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Advanced Fiction Writing, English 310 Spring, 2007, Professor Patricia O’Donnell 10:30-12:00, Monday and Wednesday, Roberts 105 Office: 135 Roberts, ext. 7419 Office hours: Mon/Wed 9:00-10:30, and noon-1:00 Texts: STORIES by Anton Chekhov and THE VINTAGE BOOK OF AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY SHORT STORIES, Edited by Tobias Wolff Welcome to Advanced Fiction. This class provides you an opportunity to deepen and extend the skills you learned in Fiction Writing, English 210. We will use two textbooks, both of them new to this course. Since this is primarily a course in writing the short story, we will begin the semester with a close observation of one of the indisputable masters of the short story, Anton Chekhov. Throughout the semester we will read a variety of stories from the Vintage anthology. Both these books will provide you with reading experiences beyond the class to last through many a cold winter, or warm summer, night. As we read and discuss stories in the anthologies, we will be working on “story starts:” writing exercises that may serve as inlets to stories. Some of these will be done in class, and will not be collected; others will be done outside of class, and will be collected and returned with a grade. You will complete two short stories, which may spring from any of these exercises (or from elsewhere), and you will revise both of the drafts after workshopping by the entire class. In order to have time to discuss all of these stories as a group, our discussions will have to be focused and energetic, with just one half hour maximum per story. Classes will be cancelled for two weeks during the semester, during which times I will meet with each of you in two individual conferences. Grades will be given to short writing assignments and final story revisions, in the following proportions: three short writing assignments, 10% each; two one-page assignments posted on blackboard, 5% each; revised stories, 20% each. Class participation, which includes attendance and preparation as well as active participation, will account for the remaining 20% of the final grade. If you are absent from class, conferences or required readings more than twice, this portion of the grade will be lowered. A new policy this semester is that late work will not be accepted. If you are absent because of illness on the date an assignment is due, you will have one grace day to turn it in. In addition to attending class and conferences (and the Symposium presentation), you will be required to attend three readings given by visiting writers. The best opportunity for this is the Visiting Writers Series; other opportunities are readings given during the day by visiting writers, or readings presented by students (such as the BFA Senior reading in May). A one-page commentary, posted on blackboard and ungraded, will be required as proof of attendance. Our plans may be subject to change, but unless I tell you otherwise, use the following schedule as your guide. I look forward to reading your work. SCHEDULE January 17, Wednesday: Syllabus. In-class writing and discussion. Assignment for Monday: photocopied essay by Francine Prose, plus “Gusev” by Chekhov. Additional assignment given in class. January 22, Monday: Discuss Prose essay and “Gusev.” Assignment for Wednesday: Read Chekhov’s “The Black Monk,” “Small Fry” and “Sleepy.” January 24, Wednesday: Discuss assigned stories. Writing assignment for Monday will be given in class. Also read “Gooseberries” for Monday (Chekhov). January 29, Monday: Share writing assignments. For Wednesday, read stories from the Vintage anthology: “River of Names,” “The Darling,” and Chekhov’s “The Darling” (from the internet, http://www.classicreader.com/read.php/sid.6/bookid.2046/). January 31, Wednesday: Discuss assigned stories. For Monday complete a writing assignment, which will be given in class, and read from the Vintage book “Cathedral.” February 5, Monday: Share writing assignments. For Wednesday, read assigned stories from the Vintage anthology: “Tall Tales from the Mekong Delta;” “The Fat Girl,” and “Chopin in Winter.” February 7, Wednesday: Discuss assigned stories. Assignment for Monday is to read “Rock Springs,” and finish the complete draft of your first story. February 12, Monday: First complete draft due. Discuss assigned story, and complete in-class writing exercises. For Wednesday read stories from Vintage anthology: “Testimony of Pilot,” “Emergency,” and “The First Day.” February 14, Wednesday: Discuss reading assignment, pass out stories to read over break. After reading each story, write comments and sign your name. BREAK February 26, Monday through March 12, Monday: We will workshop three stories each day. Assignment for Wed, March 14: Finish second story draft. Read story from Vintage anthology: “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” March 14, Wednesday: Second story draft due. In-class exercises and discussion of reading assignment. Sign up for conferences. March 19, Monday: No class, conferences. This week choose one story from either book to write a one-page commentary on, which will be posted in a forum on blackboard. Choose a story you admire, and write about what you can learn from it. Pick up photocopied stories during conferences. March 21, Wednesday: No class, conferences. Assignment is to read and comment on stories as before, signing your name. March 26, Monday through April 9, Monday: Workshop three stories each day. On April 9 sign up for conferences. April 11, Wednesday: Symposium, no class. Attend Symposium presentation. BREAK April 23, Monday: No class, conferences. As before, choose one story to write a one-page commentary on, which you will post on blackboard. Also read stories for Monday assigned from the Vintage anthology: “Cody’s Story,” “Home,” and “Lawns.” April 25, Wednesday: No class, conferences. April 30, Monday: Discuss reading assignment. May 2, Wednesday: Last class. Revision of second story due. enjoy summer |