English 205

Important Course Information

 

Welcome to Creative Writing!  This course is constructed on the principle that reading and responding to good literature is vital to learning how to write good literature.  For this reason, we will be analyzing a variety of poems, memoirs, short stories, and plays, then using exercises and workshop techniques to produce our own creative works.  Here are some important points you will want to consider:

 

1.  Be sure you understand the commitment necessary to succeed in an online course.  I suggest taking the self-assessment quiz on the Distance Education website.  If you decide you have the computer expertise and discipline for online study, you should purchase your books: Three Genres: The Writing of Fiction/Literary Nonfiction, Poetry, and Drama, 8th Ed., by Stephen Minot, and Literature: A Pocket Anthology, 3rd Ed., edited by R. S. Gwynn.  You can purchase these texts at the CCP Bookstore, or at the Spring Garden Bookshop across from the college on 17th St. because their prices are cheaper.  You may also order them online from Amazon, but allow at least two weeks for shipping.

 

2.  Each week’s work is divided into sections: Textual Readings, Materials, Assignments, and Forums.  You should complete the Readings (found in your textbooks) before accessing the Materials, and then progress to completing the Assignments and Forums.  Write your assignments on your own computer drive in either RFT (Rich Text Format) or Word before uploading the files as attachments in the Assignment box.  (Making the file an attachment will insure that the formatting remains as you want it to be.)  Don’t forget to select SEND TO INSTRUCTOR in the selection box and to click POST IT.  If you neglect either of these steps, the work will not be sent.  See the Submitting Assignments handout in the Materials section for more information.

 

3.  Assignments and Forum responses are due by 10 p.m. each Sunday to earn full credit for the week.  Late assignments and forum posts will be marked down one letter grade for each day late.  ASSIGNMENTS AND FORUM POSTS THAT ARE OVER A WEEK LATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED, AND WILL AUTOMATICALLY EARN AN “F” GRADE.  Do not wait until Sunday to begin your work!  You should expect to spend from six to ten hours a week on this course.  Pace yourself.

 

4.  Attendance is important!  Each student is expected to log into the Forum several times a week to remain current with the class discussions.  IF YOU DO NOT LOG INTO THE COURSE FOR TWO WEEKS, YOU WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE CLASS ROLL, as per the college’s attendance policy.

 

5.  Plagiarism is never an option.  Please review the Purdue University website on plagiarism, found under the Links tab.  Plagiarism can result in a failing grade for this course.  When you use the words of others, whether quoting or paraphrasing, you must use parenthetical citations!

 

6.  If you have a computer problem, please access a student computer at one of the CCP campuses, or use a friend or relative’s computer.  Do not allow yourself to fall behind because of technical difficulties.

 

7.  I will try to respond to your submissions within a week.  I will also maintain a presence in the Forum discussions, and am always available via email at drussell@ccp.edu. Please let me know if you have questions or are experiencing difficulties of any kind.  COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY TO THIS COURSE!  I want to make this a pleasant and successful class for everyone involved. 

 

Thank you, and enjoy!