Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon successful completion students should be able to:

o Read and analyze established authors in order to become familiar with the elements of fiction (eg. plot, dialogue, character, point of view).
o Write original fiction that effectively uses the elements of the craft.
o Read peer fiction closely and analytically in order to contribute to peer workshops in a thoughtful and critical manner.

This course can include lecture, but will likely consist mostly of round-table workshops in which student work will be evaluated by the entire class. Students will come prepared to critique the work by responding to it during this discussion, as well as submitting written responses. Students may also read a variety of published fiction and essays on producing fiction. Students may also submit work for consideration in established publications. The instructor should spend approximately an hour of conference with each student outside of class.

 Assessment may include informal responses to study questions; evaluation of small- and full-group discussion; in-class and out-of-class writing; fiction pieces, as well as other types of more informal writing; presentation by individuals and groups; short and long quizzes; close reading exercises using support/evidence; writing exercises which include evaluation of various interpretations of a text and their relative validity. Both instructor and peer evaluation will be incorporated in the assessment process.
May include student critiques of student work, evaluations of in-class and out-of-class writing, analysis of close reading exercises, instructor conferences, and written instructor responses. Attendance policies may vary with the instructor: students missing a week's worth of class may not expect an A; those who miss two weeks may not pass the class. 

• • Plot

  • Character

  • Scene

  • Narrative voice

  • Point of view

  • First person

  • Second person

  • Third person

  • Dialogue

  • Conflict

  • Setting

  • Tone/Language

  • Text

  • Subtext

  • Figurative Language

  • Genres

  • Pacing

  • Revision

  • Purpose

  • Protagonist

  • Imagery

  • Theme

  • Writing as a process

  • Close reading

  • Analysis

  • Denouement

  • Contextualization

  • Flashback

  • Irony

  • Allusion

  • Artistic conventions

  • Multiple Interpretations

  • Symbol

  • Audience

  Instructors new to the course should contact the campus creative writing chair, creative writing sub-SAC chair, Comp/Lit SAC chair, faculty department chair, or administrative support person for further information.