Writing Short Fiction
COL 201
Fall 2010
| Section:
01
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| This course may be repeated for credit. |
| Certificates: Writing |
This is a rigorous and intensive fiction-writing course that focuses on character, plot and suspense. Students will analyze and apply narrative techniques of masters of the short story such as Bernard Malamud, Flannery O'Connor, Anton Chekov, Ernest Hemingway, Julio Cortazar, Gabriel Garcia Márquez, Patricia Highsmith, Alice Munro, William Faulkner, E. P. Jones, Richard Bausch, and J. D. Salinger. Specifically, students will study story structure and its relation to suspense; various ways to plot and pace stories; and the use of expanded psychological time, compressed-time narratives, and other methods for creating narrative tension in short fiction. Students also will learn methods of constructing vivid primary and secondary characters; practice writing layered dialogues; and explore problems related to perspective and psychic distance in third- and first-person narratives. Each student will write a series of short fiction assignments and a 30-page story employing narrative techniques learned in class. Students will share their fiction in workshops that focus on the development of editorial skills; each student will complete written critiques of his/her peers' stories for workshops. COL 201 will count as an elective workshop course for students completing Wesleyan's writing certificate program (as currently being developed). Paula Sharp is the author of four novels and a collection of short stories. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Writing
Reading & Writing
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA COL |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (ENGL)(ENGL-Creative W)(ENGL-Literature) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
see description
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Examinations and Assignments:
This course has demanding reading and writing requirements. Students will read approximately 200 pages of fiction per week, and will write between 40-50 pages of short fiction during the semester. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Email professor Paula Sharp (psharp@wesleyan.edu) to request instructions on how to apply for the course. All applicants must fill out a short application form and submit a writing sample of 5-20 pages. Professor Sharp will be considering applications from March through September; early applicants have a better chance of admission. Preference is given to COL majors and upperclassmen, but students majoring in other areas are encouraged to apply and often admitted. On rare occasions, freshmen may be accepted. A prior fiction class is recommended but not required; students may take COL 201 as an entry-level course with permission of the instructor. |
| Instructor(s): Sharp,Paula Times: .....F. 01:10PM-04:00PM; Location: BTFDA414; |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 12 | Permission of instructor will be granted during the drop/add period. Students must submit either a ranked or unranked drop/add request for this course. |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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