ENGL A122: Novel Writing I
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 12/02/2020 |
| Top Code | 150700 - Creative Writing |
| Units | 4 Total Units |
| Hours | 72 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 72) |
| Total Outside of Class Hours | 0 |
| Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
| Material Fee | No |
| Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
| Repeatable | No |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S),
|
| Associate Arts Local General Education (GE) |
|
| Associate Science Local General Education (GE) |
|
Course Description
A course focusing on student production in the novel form with emphasis on discussion, criticism and evaluation of student novel fragments or completed manuscripts. Designed for beginning, intermediate, and advanced writers seeking practice and guidance in the novel craft. Discussion, criticism, and evaluation of student work. ADVISORY: ENGL C1000 and ENGL A119. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Identify and understand the various conventions of fiction and apply them toward the composition of the opening chapters of a novel-length work.
Course Objectives
- 1. Identify the basic techniques of story telling as derived from a study of modern novels.
- 2. Develop a disciplined writing schedule and a method of composition, which will lead to the successful completion of a book-length manuscript.
- 3. Analyze and assess the work of contemporary writers and critics.
- 4. Write one hundred pages of a typed manuscript (seven pages per week, on a regular schedule) and present fifty pages for evaluation.
- 5. Criticize and discuss manuscripts in a professional manner, backing up opinions with technical and theoretical principles.
- 6. Develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of fiction through analysis of published works and student works in progress.
Lecture Content
Introduction to the techniques of fiction Narrative Point of View Authorial Voice Texture Sensory Detail Plot Character Dialogue Time Compression Scene Panorama Movement and Modulation The Writing Schedule Page Count Hour Count Writers Block Prewriting Revising Editing Getting Started Novel beginnings: approaches to the opening chapters The "Slap-Dash" Outline Traditional Structure (Heros Journey, Bildungsroman, Kunstlerroman, Hourglass, Epistolary, etc.) Methods of Criticism Analysis of structure, style, and theme Applying judgments to published work Applying judgments to studednts work Study of appropriate models Contemporary novels Literary and genre fiction Critical reviews and essays
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
- DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
Instructional Techniques
Lectures focus on creative writing techniques and critical thinking strategies about the craft of writing a novel, providing a variety of methods to enhance style, content, and voice. Lectures also examine the methods of aesthetic evaluation, the process of revision, and the strategies for publication. Demonstration: Models of modern and contemporary novels from various genres (literary classics, historical fiction, detective fiction, romance, science fition, and others) are demonstrated using a variety of methods: books, handouts, overheads, videos, DVDs, audiotapes, and CDs. Discussion: Students participate in regular discussions of reading and writing assignments, workshop group writing assignments, and topics (social, political, cultural, etc.) introduced in class. Technology: Students use the Internet to access information about major writers. Video Presentation: Students view relevant videos of major authors reading and discussing their work. Collaborative Learning: Partners and groups engage in a large amount of discussion of each others written assignments. Conferencing: The instructor is available for individual conferences throughout the semester.
Reading Assignments
Reading: 45 hours (3 hr/week) Students interpret and evaluate published literature, including modern and contemporary novels from various genres (literary classics, historical fiction, detective fiction, romance, science fiction, and others). Students then discuss the literatures relative success according to the application of standards set by class research and discussion. Students learn and demonstrate the ability to apply these critical standards to contemporary novels. Students must also read and critique their colleagues manuscripts each week, in seminar fashion, according to specific protocols, which requires them to analyze, criticize, and assess one anothers manuscripts according to fundamental narrative techniques such as point of view, authorial voice, texture, sensory detail, plot, character, dialogue, time compression, scene, panorama, and movement. Critical thinking is involved in determining technical solutions to problems presented in the in-progress manuscripts.
Writing Assignments
Please note: The writing assignments below are produced out of class. Writing: 90 hours (roughly 6 hrs/week) Students will write a substantial amount of fiction, at least 100 pages, 50 of which will be submitted for workshop. Students will analyze their own work and others work in terms of technical and stylistic sophistication. Students may keep journals on the process of writing and on observations that may be included in their creative work. Students may develop a final portfolio of the best revision of their manuscript.
Out-of-class Assignments
144 hours (roughly 9 hours/week) Reading: 45 hours (3 hr/week); Writing: 90 hours (roughly 6 hrs/week); Research, as appropriate: 10 hrs (1-2 hours/week) Students will write a substantial amount of fiction, at least 100 pages, 50 of which will be submitted for a workshop. Students may keep journals on the process of writing and on observations that may be included in their creative work. Students may develop a final portfolio of the best revision of their manuscript.
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
Analysis of ones own writing, including creating and revising portions of the manuscript, is evaluated in terms of the students ability to critique using specific elements of the novel, such as point of view, authorial voice, texture, sensory detail, plot, character, dialogue, time compression, scene, panorama, and movement. Responses to published works are evaluated on the basis of completion, level of analysis, and summary.
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Substantial writing, including generating at least 100 pages and revising and submitting at least 50, is evaluated in terms of the students ability to complete written responses and manuscripts that are timely, grammatically correct, and relevant to the assignment, and that incorporate the specific advanced elements of the novel discussed in class, such as point of view, authorial voice, texture, sensory detail, plot, character, dialogue, time compression, scene, panorama, and movement. Skills Demonstration: Students are evaluated on their class performances, that is, their reading of their creative work in class. They are also evaluated on their level of critique and comments during group discussions and their analysis of their own work and others work. Portfolio: Students are evaluated on a final portfolio of their best revision of their manuscript on the basis of timely submission, clarity of presentation, and technical merit.
Eligible Disciplines
English: Masters degree in English, literature, comparative literature, or composition OR bachelors degree in any of the above AND masters degree in linguistics, TESL, speech, education with a specialization in reading, creative writing, or journalism OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.
Textbooks Resources
1. Required Gardner, John. On Becoming a Novelist, ed. Gloucester, MA: Peter Smith Pub Inc. , 2001 Rationale: - 2. Required Editors of Writers Digest. Crafting Novels Short Stories: The Complete Guide to Writing Great Fiction, ed. Writers Digest, 2012
Other Resources
1. Instructor-designed materials include writing exercises, critical essays from literary journals, and substantial amounts of published fiction, including modern and contemporary novels from various genres (literary classics, historical fiction, detective fiction, romance, science fiction, and others). The fiction varies according to the instructors preference.