ENGLISH 344
Writing Creative Prose
Please note: this is archived course information from 2017 for ENGLISH 344.
Description
This is an art and craft class for students interested in developing skills in writing fiction and creative non-fiction. We’ll study a range of local and international models, write weekly exercises and longer pieces and cultivate the ability to read as a writer rather than as a critic.
In the weekly seminar class we focus on key aspects of technique, including narrative structure, point of view, character, setting and use of dialogue. We’ll discuss work by a range of contemporary practitioners (available in set texts and a course reader) to explore the demands and possibilities of creative prose. In weekly workshops, students will workshop drafts of a 3000-word short story and a 2500-word personal essay. In both seminar and workshops, students are expected to be active participants and committed readers.
In the first workshop, you will commit to workshop dates for both pieces of creative work. You will be expected to workshop complete drafts of those pieces, as well as writing responses to the workshop submissions of your peers.
Please note that there is a large amount of reading for this class of both published and peer work. You will spend three hours a week reading published work, as well as two hours a week reading peer stories for workshops. There are weekly quizzes to assess your engagement with the published work, and these count towards your final grade.
Students are expected to have taken English 252 (Introduction to Creative Writing) before applying for a place in this class. It is not possible to take English 252 and 344 simultaneously.
Class limits information for 2017: Enrolment for this class is highly competitive. It is limited to 60 students. Students will be selected on a qualitative assessment of their creative ability and accomplishment, based on either a writing portfolio from English 252 or (for those who have not taken the course) a short story or personal essay of up to 3000 words.
Manuscripts should be double-spaced and in Times New Roman 12-point type, sent as an attached Word document. Poetry, drama or academic essays are not accepted as writing samples.
Email p.morris@auckland.ac.nz between Monday 30 January 2017 and Friday, 3 February at 12 noon. Please write APPLICATION FOR ENGLISH 344 in the subject line, and make sure your name and student number are included in the Word document.
Successful and wait-listed applicants will be notified by Friday 10 February, and given the reading list for the course.
Availability 2017
Semester 1
Lecturer(s)
Lecturer(s) Dr Paula Morris
Assessment
Coursework only: Participation, reading quizzes and two portfolios (exercises and long piece)
Points
ENGLISH 344: 15 points
Prerequisites
60 points passed and approval by Programme Coordinator
Restrictions
ENGLISH 328
