Creative Writing II

Course Code: EN213A

Institution:

School of Arts and Communication

Revision:

2

For students admitted spring 2014   fall 2013   spring 2013  

Other set versions

Approval

The course was established 09 February 2012.
This course syllabus (version 2) was approved 30 November 2012 by the Board of Studies at Faculty of Culture and Society (k3).
The syllabus is valid from 21 January 2013. Replacement for course syllabus ratified 24 February 2012.

Education level

Advancement in relation to the degree requirements

Entry requirements

Learning outcomes

• understands more deeply the workings of a single literary genre;
• has learned to balance theory and practice within his/her own writing;
• has knowledge of the basic practices involved in getting work published;
• can show knowledge of Malmö University’s perspectives (environment, gender, and migration and ethnicity), as they pertain to creative writing.

• can write imaginatively in a chosen genre at a high beginning to intermediate level;
• can, with greater independence, edit his/her writing and the writing of others;
• understands style concerns of written English, such as punctuation and formatting;
• understands intermediate applied aspects of English syntax and diction;
• can, with increased authority, analyze and critique creative work in the student's genre of focus (among literary nonfiction, fiction, and poetry);
• has an increased ability to read critically and rhetorically;
• can revise and compile a meaningful portfolio of his/her own work and examine it self-critically;
• can apply knowledge of Malmö University’s perspectives to issues pertaining to creative writing.

• has increased his/her ability to understand the relationships between critical and creative thinking;
• is capable of producing, not merely analyzing, literary texts;
• has gained insights into the practice and theory of creative writing.

Assessments

The student is assessed based on:

• the submission of three creative assignments for online workshops;
• the submission of a reading journal on the breadth reading texts;
• the submission of writing exercises;
• the submission of an end-of-term portfolio;
• the quality of his/her participation and peer review in workshops.

The total grade for the course is the amalgamate grade of the Creative Portfolio: 50%, Reading Journal and Exercises: 25%, Workshop Skills: 25%).


Course content

Students select one genre (fiction, poetry, or literary non-fiction) as a primary focus.

The course concludes with the submission of a portfolio containing the student’s work for the term.

The course recognizes that good reading is at the heart of good writing. Reading broadly in the genre of focus is thus emphasized.

The course also provides a brief introduction to the business of publishing. Students have the opportunity to gain both knowledge of and experience in publishing by participating in the publishing of Malmö högskola’s creative writing and literary magazine, Shipwrights. This (optional) opportunity comes in the form of working on the magazine’s student editorial board.


Learning activities

This is a workshop-centered course in the "studio" model. It features:


• distance learning via an online learning platform
• online writing workshops
• formal, written peer review at workshops
• writing exercises
• the opportunity to practice publishing and editorial skills on the Shipwrights student editorial board
• reading

Grading system

A,B,C,D,E,U.


Reading list and other media

Entire course:
Required texts vary based on the student’s genre of focus.

Fiction:
1) Burroway, Janet. Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft (International Edition). ISBN-13: 978-0-205-79230-6
2) Updike, John. The Best American Short Stories of the Century.
ISBN13: 9780395843673, ISBN10: 0395843677

Literary Nonfiction:
1) Miller & Paola. Tell It Slant: Writing and Shaping Creative Nonfiction. ISBN: 0-07-251278-4
2) Gutkind, Lee. The Best Creative Nonfiction, Volume 2. ISBN-10: 0393330249 (available at ad libris but not bokus)

Poetry:
1) Boisseau & Wallace. Writing Poems, 7th ed. ISBN-10: 0-321-47406-6.
2) Paterson & Simic. New British Poetry. ISBN: 978-1-55597-394-0


Additional material may be introduced in the course, but no more than 100 pages.


Course evaluation

Towards the end of the term, students are required to give anonymous formal feedback in an online survey. The results are available for viewing by all students in the course. Students are also given the opportunity to offer informal feedback at various points earlier in the term.