ENG 412: Creative Nonfiction

Assignments

Required Work : This course requires you to not only practice your writing, but also to practice your reading and revising as well. The work of this course will include the creation of polished original Creative Nonfiction, as well as writing exercises, peer workshop responses, and a publication packet

 

Reading - Worth 30% of your grade. For 12 weeks you will be assigned about a chapter of reading. You will then post a 300 word response to the reading and a 150 word response to another student. These word counts are guidelines for you. I don't actually count words, but I will expect to see substance, and you will not receive credit for anemic or thoughtless responses. Please view this forum as an ongoing class conversation.

Reading Responses are graded as a percentage on a pass/fail basis, out of 24 total posts.

24 100% A
23 96% A
22 92% A-
21 88% B
20 83% B-
19 79% C+
18 75% C
17 71% C-
16 67% D+
15 63% D
14 58% E

Workshop - Workshop Responses are worth 30% of your grade. This course is a workshop where students turn in work and receive constructive criticism from other students and the professor. Students then use that feedback to revise their portfolio. Therefore, it is imperative that peers give thoughtful, careful, and helpful comments.

Unlike face to face workshop classes, where students bring in work each week but only get feedback a few times a semester, this online section allows us to get online feedback for every piece every time. To accomplish this we use a Group Workshop method. You will be assigned to a group of 4 students. Work is due at noon on Sunday. Responses to your 3 group members are due at midnight on Sunday.

  • I grade all of the work and all of the comments every week.
  • I respond to work every other week.
  • Consider your workshop responses a weekly "quiz" where you show that you understand basic concepts of writing. You will do this by making careful and intelligent suggestions for revision. If your responses fail to use writing terms or make suggestions for writing techniques, you will not receive credit.
  • Students should follow the guidelines in our "Workshopping" video and handout. Responses that fail to adhere to those guidelines will not receive credit.
  • Workshop Responses are graded as a percentage on a pass/fail basis, out of 48 total posts. Note that one of the points you receive each week is for the work you post, and the other three points are for responses.
48
100%
A
47
98%
A
46
96%
A
45
94%
A
44
92%
A-
43
90%
A-
42
88%
B+
41
85%
B
40
83%
B
39
81%
B-
38
79%
C+
37
77%
C+
36
75%
C
35
73%
C
34
71%
C-

Portfolio - The Final Portfolio is worth 40% of your grade.

Read the webpage "Publishing Creative Nonfiction"

Using techniques discussed on that page, do internet or library research to profile 2 magazines that would potentially be interested in your writing style. In your profile discuss the following details:

Assemble a packet that includes the 2 journal profiles, a cover letter for each journal, and your 2 polished essays.

Patricia Colleen Murphy, MFA* Arizona State University * Bell Hall Room M3 * 7001 E. Williams Field Road * Mesa AZ 85212-6032