CRWR 200 004

Winter 2014
Timothy Taylor
Class Syllabus
&
Assignment Guidelines

Intro to Creative Writing

WINTER 2013
CRWR 200
Instructor: Timothy Taylor
Tu/Th 12:30 to 2:00 PM
Room: GEOG 100
Course Outline, Evaluation Criteria and Assignment Guidelines
Course summary:
Hello! Welcome to Creative Writing 200. This course will combine lectures, in-class
writing and guest speaker presentations. We will cover a range of creative writing
genres with a focus on the craft, the technique and structures of specific genres of
writing. Through in class quizzes and at-home writing assignments (submitted to
the Connect course page), students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their
understanding of the ideas and techniques presented in lectures.
How we teach creative writing:
We are an experience-led, participation-driven learning project. We are practical
not theoretical. We bring you the best possible people to lecture on each genre,
people who have experience and publication history. We ask a lot of questions and
thrive on class discussion.
Photocopying fee and class materials:
There is no textbook for this course, but there will be a series of printed class
handouts given out by me and by some of the guest lecturers in class. We will be
collecting a fee of $80 in exchange for all printed class materials you will receive
this term. This is as opposed to having you purchase them through the bookstore,
which is considerably more expensive and less flexible for us. Please pay one of
the TAs as soon as possible. Cash is preferred, as it results in less paperwork for
our administrator, but cheques may be made payable to UBC Creative Writing.
If you are experiencing financial difficulty see me and Ill find some way to get you
the class materials.
What to bring to class:
As you will be expected to participate in in-class writing assignments, please bring
either a pen and paper or notebook computer to class. There are a limited number
of outlets in our classroom, so please make sure your computer is charged.
Office hours and communications:

Office hours will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00AM to 12:00 noon in
Mary Bollard Hall, rooms 119 and 121. The TAs can also be reached by email at:
crwr200taylor@ubccreativewriting.ca
Your TA team is: Claire Matthews, Matthew Walsh, Kelly Thompson, Gail Hudnick and
Jen Neale.
UBC Connect is the primary interface for this class. There are two forums set up for
your use on this courses Connect page. One is monitored by TAs and questions
may be posted there. The other is unmoderated and for your use in asking
questions amongst yourselves.
Class schedule:
Below is the lecture schedule. Note the dates of quizzes and assignment due
dates. After each lecture, the Prezi slide presentation for that lecture will be made
available on the course Connect page.
Quizzes are conducted in class on paper and graded same day. Marks are posted to
the Connect page. Assignments are submitted via Connect. Please note that the
course Connect page will not accept assignment submissions any time after the
lecture start time i.e. 12:30PM of the due date (more on assignments below).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

07
09
14
16
21
23
28

Jan Introduction
Jan Fiction: Introduction to Narrative
Jan Fiction: Elements and Structure
Jan Fiction: Approaches and Techniques
Jan Fiction: Point of View and Narrative Positioning
Jan Songwriting
(Tariq Hussein)
Jan Poetry
(Sheryda Warrener)

8. 30 Jan Poetry
(Sheryda Warrener)
9. 04 Feb
Poetry
(Claire
Matthews/Matthew Walsh)
10.06 Feb
Quiz #1
Assignment #1 due
11.11 Feb
Graphic Forms
(Taylor
Brown-Evans)
12.13 Feb
Graphic Forms
(Jen Neale)
13.18 Feb
READING WEEK NO CLASSES
14.20 Feb
READING WEEK NO CLASSES
15.25 Feb
Research
16.27 Feb
New Media
(Kelly Thompson)
17.04 Mar
Writing for Comedic Forms
(Charles
Demers)
18.06 Mar
Writing for Children
Assignment #2 due
(Alison Acheson)
19.11 Mar
Crime Fiction
(Matthew Walsh)
20.13 Mar
Nonfiction: Introduction to Forms

21.18 Mar
Nonfiction: Industry Overview
(with John Burns,
Vancouver Magazine)
22.20 Mar
Nonfiction: Freelance Magazine Writing 101
23.25 Mar
Matthews)
24.27 Mar
25.01 Apr
26.03 Apr
27.08 Apr

Nonfiction: Memoire
Stage
Screenplay
Unscheduled Lecture
Quiz #2

(Claire

(Gail Hudnick)
Assignment #3 due

Attendance:
This is not a course where you are likely to do well if you dont attend the class.
Although lecture Prezis are made available via connect, these are of a highly
summary nature. If you feel you will be unable to attend a significant number of
classes I urge you come and speak with me.
Grading:
The course will be graded as follows:
2 in class quizzes, each worth 30% (a total of 60%)
3 writing assignments worth a total of 40%

Quizzes:
Quizzes cover in class lecture material and guest speaker and TA presentations.
Come to class. Listen. Study the presented material. Youll be well prepared.
Note that if you cant make a quiz date for any legitimate reason, you are required
to present documentation from the appropriate authority (doctor, UBC Access and
Diversity, Arts Advising, Funeral Home, TA etc.). Provided we have not yet handed
back marked quizzes to the class, we will arrange for you to take an alternate quiz
during TA office hours.
Assignment Guidelines:
You have three writing assignments due this term, worth a total of 40% of your final
grade. The assignments are graded out of 20 according to the assignment rubric (all
rubrics are attached). For those who wish to be graded off the rubric, you do so at
your own risk and discretion. Please indicate this at the top of your submitted
assignment.

Content:
The assignment is five pages that best demonstrate your strongest creative
writing. You have complete freedom in selecting genres for each submission
from any of the genres we cover in this class: short stories, novels, creative
nonfiction, poetry, graphic work, screenplay, stage play, childrens literature
etc. Do note however that if you are submitting part of a longer work, it is
ideal to choose an excerpt that is comprehensible as a standalone piece i.e. it
has a beginning, middle and and end.
Academic essays and other non-creative writing is not acceptable.
Formatting:
You will be uploading documents from your own computer to the Connect
page when you submit. Format your documents as follows:
All assignments: Five pages long, 12 point Times New Roman or Calibri font.
Name on first page. Pages paginated upper or lower left of each
page. If your pieces are shorter than five pages, select a
number of them to complete a submission. If your work is
longer than five pages, edit to length or choose an excerpt with
the guidelines above in mind.
Fiction and prose: double spaced.
Poetry: single spaced with one poem per page.
Screen and Stage: established formatting for these forms.
Due dates:
See the course schedule above. Nota Bene: assignments are due at the start
of class on the due date via Connect. The system will not accept late
assignments. And late assignments will earn a grade of zero.
If you are sick the day the assignment is due, please submit your assignment
at the next class you attend, with a doctors note excusing you from class on
the due date and every subsequent class date you have missed.
If you have a good reason not to submit the assignment on time, please
obtain a letter of excuse from the proper authority (doctor, UBC Access and
Diversity, Arts Advising, Funeral Home, TA etc.) and submit that with your late
assignment.

Plagiarism:
The universitys policy on plagiarism can be found here:

http://help.library.ubc.ca/planning-your-research/academic-integrityplagiarism/
While it is not necessary to list sources for your creative work, we do expect your
work to be original, fuelled by your own ideas and created solely by you. Rules
regarding plagiarism also include self-plagiarism, which is to say, you may not take
creative material from one assignment and recycle it for another. Each assignment
should present new material for consideration.

Assignment Grading Rubrics:

Grading Rubric: Fiction
Element

Character

Theme

Narrative
Structure

Point of View

Style &
Substance

Character is
engaging,
identifiable &
believable;
implied
through
gesture,
natural
dialogue;
The story is
clearly about
something and
does a good
job engaging
the reader with
that idea

Character(s)
are welldeveloped, but
motivations are
unclear; some
issues with
exposition over
implied details

Character(s)
are stock
types, need
further
development;
inconsistent
motivation/det
ail

Your characters
wants/needs are
unclear.

Sort of about
something, not
always entirely
clear but
overall a sense
of theme at
play

There is no
discernable theme
or theme does not
relate to story

Excellent
tension &
movement
created
through use of
rising action;
story unfolds
as character
makes choices;
the plot is
interesting, and
something
happens

Engaging plot,
but possibility
for more
tension; some
aspects of plot
are unclear

Hard to tell
what the
theme is. At
times there is a
hint of theme,
but no way to
tell what the
central idea is
Underdevelope
d tension; lack
of conflict or
focus of plot

Best possible
choice for point
of view;
narration is
clear and
natural;
perspective
adds to story &
is reliable
Assured voice;
excellent use of
story-telling
techniques;
meaningful &

Point of view is
considered, but
shifts at times,
causing
confusion

Missed
opportunity for
development of
narrative/point
of view

Point of view is
inconsistent.

Thoughtful use
of story-telling;
intention is
clear, but could
be stylistically

Intention/mean
ing is unclear;
voice is
imitative rather
than

Ideas lack
development; voice
is predictable; lack
of personal style

Story lacks a
narrative structure.

engaging idea

developed

individualistic

Grading Rubric: Creative Nonfiction

Element

Literary
Devices

Exploration
Of Subject

Truth &
Insight

Conscience &
Sensitivity

Style &
Substance

Unexpected,
concrete language
evokes meaning;
details assembled
in a clear & logical
progression;
employment of
literary devices
adds depth to
piece
Interesting subject;
story is inherent in
character
development;
thoughtful
attention paid to
subject

Effort taken to
employ some
literary devices
to counter fact,
but language
runs dry in
places; some
abstractions
used over
concrete details
Interesting
subject, but
issues of
clarity/
intention arise;
opportunity for
more
thoughtful,
revealing detail
Piece strives for
truth, but at
times details
are not as
compelling/
revealing as
they could be

Fact-based
reportage rather
than story-telling;
details are
obvious or underdeveloped

Clich language;
lack of storytelling devices
employed

Underdeveloped
thought behind
exploration
hinders emotional
resonance

Lack of
interesting
subject; no
revealing
discoveries

Missed
opportunity to
develop potential
layers of
meaning/insight

Little to no
insight; truth is
over-simplified
or compromised
for story

Evident
empathy, but
attitude toward
subject is
inconsistent

Subject is
satirized or
narration implies
judgement;
intentions are
unclear
Intention/meaning
is unclear; voice is
imitative rather
than
individualistic

Lack of respect
for subject is
revealed
through attitude
of narrator

Insightful,
unexpected details
evoke meaning;
authentic use of
recollected
dialogue; the piece
holds universal
qualities
Sensitivity toward
subject; consistent
attitude; clear
intentions and
obvious empathy
Assured voice;
excellent use of
literary tools &
techniques; clear
argument/intention
; engaging story

Thoughtful use
of story-telling;
issues with
voice;
intentions are
clear, but could
be stylistically
developed

Ideas lack
development;
voice is
predictable; lack
of personal style

Grading Rubric: Poetry

Element

Diction

Image

Syntax & Line

Sound

Style &
Substance

Unexpected,
concrete language
evokes meaning;
word choice suits
tone & content;
varied syllabics
add to rhythm of
poem

Effort taken to
consider the
poems
vocabulary, but
word choice is
somewhat
expected; some
abstractions
used over
concrete details
Simile &
metaphor
create meaning,
but somewhat
forced; issues of
clarity/
intention
Line breaks are
considered, but
cause some
issues of clarity;
missed
opportunity for
double meaning
through choice
of breaks/turns

Generalizations &
abstractions
chosen over
specificity;
interesting words
chosen for the
sake of being
interesting

Clichd
language; lack
of consideration
toward word
choice

Abstractions used
over image;
underdeveloped
thought behind
images hinders
emotional
resonance
Underdeveloped
tension between
line & syntax;
misuse of
enjambment; lack
of understanding
of potential layers
of meaning

Failure to
employ poetic
techniques of
image-making;
images are too
literal or clich

Sound is
considered, but
varies; reliance
on image over
possibility of
sound to carry
meaning

Missed
opportunity for
development of
sound; could
poem it up! in
terms of word
choice to lend
vibrancy to
poems rhythm
Intention/meaning
is unclear; voice is
imitative rather
than
individualistic;
subject needs to
be reconsidered

Absence of
rhythm,
repetition,
rhmye or meter;
musicality falls
flat

Evocative details;
meaning is
resonant in
metaphor/simile;
objects
emblematic of
mood/ emotion
Line used as
occasion for
possibility;
considered use of
enjambment &
line-ending;
tension created
through successful
turns
Assonance &
alliteration
employed with
success; varied
use of rhythm,
repetition, rhyme;
bold & evocative
sounds hold
meaning
Assured voice;
excellent use of
poetic tools &
techniques; clear &
argument/intention
; engaging idea

Thoughtful use
of poetic tools;
issues with
voice; poems
meaning is
clear, but could
be stylistically
developed

Little thought
put into line
breaks or
enjambment; no
tension in
poems
movement

Ideas & personal

style require
more
development;
voice is
predictable

Grading Rubric: Stage

Element

You have
created unique,
nuanced
characters an
actor would
love to play.
Motivations are
clear and
engaging.
The dialogue is
inventive,
rhythmic, true
to the
characters.

Character(s)
are welldeveloped, but
motivations are
unclear; some
issues with
exposition over
implied details.

Character(s) are
stock types, need
further
development;
inconsistent
motivation/detail
.

Your characters
wants/needs are
unclear.

The dialogue
flows smoothly,
maintains
dramatic
tension, and
moves the
story forward.

The dialogue
flows smoothly,
but there are a
few issues with
pacing or diction.

The dialogue
sounds
awkward/out of
character, is
poorly paced, and
does not tell the
story.

Plot

The plot is
inventive,
compelling,
complex, yet
clear.

Plot is
engaging,
clearly
expressed, and
well structured,
with a clear
dramatic
conflict.

The plot is
engaging, but
some aspects are
unclear. There is
a conflict, but it
does not occur
until later in the
play.

The plot does not

make sense, the
conflict is unclear,
or the play is
missing a
beginning, middle
or end.

Style/Theatric
ality

Your piece is
original and
creative, with a
clear
awareness of
the
requirements
for stage.

The elements
of your play are
working well
together,
including
setting and
time. Staging
has been
considered.

There are original

elements to your
play, but further
development is
required. There is
little awareness
of staging
requirements.

Your play is not

particularly
original, or there
are elements
which are
completely out of
place. It reads
more like a novel
or screenplay.

The script is
formatted using
industry
standards and
is extremely
clear, with no
typos.

The script is
well formatted
and clear, with
a few
exceptions.

The script makes

repeated errors
in accepted
formatting
practice.

The script is not

formatted using
industry
standards.

Character

Dialogue

Script
Formatting

Grading Rubric: Screen

Element

Character

Setting

Script
Formatting

Point of View

Use of visuals

Character is
engaging,
identifiable &
believable;
implied through
gesture, natural
dialogue;

Character(s)
are welldeveloped, but
motivations are
unclear; some
issues with
exposition over
implied details
Unclear how
setting relates
to mood/tone of
piece; sense of
place could be
further
developed

Character(s)
are stock types,
need further
development;
inconsistent
motivation/deta
il

Your characters
wants/needs are
unclear.

Lack of setting
hinders
emotional
resonance;
choice of
setting is too
literal or
obvious

There is no
discernable setting
or setting does not
relate to story

The script is
well formatted
and clear with a
few exceptions

The script is not

formatted using
industry standards

Point of view is
considered, but
shifts at times,
causing
confusion

The script
makes
repeated errors
in accepted
formatting
practice
Missed
opportunity for
development of
narrative/point
of view

Thoughtful use
of visuals;
intention is
clear, but could
be stylistically
developed

Visuals are
weak and
somewhat
inconsequential
to the story and
characters

No real attempt to
tell a story using a
visual medium has
been made

Evocative
sense of place;
setting is
emblematic of
mood/ emotion
of piece;
tangential
relation to
image
The script is
formatted using
industry
standards and
extremely clear
Best possible
choice for point
of view;
narration is
clear and
natural;
perspective
adds to story &
is reliable
The story uses
the visual
medium as a
coherent and
vital part of the
story

Point of view is
inconsistent.

Grading Rubric: Screen

Narrative &
o Storytelling is compelling and clear
Storytelling
o Story offers interesting change and reflection
o Characters and dialogue seem genuine and
authentic and/or original and threedimensional
o Both Characters and Setting feel developed
and whole
o Story feels complete
Techniques
o MOMENT: Demonstrates that specific
in Graphic
moments have been selected for their ability
Storytelling
to best tell the story. Shows consideration for
:
how panel transitions affect the overall work.
Visual
o IMAGE: Consideration has been given to the
Elements
types of images and graphic styles used and
what they convey to the reader
o WORD: Thought has been put into use of text.
The work avoids unnecessary redundancies
and combines text and image in ways that
are effective and interesting.
Techniques
o FRAME: Shows considerations for overall
in Graphic
composition of the frame. Use of the
Storytelling
camera to help influence meaning and
:
mood.
Compositio
o FLOW: Pacing works in conjunction with the
nal
story, not against it. Considerations have
Elements
been made for page breaks and layout.
Readers eye is drawn across the page in a
way that is not unintentionally confusing.
Script &
o Conforms to formatting standards, uses
Formatting
proper terminology & meets page
requirements
o Provides clear, unambiguous descriptions of
the images and action in each panel
Thumbnails
o Rough thumbnails are included with the piece
o Thumbnails demonstrate considerable
planning in terms of both narrative and visual
elements
o Thumbs include blocking for caption boxes
and word balloons (though not necessarily
the actual text)
Originality
o Work is surprising, original and creative
& Creativity
o Imaginative use of story and graphic
elements
o Familiar situations approached in fresh ways

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