CREATIVE WRITING MAJOR PROGRAM
A new Creative Writing student must take (a) a Workshop and (b) Elements of Poetry and Fiction in his/her first year.
After the first year, majors must take workshop and one other writing course. In their senior year, majors are encouraged (not required) to take three creative writing courses. Majors are also required to attend individual tutorials with their writing instructors on a weekly basis, and they are expected to participate fully in all program activities, including guest writers’ workshops and readings (usually Thursdays).
Students who choose to major in Creative Writing should take into account, when planning their class schedules, that time must be reserved for writing, and therefore care should be taken to avoid an overload of homework.
CREATIVE WRITING COURSES AS ENGLISH CREDIT
The following courses may be taken for English credit at 11th and 12th grade level only *
- Elements of Creative Writing – Fiction/Poetry
- Tradition and the Individual Talent/Poetry & Fiction
- The Writing of Nonfiction (One semester only for English credit)
- Playwriting (One semester only for English credit)
*Enrollment by freshman or sophomores in the creative writing courses does not satisfy the English graduation requirements.
DESCRIPTION OF COURSES
Courses Offered Both Semester One and Semester Two
Course Title: Elements of Fiction
Target Students: Required for all new Creative Writing majors in first or second semester, regardless of grade level.
Pre-requisite: None
Number of times course can be taken: 1
Seating priority: Creative Writing majors, Motion Picture Arts majors and General Studies students on the Creative Writing track have priority seating. Seating open to non-writing majors in grades 11-12 space permitting.
Credit per semester: .50
Meeting time: Daily
Description:
This course will introduce students to the stylistic and thematic elements of short fiction through the close reading and analysis of published stories by a diverse range of authors. Students will participate in in-class writing exercises and will be asked to turn in short written exercises and one completed short story plus a revision. Students will critique each others’ work and gain valuable feedback on their writing in one round of workshop, and will have the opportunity to meet with their instructor in tutorial sessions to gain insight into the revision process and further hone their stylistic techniques.
Objectives:
- To grasp the basic stylistic elements of the short story form, including point of view, characterization, dialogue, setting, plot, scene and summary.
- To gain confidence and control as a fiction writer and practice applying stylistic techniques via short exercises.
- To grasp and practice the basic techniques of workshop and revision.
Student Performance:
- Close reading of all texts and participation in class discussion.
- Completion of in-class writing exercises which may be read aloud and discussed.
- Completion of short exercises written outside of class which may be read aloud and discussed.
- Completion of at least one short story plus revision.
- Participation in one round of workshop.
Assessment:
- Demonstrated familiarity with basic stylistic elements of short fiction and all published texts that students are assigned.
- Participation in class discussions and critiques.
- Instructor evaluation of students’ short exercises, complete short story draft and final revision.
- Possible final exam (varies by instructor).
Text/materials needed:
- Varies by instructor, most reading handed out in class.
- Notebook and writing materials.
Course Title: Elements of Poetry
Target Students: Required for all new Creative Writing majors in first or second semester, regardless of grade level.
Pre-requisite: None
Number of times course can be taken: 1
Seating priority: Creative Writing majors and General Studies students on the Creative Writing track have priority seating. Seating open to non-writing majors in grades 11-12 space permitting.
Credit per semester: .50
Meeting time: Daily
Description:
This course will introduce students to the stylistic and thematic elements of poetry through the close reading and analysis of published poems by a diverse range of authors. Students will participate in in-class writing exercises and will be asked to turn in 2 practice poems and revisions. Students will critique each others’ work and gain valuable feedback on their own poems in one round of workshop, and will have the opportunity to meet with their instructor in tutorial sessions to gain insight into the revision process and further hone their stylistic techniques.
Objectives:
- To grasp the basic stylistic elements of poetry, including the linguistic nuances of voice, tone, rhythm and line breaks.
- To build a repertoire of poetic forms and techniques.
- To practice applying stylistic techniques via a series of short exercises and prompts.
- To grasp and practice the basic techniques of workshop and revision.
Student Performance:
- Close reading of all texts and participation in class discussion.
- Completion of in-class writing exercises which may be read aloud and discussed.
- Completion of poems written outside of class which may be read aloud and discussed.
- Completion of two poems.
- Participation in one round of workshop.
Assessment:
- Demonstrated familiarity with basic stylistic elements of poetry and all published texts that students are assigned.
- Participation in class discussions and critiques.
- Instructor evaluation of students’ short exercises and completed poems.
- Possible final exam (varies by instructor).
Text/materials needed:
Varies by instructor, most reading handed out in class, although textbooks or anthologies may be required as well. Notebook and writing materials.
Course Title: Introduction to Screenwriting
Target Students: Grades 10-PG for Creative Writing and Motion Picture Arts majors.
First Semester – Required for all NEW MPA Juniors and Seniors.
Second Semester – Required for all NEW MPA Sophomores.
Pre-Requisite if needed: None
Number of times course can be taken: 1
Seating Priority: Creative Writing majors, Motion Picture Arts majors and General Studies students on the Creative Writing track have priority seating. Seating open to non-majors in grades 11-12 space permitting.
Credit per semester: .50
Meeting Time: Daily
Description:
This course introduces the concepts of writing for the screen from an analytical and creative viewpoint. Students will learn about screenplay structure and format, explore the creation of character, setting, conflict, theme, tone, dialogue and subtext, and gain an understanding of how to use the tools of the filmmaker to create filmic language and write visually. Students are also given an introduction to some of the professional aspects of screenwriting and available resources including the art of pitching stories and learning how the Writers Guild of America helps screenwriters.
Objectives:
- To explore the concepts of visual storytelling through specific screenwriting assignments.
- To gain a basic understanding of screenplay structure and format and implement this understanding through analysis and creative work.
- To gain a basic understanding of the other professional aspects of screenwriting and how screenwriters fit into the filmmaking world.
Student Performance:
- Write and revise five to six screenwriting pieces, all of which are workshopped by the class for peer critiques.
- Participate in the peer critiques of their classmates’ written pieces.
- Presentation of analysis of each feature length screenplay read in class through worksheets and discussion, and creation of a pitch.
- Develop a feature length screenplay idea into a treatment and implement the structural concepts learned from the reading of screenplays.
Assessment:
- Instructor feedback on all writing assignments and worksheets.
- Peer critiques on all first drafts and some revisions of writing assignments.
- A final self narrative on the student’s overall work and participation.
Text/Materials Needed: Notebook and writing materials, screenplays and handouts provided/loaned.
Course Title: The Writing of Non-Fiction
Pre-requisite: Proven writing ability
Number of times course can be taken: 2
Seating priority: Creative Writing majors and General Studies students on the Creative Writing track have priority seating. Seating open to non-writing majors in grades 11-12 space permitting.
Credit per semester: .50
Meeting time: Daily
Description:
The Writing of Non-Fiction is designed to introduce students to the genre of creative non-fiction. Special consideration is given to writing as an organic exercise rather than following the formulaic procedure of the five paragraph essay. The second semester also involves the production of two student written magazines.
Objectives:
- To show an awareness and an understanding of the organic process of writing non-fiction.
- To use non-fiction as a vehicle for self-exploration in the reader as well as the audience.
- To show an ability to synthesize student and instructor critique in the preparation of a final draft.
Student performance:
- Presentation of a series of essays in a workshop setting dealing with specific topics.
- Demonstrated ability to revise a manuscript into a final draft.
- Daily critique of student generated writing in a workshop setting.
Assessments:
- Oral and written critique of essays presented.
- Demonstrated ability to synthesize student and instructor critique.
Texts/materials needed: Daily handouts and essays by major writers which change year to year.
Course Title: Workshop
Target students: grades 9-PG
Prerequisite: Acceptance as a Creative Writing Major.
Number of times course may be taken: Required each semester for Creative Writing majors.
Seating Priority: Creative Writing majors only.
Credit per semester: .50
Meeting Time: Daily
Description: Workshop is the central component of the Creative Writing Program. A seminar-style course in which students focus on producing their own poems or short stories, workshops use the literature of both professional models and student models to provide extensive training in the writing process. Through discussion of readings, generative exercises, group critique and exchange, tutorials, feedback on drafts, and discussion of the elements by which a piece of writing may be assessed, the student participates in the development of writing and builds a vocabulary of the writing craft. In the process the student gains consciousness of writing as a communal and cultural act. Creative Writing majors rotate each term so that students receive instruction and practice in both fiction and poetry.
Objectives:
- Students practice writing poems and short stories and learn how to read like writers.
- Students learn how to offer constructive and inspiring feedback.
- Students gain understanding of the community in which writing occurs.
- Students gain confidence and control as writers by honing their stylistic techniques.
- Students understand the drafting and revision process and can apply it to their work.
Student performance:
- Students write a series of poems or a collection of short stories.
- Students apply the drafting process to their work, including tutorials, workshops, and revisions.
- Students prepare a final portfolio reflective of their revision efforts.
- Students provide written feedback to each other in various forms which may include presentations.
Assessment:
- Poems, stories and short exercises students produce.
- Quality and depth of student understanding of workshop.
- Quality of student support for and insights about each others’ work.
- Participation in workshop and their dedication to the revision process.
- Final portfolio and supplemental documents.
Texts: Various readings, handed out in class.
FIRST SEMESTER Courses ONLY
Course Title: Playwriting
Target students: grades 10-PG (9th grade only with instructor permission)
Prerequisite: Interest and solid writing skills.
Number of times course may be taken: twice
Seating Priority: Creative Writing majors and General Studies students on the Creative Writing track have priority seating. Seating open to non-writing majors in grades 11-12 space permitting
Credit per semester: .50 credit
Meeting Time: Daily
Description:
This course introduces students to basic concepts of writing for the stage. Students will read and analyze models, participate in generative script exercises and practice the following sub-genres: monologue, scene, ten-minute play, and the one-act play. Elements of contemporary playwriting will include study of plot structures and conflict escalation, story arc, characterization, dialogue, voice and rhythm, and adaptation of idea to stage conventions. Course will explore the collaborative aspects of playwriting. Students taking the course for the second time will write in longer forms.
Objectives:
- Students understand and apply vocabulary of contemporary playwriting and the writing process as it applies to playwriting.
- Students study and understand a selection of published plays as well as some critical writing about those plays.
- Students demonstrate understanding of models through written analysis, class discussions and application to their own scripts.
- Students understand the collaborative nature of playwriting through discussion of technical and artistic aspects of production.
- Students seek and offer feedback on their scripts through the workshop process and enter revision process as recommended.
Student performance:
- Students complete at least one example of each of the following: scene, ten-minute play, and one-act play. Drafts and tutorials for each will be required.
- Students will prepare a scene and/or excerpt of their scripts for stand-up reading through participation in the "Playwrights Showcase".
- Students learn the practical side of writing for the stage by entering contests, festivals, and applying for production.
- Students learn workshop/draft system and are able to apply it to manuscripts.
Assessment:
- Students are assessed by their participation in and investment in the workshop process including analysis of models, written and verbal feedback, sophistication of written and discussion-based comments, quality of thinking, and understanding of concepts.
- Students are assessed by degree of involvement in the script development including all stages of the process: pre-writing, drafting, readings, tutorial drafts, workshop drafts, and revisions.
- Playwrights Showcase and/or portfolios, and final drafts
Texts:
- Hatcher, The Art and Craft of Playwriting
- Selected plays, TBA
Course Title: Writer in Residence: Literary Imitation
Target Students: Grade 10-12
Pre-requisite: None
Number of times course can be taken: 1
Seating priority: Creative Writing majors, Motion Picture Arts majors and General Studies students on the Creative Writing track have priority seating. Seating open to non-writing majors in grades 11-12 space permitting.
Credit per semester: .50
Meeting time: Daily
Description:
Tone, rhythm, diction, perspective, sentence structure--these are but a few of the myriad elements an author considers in the pursuit of honing his or her craft. In this course students will be given the opportunity to study the prose of authors such as Cormac McCarthy, Flannery O'Connor, David Sedaris, Jamaica Kincaid, Sherman Alexie, Lois-Ann Yamanaka, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Junot Diaz, and Tillie Olsen, among others. Students will also be encouraged to share work from writers they admire and facilitate discussions on elements of craft and why their chosen author's work speaks to them. In addition to examining individual aspects of craft, students will be encouraged to consider how these seemingly disparate elements are interwoven to fashion a particular writing style, establish pacing, and evoke mood. Some issues we will investigate include how these elements come together to create the voice we hear while reading, what is created when we attempt to blend different writing styles, and how an author's voice allows for but also limits the kind of story he or she is able to tell. In addition to reading and discussing a wide range of published work, students will be asked to generate and share short imitation exercises, one of which will culminate in a longer work.
Raj Reddy Biogrpahy:
SECOND SEMESTER COURSES ONLY
Course Title: Advanced Screenwriting
Target Students: Grades 11-PG
Pre-Requisite if needed: Introduction to Screenwriting and Instructor Permission.
Number of times course can be taken: Multiple
Seating Priority: Creative Writing and Motion Picture Arts Majors.
Credit per semester: .50
Meeting Time: Daily
Description:
This course is designed as an intense workshop for screenwriting students who are ready to work on projects of their choice. Having learned the basics, students are now expected to further develop their voices as screenwriters, create their own goals, and actively engage in analysis of professional screenplays. There is also further exploration of the professional aspects of being a screenwriter.
Objectives:
- To become more disciplined screenwriters through long term projects and self-created goals and deadlines.
- To continue to explore the differing writing styles of professional screenwriters through examination of their screenplays.
- To further experience with the professional aspects of screenwriting.
Student Performance:
- Creation of screenwriting goals throughout the semester and accompanying self narratives on the fulfillment of these goals.
- A portfolio of treatments and screenplay pages created from self-assigned goals.
- Discussion questions created for the professional screenplay of their choosing.
- An opportunity to have their screenplay pages performed by Theatre students at a reading.
- Presentation of pitches of an original ideas and written query letter, which is peer-reviewed and revised.
Assessment:
- Weekly assessment given by instructor on student’s fulfillment of goals and participation in class workshops and discussions.
- Instructor feedback on writing projects.
- Peer review on all writing projects.
- Self narrative reflecting on all aspects of the student’s work and participation at mid semester and end of semester.
Text/Materials Needed:
Writing materials, Screenplay copies and handouts provided/loaned.
Course Title: Tradition and the Individual Talent
Target Students: Grades 11-PG
Prerequisite: None
Number of times this course can be taken: 1
Seating priority: Creative Writing majors and General Studies students on the Creative Writing track have priority seating. Seating open to non-writing majors in grades 11-12 space permitting
Credit per semester: .50
Meeting time: Daily
Description:
This course applies to Contemporary American Fiction, Non-Fiction and Poetry. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between an author’s life and the influence that life has had upon their work.
Objectives:
- To grasp an understanding between the relationship an author’s life and lifestyle.
- To study and emulate various forms of creative writing including, ghazals, letters, free verse, and essays.
- To gain an awareness and an appreciation of literature widely considered to be contemporary classics.
Student performance:
- Daily classroom discussion of reading assignments.
- Written assignments including an awareness of the forms cited above.
- Final written document/portfolio of collected works.
Assessments:
- Individual critique and discussion of submitted written assignments.
- Successful participation in classroom discussion.
- Written and oral critique of final project.
Texts/materials needed:
- Jim Harrison THE SHAPE OF THE JOURNEY
- Jim Harrison FARMER
- Jim Harrison LEGENDS OF THE FALL
- Tom McGuane NINETY-TWO IN THE SHADE
- Mary Oliver AMERICAN PRIMITIVE
- Raymond Carver A NEW PATH TO THE WATERFALL
- Instructor-supplied handouts.
Course Title: Literary Publications
Target students: grades 10-PG (9th grade only with instructor permission)
Prerequisite: Interest and solid writing skills.
Number of times course may be taken: twice
Seating Priority: Creative Writers and Visual Artists have shared first priority. Seating open to other majors grades 11-12 space permitting.
Credit per semester: .50 credit
Meeting Time: Daily
Description:
The course teaches students how to prepare a literary manuscript for publication including development of editorial criteria for selection, soliciting, developing guidelines for revision, communicating with authors about revision, proofing, copy editing, galley editing, managing all aspects of pre-production and design, and culminating in the publication of the Interlochen Review, a 136-page document prepared for public review. In the second quarter focus shifts to other projects, including the personal chapbook and the Festival Chapbook. The class will learn to use Indesign, the desktop publishing program. The course may include publication of broadsheets, contributions to IAA's website, interviews with guest writers and artists, and columns for outside publications.
Objectives:
- Students learn the process of taking raw manuscripts to publication level.
- Students participate in all aspects of preparation for printing.
- Students learn to use Indesign.
- Students will learn to meet deadlines.
Student performance:
- Students produce the Interlochen Review.
- Students produce a personal chapbook.
- Students prepare the Festival Chapbook.
- Students meet deadlines.
- Students may also participate in creating broadsheets and folios.
Assessment:
- Students are assessed on how well they learn and can participate successfully in the production of a manuscript for standard publication.
- Students are assessed on the successful completion of their editorial tasks for the Interlochen Review.
- Students are assessed on the quality of and design of their personal chapbook.
- Students are assessed on the quality and design of the Festival Chapbook.
Texts:
- The University of Chicago Press Chicago Manual of Style
-
Various readings supplied by instructor.
Target Students: Grade 10-12
Pre-requisite: None
Number of times course can be taken: 1
Seating priority: Creative Writing majors, Motion Picture Arts majors and General Studies students on the Creative Writing track have priority seating. Seating open to non-writing majors in grades 11-12 space permitting.
Credit per semester: .50
Meeting time: Daily
Description:
In this course, students will devote several weeks to each of the following sub-genres of nonfiction: memoir, the personal essay, the lyric essay, immersion/obsession writing, and the meditative essay. Students will read and critically discuss works by authors such as Alexandra Fuller, Judy Blunt, Virginia Wolf, Linda Hogan, Barbara Kingsolver, Judith Kitchen, John D'Agata, Asne Seierstad, Robert Vivian, Annie Dillard, and more, exploring and discussing some of the following questions: What are the strengths and limitations of each sub-genre? How does each sub-genre work in favor of its content? Which sub-genres allow for the most play, convey the most information, or afford the most poetic license? Creative written assignments will be given on a regular basis and a portion of class time will be devoted to sharing and discussing students' own experimentation with these sub-genres.
Katey Schultz Biogrpahy:Katey Schultz is an Oregonian who spent the last seven years living and writing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Katey is the author of the community-funded photo/essay collaboration, Lost Crossings (2009) and editor of Dots on a Map: A Collection of Small Town Stories (Main Street Rag, 2009). A graduate of the Pacific University MFA in Writing program, her nonfiction has been recognized in contests sponsored by M Review and Oregon Quarterly. Her fiction, nonfiction, and poetry have also appeared in Perigee, Cadillac Cicatrix, The Nature Conservancy newsletter, Southern Arts Journal, Writers' Dojo, and more. She has fiction forthcoming in Cold Flashes: An Anthology of Alaska Short-Shorts, published by University of Alaska Press, and she was recently selected by the North Carolina Humanities Council as the winner of the Linda Flowers Literary Award for Fiction. Her essays about art and the creative process appear regularly in national magazines. She edits in various capacities for Silk Road, Main Street Rag, and Memoir (and). In addition to her editing and freelance work, Katey has also taught at the Arthur Morgan School in North Carolina.
