English 251: Introduction to Creative Writing
Instructor: Bryan Fry
Office: Avery 371
Office Hours: MWF 10:00-11:00 a.m.
AND Friday 2:00-3:00 p.m. (4th floor of the CUB)

Final Requirements

Everyone will include a portfolio with 15 pages of work from at least two of the following genres: Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction. There are no other guidelines but keep in mind your portfolio represents your labor this semester so choose the work that best represents you as a writer in this class.

In addition to your creative work, you have the choice of 1) participating in the open mic on April 27th from 5-7 in CUE 317 at the end of the semester or 2) submitting a 3-5 page cover letter with your portfolio. Details for the open mic and cover letter are provided below.


Portflio Requirements

Place portfolio materials in a slim folder with your name, section, and term on the front and hand it into Avery 370 on Friday, May 4th by 5:00 pm. 

 

Open Mic Requirements (Option 1)

You can Sign up to perform an individual or group poem at the end of the semester (date and time of the performance TBA). I'm sure there will be some form of extra credit if you choose to perform both an individual and a group poem, but I don't know what that looks like yet. Talk to me.

 
Cover Letter (Option 2)

Include your cover letter in your final portfolio (see portfolio requirements above). There is no standard format for a portfolio cover letter, but you should include your name, class, and due date in the upper left-hand corner. You will be expected to discuss the following in 3-5 pages.

    • A description of yourself as a writer of craft and your development over the semester--what did you learn about yourself? What are your strong areas? What are your weak areas?
    • Address your improvement as a creative writer based on what you have read this semester. You should incorporate at least two passages from your readings.
    • For each genre, address your comprehension of craft in at least two of the following areas:
Poetry: Subject, Imagery, Sound, Diction, Form (line breaks, meter, stanzas, structure)
Fiction: Subject, Description, Diction, Scene, Sentences, Tension, Point of View, Character, Dialogue
Nonfiction: Subject, Description, Diction, Scene, Sentences, Character, Dialogue

    • Explain what you learned about creative writing from the perspective of multicultural narratives this semester. What did you learn? You can use individual poets or foundations like Cave Canem to support your answer.

Be Sure to incorporate passages from your readings and/or your own writing in every paragraph following the introduction of your letter.

 
Grade

The final is worth 25% of your entire grade in this class.



   

Back to Schedule