Writing Workshop

Calendar and Assignments

SES #	TOPICS	ASSIGNMENTS	KEY DATES
1	Welcome / Introduction Review syllabus Learn names Close reading Start “Why I Write”	Read “Dumpster Diving” by Lars Eighner Write “Why I Write” (one page) (PDF)
2	Essay Discuss reading Writing exercise (labels, love/hate) Start two page expert essay	Read “The Inheritance of Tools” (PDF) by Scott Russell Sanders Write expert essay (two pages) (PDF)	“Why I Write” essay due
3	Essay (cont.) Discuss reading Writing exercise (found objects)	Prepare for workshops 1 and 2 Continue with expert essay.
4	Poetic prose Workshops 1 and 2 Read and discuss “Boys”  by Rick Moody (PDF)	Prepare for workshops 3 and 4 Write poetic prose (two pages) (PDF)	Expert essay due
5	Poetic prose (cont.) Workshops 3 and 4 Read and discuss “Fallen Bird” by Jessica Young (PDF)	Prepare for workshops 5 and 6 Continue with poetic prose
6	Prose-Like poetry Workshop 5 and 6 Read and discuss “The River Merchant’s Wife: A Letter”  by Ezra Pound Read and discuss “AIDS”  by Bob Hicok	Prepare for workshops 7 and 8 Write prose-like poem	Poetic prose due
7	Prose-Like poetry (cont.) Workshop 7 and 8 Read and discuss “I Know a Man”  by Robert Creeley Frost updated	Prepare for workshops 9-12 Continue prose-like poem
8	Microfiction, OuLiPo Six word memoirs Workshops 9-12 Read and discuss Edson microfictions Read and discuss “An Act of Love” by Selby and “Sunset: Lake Erie”  by Miriam Kotzin OuLiPo	Write microfiction (PDF)	Prose-like poetry due
9	Microfiction, OuLiPo (cont.) Workshop class’ microfiction / OuLiPo	Read “Lost in the Kitchen” by Dave Barry (PDF)	Microfiction due
10	Satire Read and discuss “Dating Your Mom”  by Ian Frazier	Write a satire essay (PDF)
11	Contributors’ note Discuss contributors’ notes Write your own contributor notes Share/workshop	Revision	Satire due
12	Goodbye / Closing Reflect on the term Hand out anthologies		Revision due