Nancy A. Henry, J.D.

CREATIVE WRITING
nancy.henry@maine.edu
nahenry61@yahoo.com UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE
ENG 201F 0007 T, TH 10:15-11:30 LAW 506
Office hours by
appointment. ENG 201F 0014 T, TH 1:15-2:30 PAYS 43

Fall 2008

COURSE DESCRIPTION: "Introduction to Creative Writing" is designed to acquaint students

with the basic principles and techniques involved in writing poetry and fiction. The course
usually includes students with a range of experience, from beginners to long-term writers.
In order to make use of each other's experience and to practice "reading as writers," the
class is conducted partly as a workshop. Course content consists of reading and writing
assignments, plus class discussion of student writing. We will spend the first half the
semester on poetry, then switch to fiction.

ASSIGNMENTS: Weekly readings and exercises will be assigned throughout the semester.
These will include both creative exercises and critical writing. Each week students will turn
in, electronically, one poetry or fiction exercise and a one page response to the reading
assignment. These will not be graded, but will be recorded and are necessary to
successfully complete the course. At the end of the poetry section, students will turn in 4
revised poems for a grade. In addition to weekly fiction exercises, students will submit for a
grade one substantial short story (10 to 12 pages), which will be work-shopped by the
class, then revised for a final grade. This revised story and a collection of poems will be
submitted in a final e-portfolio at the end of the term; the portfolio will also include two of
the student's best pieces of critical writing.
 We are cups, constantly and quietly
being filled. The trick is, knowing how
to tip ourselves over and let the
beautiful stuff out.
--Ray Bradbury
Student writing for workshops should be
submitted one class period before the
work is to be discussed. Late
submission or absence on the day the
work is to be critiqued--especially the
long story--will result in forfeiture of
Practice yourself, for
heaven’s sake, in little workshop and be reflected in the
things; thence proceed to
greater. student's grade. Individual students
--Epictetus are responsible for making copies of
workshop writing and exercises for
ABSENCES: Students have two "no
class members.
questions asked" absences but these
must not be taken on the days your
REQUIRED TEXTS:
work is scheduled for critique. I
recommend saving these days for
The Art of the Short Story
illness or important appointments, as Dana Gioia, R. S. Gwynn
additional "no-penalty" days will not Staying Alive: Real Poems for Unreal
be given. A pattern of absences will Times
Neil Astley, ed.
affect the final grade.
On Writing
GRADES: Final grade will be based Stephen King
on a combination of: class
The Poet's Companion
participation, weekly assignment Addonizio and Laux
completion, and the final portfolio.

Creative
Writing
Syllabus

Fall
Semester
2008

ASSIGNMENTS: assignments will be updated on a weekly basis.

WEEK# TUESDAY THURSDAY

1) 9/2, 9/4 Introductions Informal self-introduction essay
2) 9/9, 9/11 Can Poetry Matter? Journal--response to Can Poetry Matter?
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12
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Student responsibilities:
¬ Be on time for class and remain for the entire class period.
¬ Turn off your cell phones; laptops and other electronic devices must remain closed and
put away unless I specifically instruct you to use them.
¬ Competently use Internet resources. Portions of this course will be held in the “virtual”
classroom space on our Blackboard space, and students may be referenced to online
text, audio, or video files. The Blackboard component of the course is NOT optional
and will count for contact time just like regular classroom time. In the event of closure
of the campus due to weather issues, please check for assignments in the virtual space.
¬ Obtain a USM email account and check it, and Blackboard, daily.
¬ If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please contact
the Office of Academic Support for Students with Disabilities, 237 Luther Bonney Hall, 780-
4706.
¬ Students will do their own work. Passing off the words or ideas of another as your own is
grounds for failing the assignment and perhaps the course, depending on the degree of
deceit involved in the offense. We will review standards for academic honesty and
definitions of plagiarism in class. Plagiarism may be grounds for expulsion from the
University. Please see me if you have any questions at all about proper citations or
appropriate use of sources.

Eighty percent of success is

showing up.
Woody Allen

Creative
Writing
Syllabus

Fall
Semester
2008