinking, research, media, technology, health, business, and visual literacy skills to produce lifelong learners who can make informed decisions in the workplace and in their personal lives.
XIII. New Student Philosophy Statement Pulaski Technical College is committed to the academic, personal, and professional development of its students. The quality of the new student experience is critical to the achievement of the colleges mission and lays the foundation upon which future educational successes will be built. This commitment obligates the PTC community to cooperatively and intentionally structure programs, activities, and services to promote the success of new students. XIV. Course Schedule/Course Content Week Assignment/Activity 1 PROVIDE YOUR INTRODUCTION: Name, reading background, writing interests, other interests, why

you are taking this Creative Writing II class, etc. This week (indeed, the semester) is about exploration and writing prompts. Consider the provided links, and share your comments, and/or your suggestions to explore. Expect additional prompts as the semester progresses. KEEP AN ONGOING WRITING JOURNAL (excerpts are accepted in your Portfolio).

ENJOY YOURSELVES AND YOUR CHALLENGES. http://www.flickr.com/photos/carly_vous/4215320614/

About Trust

Write-Brain is a book by Bonnie Neubauer:

http://www.bonnieneubauer.com/writebrain.htm Steering the Craft, by Ursula Le Guin, excerpt: http://www.ursulakleguin.com/SteeringCraft_57B.html The bigger Le Guin picture: http://www.ursulakleguin.com/MenuContentsList.html#Writing

Eric Maisel: http://ericmaisel.blogspot.com/

Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth: http://www.mythsdreamssymbols.com/powexcerpts.html

Excerpts: http://www.whidbey.com/parrott/moyers.htm
2 IMAGE: Consult Burroway textbook. Share your resources.

YouTube camera less light on THEATRO TV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6N7QufZyk

Expect videos. Image collections and prompts throughout semester.

3 Voice: Consult Burroway textbook. Share your resources.

Expect videos. Image collections and prompts throughout semester.

4 Character: Consult Burroway textbook. Share your resources.

Discussion: Working Toward a Draft

SIX-WORD MEMOIRS is a book and NPR presentation.

http://www.smithmag.net/sixwords/ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18768430

Writing Workshop: SUBMIT YOUR WRITING

5 Setting: Consult Burroway textbook. Share your resources. Discussion: Working Toward a Draft Writing Workshop: SUBMIT YOUR WRITING Suggest a visual prompt. Heres one (Think Goddard.):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekQZPozjCX8

nouvelle vague "dance with me" from bande a part .

Writing Workshop: SUBMIT YOUR WRITING 6 Story: Consult Burroway textbook. Share your resources. Discussion: Working Toward a Draft START thinking about your Portfolio plans. 7 Development and Revision: Consult Burroway textbook. Share your resources. Writing Workshop: SUBMIT YOUR WRITING

8 Experimental Reading & Writing: This is your WILD WEEK. Expect more. Writing Workshop: SUBMIT YOUR WRITING

Fiction: Trusting your NO HOLDS BARRED READING, GET CREATIVE.

Writing Workshop: SUBMIT YOUR WRITING 10 Poetry: Trusting your NO HOLDS BARRED Writing Workshop: SUBMIT YOUR WRITING

READING, GET CREATIVE.

11 DURING SPRING BREAK: PLEASE CONSIDER THIS TIME TO CATCH UP.

12 Writing Workshop: SUBMIT YOUR WRITING 13 Writing Workshop: SUBMIT YOUR WRITING 14 DISCUSSION: Portfolio Workshop

15

NOVEMBER 22 Last day to drop or withdraw

DISCUSSION: Portfolio Workshop 16 DISCUSSION: Portfolio Workshop

SUBMIT PORTFOLIO AS: 1. PRINT VERSION delivered to my mailbox in BLDG A (NLR Campus) with all necessary labeling (Name, Course) 2. ELECTRONIC VERSION to my gmail email address.
DEC 4 - LAST DAY TO CHECK IN ONLINE I WILL ACCEPT PORTFOLIOS AS EARLY AS MONDAY NOV 29. *****SUBMIT

YOUR CREATIVE WRITING II PORTFOLIO BY NO LATER THAN THURSDAY DEC 9.*** I SUBMIT GRADES PRIOR TO MY DEC 13 DEADLINE.
Final Exam Schedule: N/A. Your Portfolio will serve as your Final. LAST CHANCE to submit Portfolio: DEC 9 Disclaimer: This schedule is a guide for the semester. The instructor reserves the right to amend the schedule as necessary.

XV.

Grading Criteria

The following is the minimum that should be mastered before a student passes with a C- on the portfolio: A portfolio can earn a C if it Demonstrates an attempt at the particular assignment as well as some experimentation with the elements of poetry or fiction. Contains areas of draft that need further revision. Needs revision for clarity. Makes some use of form and theory. Uses sentence structure sometimes to its advantage. Reveals some thoughtful revision. A portfolio can earn a B if it Demonstrates facility with language but also contains clich, vagueness, and/or abstraction that need revision. Has moments of poetic or dramatic interest but needs cutting or transforming of exposition into poetry or narrative. Demonstrates some understanding of the basic elements of creative writing but needs work on finding a voice. Makes good use of form and theory. Uses sentence structure often to its advantage. Reveals some strengths of a thoughtful revision. A portfolio can earn an A if it Uses concrete, imaginative language to render its subject. Offers the reader a human connection through its language. Has its own distinct voice. Makes excellent and often graceful use of form and theory. Uses sentence structure consistently and deliberately to its advantage. Reveals many strengths of a thoughtful, thorough revision. A portfolio that exhibits any one or more of the following characteristics may earn a D or an F*: Fails to grapple with the assigned topic or form or does not fulfill the assignment. Seems to be a rough draft without direction. Uses a limited vocabulary and is written in awkward or simple sentences for no artistic reason. Shows little or no attention to form or theory. Contains excessive spelling errors and grammatical errors for no artistic reason. Shows little or no revision, thus ignoring a significant amount of the constructive criticism and suggestions given in class discussion, for no artistically justifiable reason. *Please note: Regardless of intent, any submission that contains any form of plagiarism will earn a 0% for the assignment and, in cases of blatant academic dishonesty, an F for the course. Examples of blatant academic dishonesty, which is defined as an attempt to deceive, include submitting part or whole of material from the Internet as if it is the students original composition; copying material from a source with no attempt at using quotation marks and/or documentation of the source; paraphrasing material from a source with no attempt at documentation of the source; recycling material from previous classes; simultaneously using material from another class without the permission of both instructors involved; buying papers; letting others write part or all of a paper; and all other instances in which the student attempts to circumvent creating an original composition for that assignment and/or attempts to deceive the audience about the sources used when

composing the assignment. Examples of accidental plagiarism, which is defined as sloppiness when working with sources, include word-for-word copying from a presented source without the use of quotation marks; failure to acknowledge all quoted material from a presented source; patchwork plagiarism; paraphrase without documentation or with incomplete documentation; and all other instances in which the student, through carelessness with punctuation and/or documentation, fails to demonstrate good scholarship. Students should review the information about plagiarism in textbooks and the Academic Integrity Policy in the PTC Student Handbook, as it is the students responsibility to demonstrate good scholarship in his or her writing. Last updated 1/8/2007

XVI. Course Agreement Form Read, complete, and return to instructor:

I have read the course syllabus for MELODY BERNING, CREATIVE WRITING II at Pulaski Technical College, and I understand its content. I also understand the rules for the class, and I will follow and abide by these rules, including those relating to attendance, assignments, grading criteria, plagiarism, and behavior. Date Print name Signature Email address Telephone