z Schedule details will be filled in as we progress through the semester. Pay close attention and check it regularly. Don’t print out. You will receive an email (or more) each week with Weeks 1-2 Self-Intros and Thinking about the Creative Process Weeks 2-3 What Is a Story Anyway? Fundamental Elements Weeks 4-5 Finding the Story Plot & Locating the Story in a Sequence of Events Weeks 6-7 Who Dat? Characterization & Inventing Characters Weeks 8-9 The Plot Thickens Weeks 10-11 Worldbuilding Weeks 12-13 Up to You, Babe 323 Semester Overview Modules
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z
Schedule details will be filled in as we progress through the semester. Pay close attention and check it regularly. Don’t print out.
You will receive an email (or more) each week with updates and possible changes.
Weeks 1-2 Self-Intros and Thinking about the Creative Process
Weeks 2-3 What Is a Story Anyway? Fundamental Elements
Weeks 4-5 Finding the Story Plot & Locating the Story in a Sequence of Events Weeks 6-7 Who Dat? Characterization & Inventing Characters
Weeks 8-9 The Plot Thickens
Weeks 10-11 Worldbuilding
Weeks 12-13 Up to You, Babe
Weeks 13-16 The Big Show Writing a Full-Length Story
323 Semester Overview
Spring, 2020 Modules
English 323 ONLINE Full ScheduleNichols, Spring 2020
FRI Fri. Jan. 17 Introduction
Do Purchase our textbook. Browse around our whole
Blackboard (Bb) to get familiar with the layout.
Begin In Bb/Pub/Exercises Feel free to get started on Exercise
#1 any time, even though it isn’t due unil Jan. 30. Who Dat? Creating a character.
Read
From main Bb menu: Homepage: read carefully
In Wonderbook Browse “Introduction” ppl xi-xix
Week 2
By Mon. Jan. 20 Module 1
Self-Intros & Thinking About the Creative
Process
ReadIn Wonderbook
Chapter 1: Inspiration and the Creative Life, pp. 1-40 (main text only; you don’t have to read the marginalia, spotlights, essays, and inserts.)
WatchIn Class Library/Power Point Presentations
A Perspectives Wheel (very long; watch just the first few slides, then a bit of the rest)
Complete In Pub/Conversations/ CONVO #1, Introduce Yourself &
2
Discuss the Creative Process. Draw on the reading assignment and Power Point, if you can.
By Wed. Jan. 22
Complete
In Pub/Conversations CONVO #2, Respond to Your
Classmate’s Self-Intro and Views on Creative Writing
In Pub/Triple Shot Coffee Corner Write a couple pieces of Triple Shot
or Sprint Fiction. This is a story written with speed and crazy courage and pure pleasure, and only about 300-700 words (very flexible). Don’t think; don’t stress; just write. Be nuts. If you bump into a great image, phrase, passage of dialogue, philosophical idea, descriptive detail, or character—excellent. Save it in a file or notebook. Just see what happens.
Watch In Bb/Class Library/Videos Video: Cindy Discusses Blackboard &
Course Intro
Keep an eye out all term for Cindy’s emails and flash audio-visual memos.
By Fri. Jan. 24 Module 2
What is a Story Anyway?
Read In Wonderbook Chap. 2, ”The Ecosystem of Story,”
pp. 41-half-way down p. 69 (main text only)
In Class Library/Readings/Fiction “The Poet’s Husband”
Complete In Pub/Conversations/ CONVO #3, Reviewing the Basics of
Fiction: Close Reading of ‘A Poet’s Husband”
As of 1/26, Cindy has some feedback to your posts for this CONVO.
Week 3 By Tues. Jan. 28
3
Complete In Pub/Exercises Exercise #1: Who Dat?
We will come back to this soon; stay tuned.
By Wed. Jan. 29
CompleteIn Pub/Conversations/
CONVO #4, Responding to Classmate's Work with "A Poet's Husband"
ReadIn Pub/Class Library/Student Samples/
What Is a Story Anyway? Description & the Imaginary (from your sprint fiction)
In Pub/Class Library/Written Lectures etc. Giles' Story, Black Dress,
Descriptive Details
WatchIn Class Library/Videos etc.
Cindy Looks at Upcoming Schedule
In Class Library/Videos etc. What Is a Story Anyway? (Cindy
Discusses First Sprint Stories)o Intensity of Descriptive Detail
(vs. Expository Writing)o Creative Nonfiction vs
Fiction, or Memoir vs Fiction
By Fri. Jan. 31
Complete
In Pub/Triple Shot Coffee Corner/Sprint Piece #2
Write a new piece of sprint fiction. Remember: this is first and foremost for fun and practice. Just see what comes. 300-700 words (aproximate). This is also material we will use for a whole lot of thinking about stories. BTW, “sprint” means quick, without reservation, brave. Kind of like flash fiction, but flash fiction’s primary feature is short length; sprint fiction’s primary feature is abandon, confidence, speed, going for what
Stay tuned for possible comments on your last sprint pieces!
4
occurs to you without worry.
Week 4 By Mon. Feb. 3Module 3
Finding the Story
Watch In Class Library/Videos etc. Cindy Looks at Upcoming
Schedule Week of Feb. 3
This module is all about finding a story in any situation & practicing some skills: shaping a plot, providing description, using dialogue.
By Wed. Feb 5
Watch and Do
In Class Library/Power Point Presentations Exercise #2 Finding the Story
You will be using one Power Point presentation for Exercise #2. The Power Point itself gives you full instructions. Just follow it all the way through carefully.
The exercise is in two Parts, both explained step-by-step in the Power Point. You should try to finish Part I today, though you don’t have to post anything yet; just save your document.
You should complete Part II by Mon. the 10th, then turn in the single document to our Exercises forum.
You do need to follow the instructions in the Power Point closely.
By Fri. Feb. 7
Watch and DoIn Class Library/Power Point Presentations
Exercise #2 Finding the Story (same Power Point as for Wed). This contains instructions for Exercise
This is a densely packed, mostly textual Power Point. I am giving you material in a variety of forms to keep things interesting
5
#2.
As for Wed., follow the Power Point closely, and be working on Part II of the Exercise, using the same document you started with.
We actually won’t have dense readings like this one for awhile after Feb 7.
Week 5 By Mon. Feb. 10
Complete
In Pub/Exercises/Exercise #2 Exercise #2 Finding the Story.
Remember that instructions for this are in the Power Point titled, Exercise #2 Finding the Story.
Your document containing Parts I and II is due today.
It is fully ok to work a bit ahead and post your materials to the Pub before due dates!
If you do choose to work ahead, however, be aware that some items on the schedule may not yet be posted in Bb, but will be soon.
By Fri. Feb. 14
Watch
In Class Library/Videos etc. Multi-Subject Video:
o Brief Semester Review, Jan. 13-Wed. Feb. 12
o Revisiting Sprint Assignment #2
o Looking at Responses to Exercise #2
Week 6By Mon. Feb. 17
Module 4Who Dat? Thinking about
Character
Watch In Class Library/Power Point Presentations Who Dat? Thinking about Character
through Portraits
By Tues. Feb. 18
Read In Class Library/Fiction Models/ Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral”
By Wed. Feb. 19 EXERCISE #3 DUE
6
Complete In Pub/Exercises/ Exercise #3 “Cathedral”
Worksheet
By Thurs. Feb. 20SP
SPRINT STORY #2 DUE
Complete
In Pub/Triple Shot Coffee Corner/ Sprint Piece #2 Wide-Open Shot
This was originally assigned for Jan. 31st, but few handed it in.
I am extending the deadline to today.
Week 7By Mon. Feb. 24
Module 5The Plot Thickens
EXERCISE #4 DUE
Complete In Pub/Exercises/ Exercise #4 Who Dat? Expanding
Your Invented Character
By Fri. Feb. 28EXERCISE #5 &SPRINT STORY #3 DUE
Complete In Pub/Exercises/ Exercise #5 The Plot Thickens
(Sketching Plots for Your Invented Character)
Read In Wonderbook “Creating Scenes,” pp.154-155. Chap. 6, “Characterization,” pp. 177-
top of 185, and 189-192. Feel free to skim and read everything in the chapter!
Don’t forget that you do not have to read the various marginalia and inserts unless instructed to; just the main text.
Complete In Pub/Triple Shot Coffee Corner/ Sprint Piece #3 The Custom Shot
(Writing an Actual Scene or Story
7
about Your Invented Character)
Week 8 By Mon. March 2
Read
In Class Library/Fiction Models/ Tim O’Brien’s “How to Tell a True
War Story” Dave Eggars, “After I Was Thrown in
the River and Before I Drowned”
ALSOBe sure to have read documents Cindy sent out Feb. 29th (these are all located in our Class Library as well):
LECTURE: “Thinking about Character in Short Stories: Ray Carver’s ‘Cathedral’”
CHART: “Charting the Main Character in Raymond Carver’s ‘Cathedral’”
Image document: Vonnegut’s “The Shape of Stories”
Document: “Kurt Vonnegut’s 8 Rules for Writing Fiction”
By Fri. March 6The exercise due today is somewhat
involved; take your time and let me know if you have questions.
Remember that you have a one-week grace period.
EXERCISE #6 &SPRINT STORY #4 DUE
Complete
In Pub/Exercises/Exercise #6 Working with Character, Plot, and
Scene Using Vonnegut’s Chart and Storyboards
In Pub/Triple Shot Coffee Corner/ Sprint Piece #4 Someone Just
Like You
Week 9By Mon. March 9
Module 6Worldbuilding
Where are We?
8
BeginIn Pub/Conversations/
Begin CONVO #5 Worldbuilding and O’Brien’s “How to Tell a True War Story” (spread your responses over the next week; don’t post all of your comments at the beginning, middle, or the end of this period. Watch for more of your classmates’ posts, and finish by Sat. March 14)
By Wed. March 11
Read
In Wonderbook Chap. 6, “Worldbuilding,” pp. 211-
244. Remember you want to read the main text only; you don’t have to read the marginalia, spotlights, essays, and inserts. HOWEVER, in this chapter I would like you to read “What Everyone Knows,” pp. 223-224, a short essay set off from the main text.
Pay special attention to o “Characteristics of a Well-
Realized Setting,” pp. 220-232;
o “Dangers and Opportunities,” pp. 233-244 (read the last few paragraphs carefully).
By Fri. March 13 SPRINT STORY #5 DUE
CompleteIn Pub/Triple Shot Coffee Corner/
Sprint Piece #5 Spiff Up Setting in One of Your Already-Completed Sprint Stories (or write a new story)
FinishIn Pub/Conversations
CONVO #5 (you should be working on this from Mon. March 6 through today)
March 16-20Spring Break!
9
MIDTERM COURSE EVAL
Evaluation Form CLICK HERE. Send to [email protected] by the Mon. after break.
Week 10 Mon. March 23
Begin
In Pub/Conversations Begin CONVO #6 (spread your
responses over the next week; don’t post all of your comments at the beginning or the end of this period. Watch for more of your classmates’ posts, and finish by Fri. March 27)
Learn Bb Collaborate. Read this document for
instructions. In Bb/Triple-Shot Coffee Corner
Sprint Story #6
Fri. March 27
SPRINT STORY #6DUE
FINAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO CONVO #6 DUE
DOODLE POLL DUE
Complete
Doodle Poll Click here to participate in a poll.
This will help us find a time when most of us can meet for a video conference.
Remember that this week has primarily been about worldbuilding: creating settings—from the realist to the fantastical—and the unique ideological realities
In Pub/Triple Shot Coffee Corner Sprint Piece #6 Alternative
Worlds
Remember that this week has primarily been about worldbuilding: creating settings—from the realist to the fantastical—and the unique ideological realities characters inhabit.
characters inhabit.
Week 11
Mon. March 30-Fri. April 10
Module 7Next 2 Weeks: Up to You,
Babe!
A do-it-yourself pair of weeks selecting your own readings, learning about your choice of skills and issues, and practicing your choice of sprint story.
Watch for coming lectures—written and recorded—on your sprint stories.
By Fri. April 3 EXERCISE #7 DUE
Complete In Bb/Pub/Exercises/ Exercise #7
This is your task for the week of March 30.
Week 12By Fri. April 10
COLLABORATE MEETINGPOSTPONED TO APRIL 17
Complete
In Bb/Pub/Exercises/ Exercise #8 Up to You, Babe, Part II:
repeat what you did previous week, but this time using outside sources
As you did the previous week, you will work on an exercise that allows for independent choices and topics.
Week 13
Mon. April 13 HolidayModule 8
The Big ShowWriting a good, full-length story that
shows off what you’ve learned
Begin! Get started on story project. CLICK HERE FOR CALENDAR