WRI 3201 (LUOA), WRIT 201 (LUO): Introduction to Creative Writing

11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 05/08/2025

Course Description

Rationale

The student will study the literary components, complexity, and craft of creative writing, including how to successfully explicate selected poems, creative nonfiction essays, and short fiction. The student will also learn how to create original works of publishable quality. The course allows the student to develop creative writing skills to impact the world for Christ.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussion

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a 250-word thread in response to the provided prompt for the discussion. The student will also respond to at least 2 peers to foster an engaging discourse relating to the topic. Replies should be 200 words each. Use MLA format to provide in-text citations and a citation list at the end of the posts. (CLO: A, F; FSLO: CIL A, B, E)

Original Work of Short-Short Fiction: Outline Assignment

The student will create an outline of a short-short fiction story, including the elements of theme, characters, conflict, and plot development. Standard MLA format for outline is required. (CLO: B, D, F; FSLO: CIL B)

Analysis of Reading Assignments (3)

The student will analyze various creative aspects of the readings assigned throughout the course in the three genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The student will analyze the craft used by the author, and in the analysis, the student should convey an understanding of the story’s or poem’s content and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the author’s message and skill. As a result of this exercise, the student will observe writing strategies and techniques that he/she may end up adopting and using in his/her own creative pieces. For each piece, the student will write a 300-400-word analysis in MLA format, citing all sources, including the Bible. (CLO: B, C; FSLO: CIL A, B, C, D)

Writing Workshop: Original Work of Short-Short Fiction: Rough Draft and Peer Review Assignment

The student will write a 300–500-word short-short fiction piece in MLA format based on the elements of fiction described in the reading. The student will write a rough draft based on the outline and submit it for professor and peer feedback. In the peer review, the student will provide substantive line-by-line feedback to at least 2 classmates regarding the original compositions and write a 100-word summation of his/her assessment of each peer’s rough draft. (CLO: B, D, E, F; FSLO: CIL B, C)

Original Work of Creative Nonfiction: Outline Assignment

The student will create an outline of a creative nonfiction story, including the elements of theme, characters, conflict, and plot development. (CLO: D, E, F; FSLO: CIL B, C)

Writing Workshop: Original Work of Creative Nonfiction: Rough Draft and Peer Review Assignment

The student will write a 500–750-word creative nonfiction piece based on the elements of nonfiction described in the reading. The student will write a rough draft based on the outline and submit it for professor and peer feedback. For the peer review, the student will provide substantive feedback to at least 2 classmates regarding the original compositions and write a 100-word minimum summation assessment of the strong and weak components of each of the classmate’s rough drafts. (CLO: B, D, E, F; FSLO: CIL B, C)

Writing Workshop: Original Work of Poetry: Rough Draft and Peer Review Assignment

After completing the assigned readings, the student will write 1 original work of poetry based on the elements of poetry described in the reading. The student will write an original poem. The student will also complete a set of questions detailing his/her reasoning for writing the poem in a 150-word analysis in MLA format. Then, the student will submit it for professor and peer feedback. In the peer review, the student will provide substantive feedback to at least 2 classmates regarding their original compositions in a 100-word summation analysis of each piece. (CLO: B, D, E, F; FSLO: CIL B, C)

Writing Portfolio Assignment

The student will create a final draft of his/her Short-Short Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, and Poetry pieces. In addition to the final drafts, the student will write a paragraph for each assignment reflecting on the changes he/she made or didn’t make in the revision process and how he/she improved upon his/her original drafts through the process. The provided Writing Portfolio Assignment Template should be used to complete this assignment and current MLA format should be used.