This document provides an overview of an introductory creative writing course at the University of Vermont. The course aims to develop student creativity through writing poems, short stories, and essays. Students will study elements of each genre, read examples, and write original works to receive peer and instructor feedback. Key course activities include weekly discussions, readings, listening to lectures, writing and posting assignments, and critiquing classmates' works. Students will explore techniques for poetry such as imagery, meter, and forms, as well as elements of short stories like structure, characterization, and dialogue.

1. ENGS 053:
INTRODUCTION TO
CREATIVE WRITING
University of Vermont

2. The Creative Writing Cycle
Weekly
Discussions
Reading
Critiquing
Poems, Short
Classmates
Stories &
Works
Essays
Writing &
Posting Listening
Poems, Short Audio
Stories & Lectures
Essays

3. Purpose of the Course
 To develop student creativity and fluency in writing
three genres of literary art: poetry, short fiction, and
creative non-fiction
 To learn how to write by carefully studying formal
elements of each genre and by reading model
examples in the course textbook and online sources
 To compose original poems, short stories, and essays
for peer review and instructor evaluation
 To learn by giving feedback to peers

4. What Do I Need
 Creative Writing: Four Genres in Brief by
David Starkey (Textbook)
 Online access to UVM Blackboard
 Web Browser (Mozilla, Explorer, Safari) &
Adobe Reader
 Media Player (Realplayer, Windows Media
Player, iTunes, Quicktime)
 Blackboard IM (Chat tool)

5. What Will I Be Doing - 1
 Participating in weekly discussions

6. What Will I Be Doing - 2
 Completing assigned readings

7. What Will I Be Doing - 3
 Listening to online instructor notes/lectures in
audio & video format

8. What Will I Be Doing - 4
 Writing and posting original poems, short
stories, and essays

9. What Will I Be Doing - 5
 Critiquing peer writings

10. What Will I Be Doing – 6
 Completing online quizzes

11. The Creative Writing Cycle
Weekly
Discussions
Reading
Critiquing
Poems, Short
Classmates
Stories &
Works
Essays
Writing &
Posting Listening
Poems, Short Audio
Stories & Lectures
Essays

12. Techniques: Poetry & Prose
Poetry
Imagery &
Lines & Meter & Diction &
Figurative Poetic Forms
Stanzas Rhythm Syntax
Language
Short Short Story
Structure &
Characterization Dialogue Scene-Setting Point of View
Design