Writing 307 Spring 2009
Bancroft 264 TR 5:00-6:15
Professor Ely
Bancroft 234
Office 2414 Home 328-9207
E-mail elys@winthrop.edu
E-mail will be checked M-F. E-mail will not be checked on weekends or after 6:00 p.m. M-F.
My web page is located at faculty.winthrop.edu/elys.
The English Department’s home page is located at http://www.winthrop.edu/english. Resources for many of our courses can be found at http://www.winthrop.edu/english/core.htm.
Office Hours
M 4:45-5:15
TR 3:15-5:00
Objectives
To demonstrate an understanding of narrative structure in short fiction; to demonstrate an understanding of methods of developing character; to demonstrate an understanding of methods of using point of view; to write good prose in the stories; to write two short stories
Textbooks
THE ART OF THE TALE Edited by Daniel Halpern
Grading
Grading is SUBJECTIVE. There will be no letter or numerical grades attached to stories and no weighing of the value of one story against another.
The following are some of the areas that the instructor will consider in determining the final grade.
An appropriate scene structure must be in place. The protagonists should show change over the course of the story and the motivation for their actions should be clear; place and character should be set up on the first page; the point of view should be appropriate for the story being told; surprises should be present in terms of language, character, and action; stereotypes, melodrama, and sentimentality should be avoided; the close should take the reader somewhere he or she cannot go on their own. Stories may receive a grade of F for poor writing. Grammar, spelling, and sentence construction will be evaluated. Poor writing in the stories may result in a grade of F for the course. Rubric rules will be applied. A copy of these rules may be found at http://www.winthrop.edu/english/rubric.htm. Students are expected to make EXTENSIVE REVISIONS of both stories. Students may receive an F in the course for failing to make revisions. Genre writing: science fiction, romance, mystery, horror, fantasy, etc will not be accepted for grading.
No grades will be given until the end of the course. Students are required to complete two stories. Completion of only one story will result in a grade of F for the course.
Final drafts of both stories are due on the day of the final exam.
Responses
Students must read and write a response to a short story collection. This collection must be from one of the writers included in THE ART OF THE TALE. This response must deal with concerns such as structure, the use of dialogue, construction of scenes, beginnings and closes of stories. It is especially important that students relate the work under discussion to their own work. For example, a problem with closure in a student story. Responses should not be viewed as reviews or critical papers. Responses will be 2 or 3 typed pages per book.
Response to stories due March 30
Responses will receive a grade of S or U. No grade for the course above a C will be given if a student receives a grade of U.
Students should attend all classes and participate in workshop discussions if they expect to receive any benefit from the course. .
All stories, e-mail versions of stories, responses, etc must be formatted in 14 point Times New Roman and spaced at 1.5. .
Plagiarism
Any instance of plagiarism will result in a grade of F for the course. See the departmental statement concerning plagiarism at http://www.winthrop.edu/english/plagiarism.htm
Students With Disabilities
If you have a disability and need classroom accommodations, please contact Gena Smith, Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities, at 323-2233 as soon as possible. Once you have your Professor Notification Letter, please notify me so that I am aware of your accommodations well before the first test, paper, or assignment.