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Burzynski: English 233.003

ENGWRT 233.003: Introduction to Creative WritingMondays and Wednesdays: 2-3:15 Curtin 382University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee—Spring, 2016

The Three Oddest Words When I pronounce the word Future, the first syllable already belongs to the past.

When I pronounce the word Silence, I destroy it.

When I pronounce the word Nothing, I make something no

non-being can hold. -Wisława Szymborska

A word after a word after a word is power.

-Margaret AtwoodInstructor: Peter BurzynskiEmail: [email protected] Hours: MW 3:30-5 Office hours are in Curtin 515

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Introduction to Creative Writing exposes students to the craft of reading and writing short fiction and poetry, and provides them the opportunity to experiment in both genres. We will read several short stories and poems by past and contemporary writers and analyze them with an emphasis on craft. Through close-readings and analysis, students will acquire elements of craft, which they will implement in their own work. The first half of the class is devoted to fiction writing; the second is for poetry.

PREREQUISITES: Students enrolled in this course need to have earned a grade of C or better in English 102 or have received a score of 4 on the EPT. If you do not satisfy either of these prerequisite requirements, please see me immediately.

COURSE TEXTS and REQUIRED MATERIALS: Course Handouts, Internet Access to Documents on Desire To Learn (D2L), and about $75 for printing purposes. You will also need to purchase a paper folder and a notebook of sorts that will function as a journal for your in-class writing activities.

[email protected] Office Hours: MW 3:30-5:00 pm in Curtin 515 1

mailto:[email protected]



CLASS CONDUCT, INDENTITY, and HATE SPEECH: In order for this class to function as a safe space for learning and critical thinking, every member of it needs to respect every other member. That means also respecting their background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, etc. Hate speech will not be tolerated in this class, and I will be the arbiter of what constitutes hate speech. If a student disrespects another student's identity I reserve the right to ask them to leave the classroom and alter their participation grade for the day. Furthermore, if you would like me to use another name or set of pronouns than the one given to me by the university, please let me know!

ASSIGNMENTS 1. Journal Entries: You will receive a writing prompt in class every

Wednesday and write in your journals for the final twenty minutes of class time that day. I will collect your journals every Monday. (Pass/Fail)

2. Reading Responses: Please print out all readings due for class from D2L, read them, and write a three-paragraph response discussing the craft and language. You may respond to any combination of authors meaning that you can go in depth on a single reading, survey all of the authors, or do a comparison of some. These will be due in electronic form via D2L and in print on the days we discuss the assigned reading.

3. Workshop Pieces: Your work will be workshopped twice during the semester, once during the fiction unit and again during the poetry unit. Students are responsible for providing copies of work for the entire class and posting work to D2L. Make sure your work has your name printed on it and includes page numbers. Class copies are due one week before your scheduled workshop; no late entries. We will all read your drafts and offer our comments.

4. Workshop Critiques: You will turn in prepared, written comments of at least three paragraphs to each writer being workshopped in addition to writing in-text comments. You should also turn in one copy to me. Please also submit your critique to D2L. These critiques are in the interest of helping the writer see how their readers respond to their work, see how language functions in a piece, discuss elements of craft presented in lecture, and to offer suggestions for revisions. These are due on the days we discuss the stories or poems your peers have turned in for workshop.




5. Additional Writing : In addition to the poem you workshop you will turn in four other poems you have composed (for a total of five) on 11/30. Also, you may elect to submit a second short story on 10/21 for 5% extra credit for your final grade. You will submit these in print only to me.

6. Final Portfolio: Your Final Portfolio is five revised poems and one revised short story (5-7 pages). You will also write a Metacognitive Essay (3-5 pages) that explains your writing process, revision strategies, and development as a reader and writer during the semester. This is due in a paper folder on the last day of class.

7. Live Reading Responses: Extra Credit: Each response will increase your final letter grade by 2%. During the semester you may attend up to five fiction or poetry readings in the Milwaukee community. I will announce these events as they are about to occur during the semester. When you attend the reading you will take notes and write a short response (2 pages) about your experience as an audience member and your thoughts on what the reader is trying to attempt in their performance. These can be turned in at any time during the semester but are due by the last day of class.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING:

Grading: 15% attendance and class participation, 10% journal entries, 20% reading responses, 15% critiques, 20% creative work, 20% final portfolio.

Grading Rubric for Creative Work: Creative Writing is an art that is based on creativity. Since creativity cannot be measured in multiple-choice format or using graphs, charts, or percentages my assessment of your creative work will be based on the 1-5 scale shown on the next page. Please strive to write work that is not only original in content but also in its imagery, story, and form (by that I mean to highly discourage cliché or kitsch including but not limited to rhyming poetry, dream short stories, unicorns, vampires, etc.).

Grading Rubric for Reading and Workshop Responses: Since these will be written in a more traditionally academic, non-fiction




form I will grade these on a regular A-F scale. Please note that short, thoughtless, disrespectful or careless feedback will lower your grade. Carefully consider what the authors of our course readings are attempting. Furthermore, please give your fellow students the same quality criticism you’d like to receive yourself.

Attendance: There are no excused absences and no exceptions to this policy. More than one absence will lower your final grade, and you are allowed only four absences during the course of the semester before you automatically fail the class. I suggest you save these absences for emergency situations. Please plan to attend class on time. If you are more than 15 minutes tardy or must leave 15 minutes prior to the end of class, you will be counted absent. If you must be absent or tardy for the class, it is your responsibility let me know and to obtain class notes and assignments from a fellow student and or D2L. During the semester we will have two class workshops of your work. Please note that if you miss either of your workshop days it will significantly affect your final grade.

Late Work Policy: I will not accept late work. If you are unable to produce the assignment in print or attend class please post your assignment to D2L before, not during of after class. I recommend you type all responses in a word processor and then paste them to D2L as to not lose work to technical issues you may encounter while composing online.

Class Participation: The course will require both your physical and full mental presence. Your thoughtful contributions to class discussions are required. Silence your cell phones and other electronic devices (tablet, laptop, smart watch) during class, avoid side talking, and please come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings or student work. Using devices during class will void your participation grade for the day.

Email and D2L: Please check your UWM email and D2L regularly for updates. I will not accept emails from non-UWM addresses. Also, if something is important please try not to email me right before class. I will respond to emails within 12 hours at latest.

Important Dates: Last day to add courses or change sections W 9/16, ARC VISA submission F 9/18, Last day to withdraw without a “W” on your transcript T 9/29,and Last day to withdraw from classes F 10/13.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT STATEMENT: This course meets GER Arts requirements as outlined in the University of




Wisconsin-Milwaukee Faculty Document No. 1382 ("GER Composite Document"), Section 4.1b. As a GER Arts course, this course addresses “a branch of learning focusing on the conscious use of skill and creative imagination in the production of artistic objects or performances that stress values that stand outside conventional ideas of utility.” To satisfy the GER Distribution Requirements for the Arts a course must: “1) demonstrate comprehension of historical, philosophical, theoretical, or aesthetic perspectives commonly used in the understanding of a specific art; and either 2) apply knowledge of artistic principles, conventions, methods, and practices through the creation or production of works of art; or 3) compare and contrast the expressive and formal features of different artistic media and/or cultural traditions; this may be accomplished through an analytic study or as part of an original artistic work.” English 233 will satisfy criteria 1) and 2).English 233 will focus on two of the five Shared Learning Goals the University of Wisconsin System has identified for its GER courses—Critical and Creative Thinking, and Effective Communication Skills—in pursuit of the following learning outcomes which the department and creative writing program have identified: students will be able to produce an original creative work that reflects thoughtful, informed engagement with its literary genre. Students’ achievement of this outcome will be assessed through review of their final portfolio. In addition to the letter grade that will contribute to the student’s final grade in the course, each portfolio will also be assessed using the following scale:

1 = work is cliché or not original and does not reflect thoughtful, informed engagement with its literary genre;

2 = work is not original, but attempts, unsuccessfully, thoughtful, informed engagement with its literary genre;

3 = work is a mixture of cliché and original work, and attempts, with mixed success, thoughtful, informed engagement with its literary genre;

4 = work is largely original and largely successful at thoughtful, informed engagement with its literary genre;

5 = work is highly original and highly successful at thoughtful, informed engagement with its literary genre.

While numeric scores will not be used to calculate student grades, they will be averaged and used to determine how well 233 has met its objectives and learning outcome goals, and what, if anything, needs to be altered when the course is next offered.




ACADEMIC HONESTY: Page 18 of the Student’s Guide to the First Year Writing Program at UWM states that: "Plagiarism is commonly defined as theft because it claims the intellectual property of others as one’s own. At UWM, plagiarism is considered academic misconduct and all plagiarism cases are subject to UW-System rules and regulations on academic misconduct. The penalties for intentional plagiarism can range from failing the course, to suspension, to expulsion from the university." Don’t steal, I know how to use Google.ACCESSIBILITY RESOURCE CENTER (ARC): If you have a health condition or disability that affects your ability to meet any of the course requirements, bring me a VISA form completed by a ARC counselor within the first week of classes. Students with conditions that are not documented by the ARC at the beginning of the semester cannot receive exceptions to any of the course policies, so it is very important that you visit the center in a timely manner. Policy Links11. Students with disabilities. Notice to these students should

appear prominently in the syllabus so that special accommodations are provided in a timely manner. http://www4.uwm.edu/sac/SACltr.pdf

2. Religious observances. Accommodations for absences due to religious observance should be noted. http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S1.5.htm

3. Students called to active military duty. Accommodations for absences due to call-up of reserves to active military duty should be noted.Students: http://www4.uwm.edu/current_students/military_call_up.cfm Employees: http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S40.htm (Editorially Revised, 3/25/09)

4. Incompletes. A notation of "incomplete" may be given in lieu of a final grade to a student who has carried a subject successfully until the end of a semester but who, because of illness or other unusual and substantiated cause beyond the student's control, has been unable to take or complete the final examination or to complete some limited amount of term work. http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S31.pdf

5. Discriminatory conduct (such as sexual harassment). Discriminatory conduct will not be tolerated by the University. It poisons the work and learning environment of the University and threatens the careers, educational experience, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff. http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S47.pdf

6. Academic misconduct. Cheating on exams or plagiarism are violations of the academic honor code and carry severe sanctions, including failing a course or even suspension or




dismissal from the University. http://www4.uwm.edu/acad_aff/policy/academicmisconduct.cfm

7. Complaint procedures. Students may direct complaints to the head of the academic unit or department in which the complaint occurs. If the complaint allegedly violates a specific university policy, it may be directed to the head of the department or academic unit in which the complaint occurred or to the appropriate university office responsible for enforcing the policy. http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S49.7.htm

8. Grade appeal procedures. A student may appeal a grade on the grounds that it is based on a capricious or arbitrary decision of the course instructor. Such an appeal shall follow the established procedures adopted by the department, college, or school in which the course resides or in the case of graduate students, the Graduate School. These procedures are available in writing from the respective department chairperson or the Academic Dean of the College/School. http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S28.htm

9. Other The final exam requirement, the final exam date requirement, etc. http://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/other/S22.htm

1 Supplement to UWM FACULTY DOCUMENT NO. 1895, October 21, 1993; Revised March 16, 2006; Revised January 24, 2008; Editorially Revised, 8/26/11.

Credit Hours

The university has asked departments to break down for students how much time they will spend working on various aspects of their classes.

As the UW System assumes “that study leading to one semester credit represents an investment of time by the average student of not fewer than 48 hours” (UWS ACPS 4), a 3-credit course such as this one will require a minimum of 144 (3 x 48) hours of your time. You may find it necessary to spend additional time on a course; the numbers below only indicate that the course will not require any less of your time.

If this is a traditional, or face-to-face course, you will spend a minimum of 37.5 hours in the classroom 75 hours preparing for class, which may include reading, note taking,

completing minor exercises and assignments, and discussing course topics with classmates and the instructor in structured settings

31.5 hours preparing for and writing major papers and/or exams.

If this is an online course, you will spend a minimum of 37.5 hours reviewing instructional materials prepared by your instructor and

placed online 75 hours preparing for class, which may include reading, note taking,






If this is a hybrid course, you will spend a minimum of 18.75 hours in the classroom 18.75 hours reviewing instructional materials prepared by your instructor

and placed online 75 hours preparing for class, which may include reading, note taking,



Notes The breakdown above is for a standard 15-week semester. In a 16-week

semester, the numbers breakdown above changes as follows. Traditional: 40 hours in classroom, 80 for preparation, 24 for papers and exams; online: 40 hours of online instruction, 80 for preparation, 24 for papers and exams; hybrid: 20 hours in classroom, 20 for online instruction, 80 hours for preparation, 24 for papers and exams. Again, these are minimums.

UWM Credit Hour Policy, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Faculty Document No. 2838, can be found at https://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/faculty/2838_Credit_Hour_Policy.pdf.

UWS ACPS 4, the University Of Wisconsin System Policy On Academic Year Definition And Assorted Derivatives, can be found at http://www.uwsa.edu/acss/acps/acps4.pdf.

Note: You will receive handouts of all assigned readings. The handouts are also available on D2L. Also remember that I will collect your journals at the beginning of class each Monday.

ScheduleWeek 1

Introduction and Syllabus

Week 2Labor Day: No Class Session

Plot: “The Man to Send Rain Clouds” by Leslie Marmon Silko,

“A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor, and “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson.

Week 3Scene and Exposition: "The Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, “A Pair of Tickets” by Amy Tan, and “The Death of Ivan Ilych” by Leo Tolstoy.

Character Development and Interaction: “Everyday Use” by Alice



http://www.uwsa.edu/acss/acps/acps4.pdf

https://www4.uwm.edu/secu/docs/faculty/2838_Credit_Hour_Policy.pdf


Walker, “Hunting Cockroaches” by Juliusz Głowacki, and watch YouTube Clip of Samuel Beckett’s “Play.” The clip counts as a story.

Week 4Point of View: "How to date a brown girl (black girl, white girl, or halfie)” by Junot Diaz, “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka, “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, and “Barbie-Q” by Sandra Cisneros.

Dialogue Formatting: “The Killers,” and “For Sale” by Ernest Hemingway,

“Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston, and “A Family Supper” by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Week 5No Class: Writing Day Practice Workshop

Week 6Short Story Workshops Short Story Workshops

Week 7Short Story Workshops Short Story Workshops

Week 8Short Story Workshops Short Story Workshops & Optional Second Short Story

Due

Week 9Concrete and Specific Language in Poetry: Read all poems by Czesław Miłosz, Wisława Szymborska, T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, William Carlos Williams, Carmen Jimenez Smith, Bhanu Kapil, and Amaud Jamaul Johnson.

Sound, Image, and Line: Tadesuz Rożewicz, Sylvia Plath, Quincy Troupe,

Juan Felippe Herrera, Kevin González, Mei-Mei Bersenbrugge, Julianna Spahr, and Jennifer L. Knox.




Week 10Concision and Forms: Elizabeth Bishop, William Shakespeare, e.e. cummings, Sampson Starkweather, Mary Jo Bang, Mark Bibbins, Daniel Borzutzky, Diane di Prima, and Li Young Lee.

Lyric vs. Narrative vs. Langauge-based Poetics: Ilya Kaminsky, Anna Swir,

Ray Young Bear, Claudia Rankine, Frank O’Hara, W.B. Yeats, Allen Ginsberg, and Harryette Mullen.

Week 11Poetry Workshops & Submit Author and Title of a text for the Imitation ProjectPoetry Workshops

Week 12Poetry Workshops Poetry Workshops

Week 13Poetry Workshops

Week 14Poetry Workshops & Five Poems DueRevisions Laboratory for Portfolio

Week 15M 12/7 Individual ConferencesW 12/9 Individual Conferences

Week 16M 12/14 Class Reading

Live Reading Responses Due and Final Portfolio Due in class

Please note that this schedule, like all pieces of writing, is subject to revision.

[email protected] Office Hours: MW 3:30-5:00 pm in Curtin 51510
