The University of Akron/ Spring 2016
3300: 378—001--Advanced Fiction Writing
Olin 362/ MWF 1:10-2:00


Professor: Robert Pope, rpope@uakron.edu

 

Writing Schedule

Wednesday, January 20: Introduction, Prompt #1--3rd person limited, encountering the grotesque, 6-12 pages; Examples: HERE! [Go to first bogus date January 3rd, 2012]
Friday, 22: Marvin Brown, "Canine"

Monday, 25: Jamie Thompson, "The Extraordinary in the Ordinary"
Wednesday, 27: Third person limited and the grotesque
Friday, 29: James Winter: Guest writer

Monday, February 1: Polishing and Editing Your Manuscript
Wednesday, 3: Lisa Sarkis: Guest Writer
Friday, 5: 1st Person Narration

Monday, 8: Workshop Series #1: Stories due by deadline/ 8-13 pages
Wednesday, 10: Workshop
Friday, 12: Workshop

Monday, 15: Workshop
Wednesday, 17: Prompt #2--1st Person/ Workshop
Friday, 19: Workshop

Monday, 22: Final 3rd Person Limited Workshop
Wednesday, 24: Workshop
Friday, 26: Workshop

Monday, 29:  
Wednesday, March 2: Workshop
Friday, 4: Workshop

Monday, 7: Workshop
Wednesday, 9: Workshop
Friday, 11: Prompt #3

Monday, 14: Workshop
Wednesday, 16: Workshop
Friday, 18: Workshop

Spring Break

Monday, 28: Deadline sign-up, Werewolf Story
Wednesday, 30: Workshop: Christine Morris Story
Friday, April 1: Workshop

Monday, 4: Workshop 
Wednesday, 6: Workshop
Friday, 8: Workshop

Monday, 11: Workshop
Wednesday, 13: Workshop
Friday, 15: Workshop

Monday, 18: Workshop
Wednesday, 20: Workshop
Friday, 22: Workshop

Monday, 25: Workshop
Wednesday, 27: Workshop
Friday, 29: Workshop

Monday, May, 2: Workshop
Wednesday, 4: Workshop
Friday, 6: Conclusions

 

Requirements and Grading

Requirements: Attendance, Full Participation, Three Manuscripts

Grading: One grade given at the conclusion of the course.

• If you complete all work on time with a willingness of spirit and enter into discussion, you have become eligible for an A; turn in an excellent manuscript and/or contribute effectively in class and you cinch it.
• A grade of B will indicate a decent degree of dedication and good and well-prepared assignments and manuscripts; this is the grade you may assume you will get if you fulfill the goals of the class.
• A grade of C means you have not given sufficient attention to your writing, your manuscripts, and/or have not been an active member of the class, with the likelihood of absences and tardiness.
• A grade of D means you have missed assignments, classes, and yet have trudged through the course plan like the “Volga Boatman.”
• A grade of F means you should have dropped the class early on in the semester. I expect none of these at all, and expect C and D grades to be rare.
• The grade of A means you have satisfied the requirements for the B, and reflects exceptional work in one or two manuscripts and/or class commentary.
• As I will give you only one grade at the end of the class, if you are ever in danger of falling below a B I will sound the alert as quickly as possible so you may correct course.
• Feel free, at any time, to ask if you are doing all right by sending an email to rpope@uakron.edu. I will give you your grade to date and a brief evaluation of your work in the course.

Learning Outcomes

 Students will:

• create three stories originating in prompts;
• evaluate their own writing in relation to the fiction of fellow students;
• analyze stories of visitors and fellow students to gain insight into the writing of fiction;
• apply knowledge gained through the process of workshop in their own writing;
• understand the place of point-of-view in fiction writing;
• remember the elements of fiction and creation of fiction.