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What are the most common genres of written self-expression? Get an overview of poetry, short stories, personal essays, novels and more in this exploratory course. In a safe and supportive learning environment, you will have an opportunity to experiment and discover your writing potential. You also learn the history of genres and their conventions, not to follow in predecessors' footsteps, but to become aware of what others have done so that you and the class can build on it.
In class assignments, emphasis will be placed on the shorter forms to maximize the number of genres in which you will be able to experiment.
Course Outline
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Course Objectives
- Share a structural overview of several different forms of written self-expression, and write in each of those forms
- Develop the discipline of regular writing in order to understand the importance of revision and develop your ability to revise
- Apply feedback on your work and assess your own strengths and areas of interest
- Offer constructive advice on the work of others
What You Learn
- The personal essay
- Voice and humor
- Poetry and revision
- Preparation for writing short stories
- The short story
- Book reviews
- The novel
- On being a writer
How You Learn
- The Purdue Online Writing Lab
- Discussion assignments
- Written assignments, including essays, poems, short short stories, book reviews and novel synopses
- Reading assignments