Gillam Webpage Eng1D Sylllabus

ENGLISH 44a/b, CREATIVE WRITING, STORIES. June Gillam, Instructor

Required Texts, Available at Delta College Bookstore:

WRITING FICTION: A Guide to Narrative Craft, 5th ed., by Janet Burroway

A STORY IS A PROMISE, by Bill Johnson

COURSE OBJECTIVES--STUDENTS

develop abilities to understand and write short prose fiction
use writing as a means of self-expression and self-realization
incorporate techniques of fiction into their writing
develop their capacities as appreciative and evaluative readers of fiction
constructively appreciate other students' writing efforts
strive towards professionalism in their own fiction

SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES--STUDENTS

participate in seven (7) online discussions, including story "starts" (maximum 1400 points, total)
complete one (1) personally useful midterm project (maximum 300 points, total)
draft one (1) complete story from story "starts" (maximum 200 points, total)
write eight (8) reader responses to classmates' stories (maximum 400 points, total)
revise the one (1) story draft for your class audience/readers (maximum 300 points, total)
MAXIMUM TOTAL POINTS IN COURSE = 2600
(as of fall 2002, subject to change)

DETAILED SYLLABUS by units, with maximum points

Course Home--Discussion (Orientation)--100 points, max., two (2) postings

1. WritersRus
Discussion--200 points, max., four (4) postings

2. Characters
Discussion--300 points, max., six (6) postings

3. Setting&Point Of View
Discussion--300 points, max., six (6) postings

4. Plot&conflict
Discussion--300 points, max., six (6) postings
Midterm Project--300 points, max.

5. StoryDrafts
Discussion--100 points, max., three (3) postings
DraftsHere--200 points, max.

6. ReaderResponse
RdrGroups--400 points, max., post 8 reader responses

7. Revision
Discussion--100 points, max., three (3) postings
RvsionHere--300 points, max.

8. FinalStory )
Reflections--300 points, max., three (3) postings

Total maximum points possible = 2600
(as of fall 2002, may change later)

GENERAL POLICIES

TIME--Students are expected to be "present" in class three hours per week and spending six hours per week
"out of class" on the course work, in line with general college courses. So, for a 3 unit course, about 9 hours per
week should produce successful progress, on the average. Many students try to do more than is humanly
possible, given the 24 hours per day nature of life. It is recommended that students create a time management
budget to avoid unrealistic goals.

Because we don't get facial expression nor body language clues in this online communication setting, it is
essential to be as POLITE as possible. Please do NOT be sarcastic nor joke around in ways that could be
interpreted as hurtful or bullying of other students. Use your best Netiquette: after you type a posting or response
to a classmate, stop and reread it as if you did not know what you meant. Ask yourself how it could be interpreted
by someone who only has the words to go by. Using "emoticoms" to express feelings or intentions can be a good
idea in the online spaces. Also, address others by name, to help you direct your comments to another living
breathing human rather than perhaps just being words on a screen. I'll be emailing folks who seem to be having
troubles with this, if needed.

GRADING POLICY

Grades are based on completion of quality work turned in before the due date/time.
Students either have work in on time to earn some credit points, up to the maximum depending on
quality/quantity, or they earn zero points credit. WORK POSTED LATE EARNS NO POINTS.

In cases of unexpected health or other unforeseen problems, students need to decide if they can handle a
lowergrade than they originally hoped for, or if they need to drop the class to enroll again in a later semester
when the problem is resolved.

Because the work assigned is PLENTY for students to do and for me to evaluate, there is no make up or extra
credit work.

Points earned for assignments will be posted in the Gradebook (see top of screen), usually within a week of the
due date.

Your Gradebook can NOT be seen by other students, just by yourself and jbug. Sometimes I might leave you
comments in the gradebook--to see them, click on the "live link" points score itself. I record all your points in my
paper gradebook, too, as backup.

The Gradebook keeps a running total of points, but students need to keep track of their own points and
percentages, too, as a cross-check. Be sure to be aware of your grade standing in plenty of time to make
decisions before the deadline to drop with a W grade.

Your final course grade will be by percentage of points available in the class assignments:

90% and up of maximum points possible = A (really superior, dazzling work, a joy to read)
80-89% of maximum points possible = B (good effort, beyond the call of duty)
70-79% of maximum points possible = C (acceptable, average, a day's work for a day's pay)
60-69% of maximum points possible = D (disappointing, skimpy, hard to make sense of)
59% and below will result in a grade of F (off task assigned, very puzzling, or not done at all)

NEEDLESS TO SAY, ALL WORK MUST BE THE STUDENT'S OWN WRITING. PLAGIARISM (posting the writing of others as your
own) will result in failing the assignment. When in doubt, email the jbug...

PLEASE EMAIL JUNE GILLAM IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS:

jgillam@deltacollege.edu

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ENGLISH 44a/b, CREATIVE WRITING, STORIES. June Gillam, Instructor Required Texts, Available at Delta College Bookstore: WRITING FICTION: A Guide to Narrative Craft, 5th ed., by Janet Burroway A STORY IS A PROMISE, by Bill Johnson COURSE OBJECTIVES--STUDENTS develop abilities to understand and write short prose fiction use writing as a means of self-expression and self-realization incorporate techniques of fiction into their writing develop their capacities as appreciative and evaluative readers of fiction constructively appreciate other students' writing efforts strive towards professionalism in their own fiction SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES--STUDENTS participate in seven (7) online discussions, including story "starts" (maximum 1400 points, total) complete one (1) personally useful midterm project (maximum 300 points, total) draft one (1) complete story from story "starts" (maximum 200 points, total) write eight (8) reader responses to classmates' stories (maximum 400 points, total) revise the one (1) story draft for your class audience/readers (maximum 300 points, total) MAXIMUM TOTAL POINTS IN COURSE = 2600 (as of fall 2002, subject to change) DETAILED SYLLABUS by units, with maximum points Course Home--Discussion (Orientation)--100 points, max., two (2) postings 1. WritersRus Discussion--200 points, max., four (4) postings 2. Characters Discussion--300 points, max., six (6) postings 3. Setting&Point Of View Discussion--300 points, max., six (6) postings 4. Plot&conflict Discussion--300 points, max., six (6) postings Midterm Project--300 points, max. 5. StoryDrafts Discussion--100 points, max., three (3) postings DraftsHere--200 points, max. 6. ReaderResponse RdrGroups--400 points, max., post 8 reader responses 7. Revision Discussion--100 points, max., three (3) postings RvsionHere--300 points, max. 8. FinalStory ) Reflections--300 points, max., three (3) postings Total maximum points possible = 2600 (as of fall 2002, may change later) GENERAL POLICIES TIME--Students are expected to be "present" in class three hours per week and spending six hours per week "out of class" on the course work, in line with general college courses. So, for a 3 unit course, about 9 hours per week should produce successful progress, on the average. Many students try to do more than is humanly possible, given the 24 hours per day nature of life. It is recommended that students create a time management budget to avoid unrealistic goals. Because we don't get facial expression nor body language clues in this online communication setting, it is essential to be as POLITE as possible. Please do NOT be sarcastic nor joke around in ways that could be interpreted as hurtful or bullying of other students. Use your best Netiquette: after you type a posting or response to a classmate, stop and reread it as if you did not know what you meant. Ask yourself how it could be interpreted by someone who only has the words to go by. Using "emoticoms" to express feelings or intentions can be a good idea in the online spaces. Also, address others by name, to help you direct your comments to another living breathing human rather than perhaps just being words on a screen. I'll be emailing folks who seem to be having troubles with this, if needed. GRADING POLICY Grades are based on completion of quality work turned in before the due date/time. Students either have work in on time to earn some credit points, up to the maximum depending on quality/quantity, or they earn zero points credit. WORK POSTED LATE EARNS NO POINTS. In cases of unexpected health or other unforeseen problems, students need to decide if they can handle a lowergrade than they originally hoped for, or if they need to drop the class to enroll again in a later semester when the problem is resolved. Because the work assigned is PLENTY for students to do and for me to evaluate, there is no make up or extra credit work. Points earned for assignments will be posted in the Gradebook (see top of screen), usually within a week of the due date. Your Gradebook can NOT be seen by other students, just by yourself and jbug. Sometimes I might leave you comments in the gradebook--to see them, click on the "live link" points score itself. I record all your points in my paper gradebook, too, as backup. The Gradebook keeps a running total of points, but students need to keep track of their own points and percentages, too, as a cross-check. Be sure to be aware of your grade standing in plenty of time to make decisions before the deadline to drop with a W grade. Your final course grade will be by percentage of points available in the class assignments: 90% and up of maximum points possible = A (really superior, dazzling work, a joy to read) 80-89% of maximum points possible = B (good effort, beyond the call of duty) 70-79% of maximum points possible = C (acceptable, average, a day's work for a day's pay) 60-69% of maximum points possible = D (disappointing, skimpy, hard to make sense of) 59% and below will result in a grade of F (off task assigned, very puzzling, or not done at all) NEEDLESS TO SAY, ALL WORK MUST BE THE STUDENT'S OWN WRITING. PLAGIARISM (posting the writing of others as your own) will result in failing the assignment. When in doubt, email the jbug... PLEASE EMAIL JUNE GILLAM IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS: jgillam@deltacollege.edu <--Back to Home