Course Syllabus

Course: ENGL 2260

Division: Humanities
Department: English & Philosophy
Title: Fiction Writing

Semester Approved: Spring 2019
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2024
End Semester: Fall 2024

Catalog Description: This course is an introduction to the writing of fiction. Students read and discuss exemplary models and compose a variety of projects of their own. Emphasis is placed on plot, character, dialogue, and description, and other techniques associated with fiction writing. It is recommended that students take ENGL 2250, Introduction to Creative Writing, before taking ENGL 2260. This course was formerly ENGL 2250.

Semesters Offered: TBA
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
Repeatable: Yes.


Justification: Creative writing is an extremely popular course for both majors and non-majors. ENGL 2250 will offer students an introduction to the craft of creative writing in multiple genres and will offer GE credit. ENGL 2260 complements that class by offering students a chance to delve deeper in how to write fiction.

This course is most like SUU’s ENGL 2320 (Creative Writing in the Genres) and Weber’s ENGL 2260 (Introduction to Writing Short Fiction). Students who succeed in ENGL 2250 commonly submit work to Weeds and/or join the editorial staff of Weeds. This experience can lead to similar work at senior institutions and be a gateway to graduate work, internships, and employment.



Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will understand the fiction writing techniques of plot, character, dialogue, description, and others in the context of the fiction of others.  Students will demonstrate their learning through written and verbal discussions of fiction assigned as course readings.

Students will understand the fiction writing techniques of plot, character, dialogue, description, and others in the context of their own fiction.  Students will demonstrate their learning through their creative work, responses to peer comments, and reflection assignments.

Students will participate successfully in a classroom discussion of student writing, commonly known as a "workshop."  Students will demonstrate this by participating actively, knowledgeably, constructively, and politely in workshops.


Content:
The typical section of ENGL 2260 focuses on fiction and addresses plot, genre, character, dialogue, description, point of view, theme, style, and various mechanical issues. Students read a variety of published fiction (long or short) and compose 3000-5000 words of original material per semester. The course is conducted as a series of lecture-discussions mixed with "workshops"--i.e. group analyses of student work.

Key Performance Indicators:
3000-5000 words of fiction, which may be in the form of exercises, short stories, or chapters of a novel 50 to 60%

Online and/or class discussions 10 to 15%

Workshop participation 20 to 30%

Reflection activities 10 to 15%


Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Instructor's choice of short stories, novellas, novels, and other forms of fiction.


Pedagogy Statement:
ENGL 2260 will be taught primarily as a workshop with students receiving and giving feedback to one another. The instructor will also give detailed feedback on creative writing assignments.

Instructional Mediums:
Lecture

Maximum Class Size: 15
Optimum Class Size: 15