Creative Writing Program
2009-10 Course Descriptions
The University of Oregon Course Catalog and the current Class Schedule are both available online.
Fall 2009 | Winter 2010 | Spring 2010
| FALL 2009 |
CRWR 199: Introduction to Creative Writing
Instructor: Bradley
CRWR 199 introduces undergraduates to the techniques and theories creative writers use to communicate observations, experiences and discoveries to a general audience. Lectures will present classic problems and explicate the solutions exemplified in a reading list of short literary texts. Recitation sections will provide opportunities for interactive discussion. Written creative assignments will require students to approach these same problems using specified forms infused with their own chosen content. Student writing will be supported by regular individual conferences. Grading will be based primarily on a portfolio of the written assignments, which will be revised and submitted at the close of term. There are no prerequisites.
CRWR 230: Introduction to Poetry Writing
Instructors: Ogletree, Seyran, Swafford
Introduction to forms and techniques of writing poetry. Prerequisite: WR 121 or equivalent.
CRWR 240: Introduction to Fiction Writing
Instructors: Barnard, Hulse, Willey
Introduction to forms and techniques of writing fiction. Prerequisite: WR 121 or equivalent.
CRWR 330: Intermediate Poetry Writing
Instructor: Whitenack
T. S. Eliot once wrote that “No verse is free for the man who wants to do a good job,” implying that even poems without a strict formal character require a degree of ordering for maximum effect. Yet, as contemporary poets, we often take the notion of "free verse" as permission to think less critically about how we shape a poem and use that shape to communicate with others. It does not help that many poets (even talented ones) are unclear about what “free verse” is. The usual definition—that free verse is not rhymed or metered—does little to help us understand it better or use it to the fullest in our work. In this workshop, we will read and write both formal and free verse poetry to discover ways successful writers, especially those writing in free verse, have patterned their work to make it richer and more powerful. Specifically, we will discuss practical matters such as sound, rhythm, syntax, line length, and stanza length as tools we may use to unlock greater texture and deeper meaning in revision. This course has a strong writing emphasis. Prerequisite: CRWR 230 or equivalent with a grade of mid-B or better. R – May be repeated when content changes
CRWR 340: Intermediate Fiction Writing
Instructor: Drummond
Intermediate-level study of fiction writing. Prerequisite: CRWR 240 or 244 or equivalent with a grade of mid-B or better. R – May be repeated when content changes
CRWR 417: Kidd Tutorial I
Instructors: Akdeniz, Brown, Grönlund, Gurman, Willougby, Zinke
This is Section 1 of a three part intensive, yearlong study of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. This includes development, completion, and presentation of an individual line-of-inquiry project. Admission is by application only. Prerequisite: CRWR 330 or 336 or 340 with a grade of mid-B or better.
CRWR 607: Poetry Seminar – Poetic Genres
Instructor: Hongo
This is a craft seminar in which we’ll study various poetic genres as they have been practiced traditionally up to contemporary times. Genres to be considered may include the pastoral, eclogue, epistle, plain ode, prospect ode, dramatic monologue, elegy, ballad, collage, instructional, and itinerary. Poets we’ll read may include Milton, Pope, Neruda, Theocritus, Virgil, Coleridge, Keats, Bryant, Yeats, Robinson, Browning, Williams, Bishop, Hecht, James Wright, Hugo, Walcott, Charles Wright, Hass, Pinsky, Levis, Ai, Hirsch, Schnackenberg, and Digges. Readings, lecture, some discussion, and weekly writing assignments.
CRWR 607: Fiction Seminar – Deconstructing Style
Intsructor: Emmons
This seminar will examine the “micro” elements of fiction–words and sentences–in an effort to understand what constitutes a writer’s style. Each week a short excerpt will be analyzed, focusing on questions of diction, syntax, etymology, rhetoric, rhythm, punctuation, etc. Some writing exercises and memorization will be required. The goal of the course is to help students think more deeply about the writing choices they make. Prerequisite: instructor’s consent.
CRWR 635: MFA Poetry Workshop – Passionate Syntax
Intsructor: Doran
Late in his life, W. B. Yeats wrote, “I never revise now except in the interests of a more passionate syntax.” Passionate syntax is the most beautiful and useful term I know in poetry. Attentiveness to the syntax of our poems can make them more muscular, vibrant, and compelling for both eye and ear. Writing prompts and readings in the workshop will be various, but the discussion, even if sotto voce, will often figure on unearthing a keener and more nuanced handling of syntax. Open only to current MFA students in poetry.
CRWR 645: MFA Fiction Workshop
Instructor: Bradley
Concentration on student writing in a workshop setting. Open only to MFA students admitted to the Creative Writing Program in Fiction.
| WINTER 2010 |
CRWR 199: Introduction to Creative Writing
Instructor: Bradley
CRWR 199 introduces undergraduates to the techniques and theories creative writers use to communicate observations, experiences and discoveries to a general audience. Lectures will present classic problems and explicate the solutions exemplified in a reading list of short literary texts. Recitation sections will provide opportunities for interactive discussion. Written creative assignments will require students to approach these same problems using specified forms infused with their own chosen content. Student writing will be supported by regular individual conferences. Grading will be based primarily on a portfolio of the written assignments, which will be revised and submitted at the close of term. There are no prerequisites.
CRWR 230: Introduction to Poetry Writing
Instructors: Ogletree, Syran, Swafford
Introduction to forms and techniques of writing poetry. Prerequisite: WR 121 or equivalent.
CRWR 240: Introduction to Fiction Writing
Instructors: Barnard, Hulse, Willey
Introduction to forms and techniques of writing fiction. Prerequisite: WR 121 or equivalent.
CRWR 330: Intermediate Poetry Writing
Instructor: Whitenack
T. S. Eliot once wrote that “No verse is free for the man who wants to do a good job,” implying that even poems without a strict formal character require a degree of ordering for maximum effect. Yet, as contemporary poets, we often take the notion of "free verse" as permission to think less critically about how we shape a poem and use that shape to communicate with others. It does not help that many poets (even talented ones) are unclear about what “free verse” is. The usual definition—that free verse is not rhymed or metered—does little to help us understand it better or use it to the fullest in our work. In this workshop, we will read and write both formal and free verse poetry to discover ways successful writers, especially those writing in free verse, have patterned their work to make it richer and more powerful. Specifically, we will discuss practical matters such as sound, rhythm, syntax, line length, and stanza length as tools we may use to unlock greater texture and deeper meaning in revision. This course has a strong writing emphasis. Prerequisite: CRWR 230 or equivalent with a grade of mid-B or better. R – May be repeated when content changes
CRWR 340: Intermediate Fiction Writing
Instructor: Emmons
Intermediate-level study of fiction writing. Prerequisites: CRWR 240 or 244 or equivalent with a grade of mid-B or better. R - May be repeated when content changes
CRWR 418: Kidd Tutorial II
Instructors: Akdeniz, Brown, Grönlund, Gurman, Willoughby, Zinke
This is Section 2 of a three part intensive, yearlong study of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. This includes development, completion, and presentation of an individual line-of-inquiry project. Admission is by application only. Prerequisite: CRWR 417.
CRWR 435/535: Advanced Poetry Writing – Syntax and the Sensual Line
Instructor: Doran
This is an advanced workshop in poetry with a particular emphasis on poetic syntax. In the compressed lyricism of poetry, syntax is a rich and crucial topic. Attentiveness to the syntax of our poems can make them more muscular, vibrant, and compelling. For this workshop, we will read several essays and write poems (based on prompts) that aim to help us create lush, varied, and sensual movement in our poems. Late in his life, W. B. Yeats wrote, “I never revise now except in the interests of a more passionate syntax.” We will attempt to write with a more passionate syntax. Prerequisite: CRWR 330 or equivalent with a grade of mid-B or better. Open to graduate students not admitted to creative writing MFA program. R – May be repeated when content changes
CRWR 635: MFA Poetry Workshop
Instructor: Hongo
Concentration on student writing in a workshop setting. Open only to MFA students admitted to the Creative Writing Program in Poetry.
CRWR 645: MFA Fiction Workshop
Instructor: Drummond
Concentration on student writing in a workshop setting. Open only to MFA students admitted to the Creative Writing Program in Fiction.
| SPRING 2010 |
CRWR 199: Introduction to Creative Writing
Instructor: Bradley
CRWR 199 introduces undergraduates to the techniques and theories creative writers use to communicate observations, experiences and discoveries to a general audience. Lectures will present classic problems and explicate the solutions exemplified in a reading list of short literary texts. Recitation sections will provide opportunities for interactive discussion. Written creative assignments will require students to approach these same problems using specified forms infused with their own chosen content. Student writing will be supported by regular individual conferences. Grading will be based primarily on a portfolio of the written assignments, which will be revised and submitted at the close of term. There are no prerequisites.
CRWR 230: Introduction to Poetry Writing
Instructors: Ogletree, Syran, Swafford
Introduction to forms and techniques of writing poetry. Prerequisite: WR 121 or equivalent.
CRWR 240: Introduction to Fiction Writing
Instructors: Barnard, Hulse, Willey
Introduction to forms and techniques of writing fiction. Prerequisite: WR 121 or equivalent.
CRWR 330: Intermediate Poetry Writing
Instructor: Whitenack
T. S. Eliot once wrote that “No verse is free for the man who wants to do a good job,” implying that even poems without a strict formal character require a degree of ordering for maximum effect. Yet, as contemporary poets, we often take the notion of "free verse" as permission to think less critically about how we shape a poem and use that shape to communicate with others. It does not help that many poets (even talented ones) are unclear about what “free verse” is. The usual definition—that free verse is not rhymed or metered—does little to help us understand it better or use it to the fullest in our work. In this workshop, we will read and write both formal and free verse poetry to discover ways successful writers, especially those writing in free verse, have patterned their work to make it richer and more powerful. Specifically, we will discuss practical matters such as sound, rhythm, syntax, line length, and stanza length as tools we may use to unlock greater texture and deeper meaning in revision. This course has a strong writing emphasis. Prerequisite: CRWR 230 or equivalent with a grade of mid-B or better. R – May be repeated when content changes
CRWR 445/545: Advanced Fiction Writing
Instructor: Drummond
Advanced workshop in the writing of fiction. Open to graduate students not admitted to creative writing MFA program. Prerequisite: CRWR 340 or equivalent with a grade of mid-B or better. R – May be repeated when content changes
CRWR 419: Kidd Tutorial III
Instructors: Akdeniz, Brown, Grönlund, Gurman, Willoughby, Zinke
This is the final section of a three part intensive, yearlong study of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. This includes development, completion, and presentation of an individual line-of-inquiry project. Admission is by application only. Prerequisite: CRWR 418.
CRWR 607: Poetry Seminar – The Modern Poet-Critic
Instructor: Doran
A curious animal exists. This course centers on the American and British poet-critic of the twentieth century. Rather, on the writings of a dozen or so renowned poets, as they turn their inventive minds to the critical essay and the act of writing about poetry. Readings in the course will fall into several groupings: the traditional critical essay, the essay of reevaluation, the book review, the literary craft essay, and a few allied forms (introductions and prefaces, letters, lectures and perhaps a Nobel speech). Poet-critics on the syllabus may include T. S. Eliot, J. P. Blackmur, Yvor Winters, Randall Jarrell, Wallace Stevens, Robert Frost, John Berryman, Geoffrey Hill, Seamus Heaney, Larry Levis, William Logan, Sean O’Brien, Louise Gluck, Ellen Bryant-Voigt, Laura Kasischke, Peter Campion, David Wheatley, Meghan O’Rourke, Adam Kirsch. Each student will write a piece of poetry criticism or a craft essay of significant length as part of the course.
CRWR 607: Fiction Seminar – Excursion in the Fourth Genre
Instructor: Bradley
This course invites MFA students in fiction and poetry, and graduate students in other disciplines, to consider craft and ethical issues in the emerging "fourth genre" of Creative Nonfiction. Initially, we will attempt to define the genre through reading and discussion of several short theoretical texts and brief readings from Tennyson, Whitman and Twain. We will then move on to close reading of exemplar texts composed by writers whose oeuvre includes both creative nonfiction and works in a traditional genre: Herman Melville, (fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction) Stephen Crane (fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction) and Joan Didion (fiction, drama, creative nonfiction.) During the term students will create a lengthy composite essay based on their responses to theoretical and exemplar texts and emergent issues that figure in their own writing, with salient examples from the latter.
CRWR 635: MFA Poetry Workshop
Instructor: Hongo
Concentration on student writing in a workshop setting. Open only to MFA students admitted to the Creative Writing Program in Poetry.
CRWR 645: MFA Fiction Workshop
Instructor: Havazelet
Concentration on student writing in a workshop setting. Open only to MFA students admitted to the Creative Writing Program in Fiction.