500

A wide-ranging course to develop techniques which increase clarity, interest, cogency, and coherence. Exercises in and out of class lead students to grace and style, sometimes through techniques of style analysis and modeling. Writer flexibility is encouraged by creating a diversity of tasks and imaginary audiences. Basic plagiarism and copyright guidelines are reviewed. 3 semester hours

Reader interest, organization and clarity are the primary concerns, as students write nonfiction material relying upon previously published information. Feature material, in-depth articles and books, as well as reports, reviews, summaries, and research projects based on background reading are the major focus. Students learn correct methods of documentation and the laws that apply. Students become familiar with what many staff (and freelance) writers do for a living. This is a writing-intensive course. Prerequisite(s): Graduate status or permission of instructor 3 semester hours

A course which strengthens techniques of description, characterization, narration, exposition, pacing, imagery and diction. Students are encouraged to develop independence in seeing options and making creative decisions. Each student works at development of his or her own "voice." Manuscripts are evaluated by a published fiction writer. Students read and react to each other's work. 3 semester hours

A course which develops mature concepts about the nature of "poetry" and its relation to prose. Techniques of imagery, diction, tone, and organization are developed in relation to each student's style and thematic directions. Students learn how to develop and control the emotional impact of the poem. Students read and react to each other's work. This course is usually offered to one or a few students by arrangement. 3 semester hours

A course taught by published writers of children's literature. Course improves basic techniques in fiction and poetry (see descriptions for other creative writing courses) but focuses on specifications for various younger age groups. Students learn publisher guidelines for each age level as well as what kinds of pieces publishers prefer. Formats and conventions are examined. Problems in maintaining racial, ethnic, and religious fairness are examined. Available markets are surveyed. Students read and react to each other's work. 3 semester hours

A course which examines the age-old question of "What works?" from an historical perspective. Students are introduced to classical and modern theories of rhetorical effectiveness and literary analysis. Course also offers an overview of accepted and experimental methods to improve writing skills. Weekly exercises apply various theories and methods. Students become familiar with the vocabulary of rhetoric, old and recent. 3 semester hours

A course dealing with the practical side of professional writing: career opportunities for the staff writer and publishing opportunities for the free-lancer. Students learn manuscript forms, survey available markets, discuss where professional writers get their "ideas" from, etc. Course also covers pay scales for writers, copyright laws, liability laws, and income tax tips. This course is usually offered in modules of one semester hour each in fall, winter, spring. LAE512A, LAE512B, LAE512C.

A course dealing with the practical side of professional writing: career opportunities for the staff writer and publishing opportunities for the free-lancer. Students learn manuscript forms, survey available markets, discuss where professional writers get their "ideas" from etc. Course also covers pay scales for writers, copyright laws, liability laws, and income tax tips. This course is usually offered in modules of one semester hour each in fall, winter, spring. LAE512A, LAE512B, LAE512C.

A course dealing with the practical side of professional writing: career opportunities for the staff writer and publishing opportunities for the free-lancer. Students learn manuscript forms, survey available markets, discuss where professional writers get their "ideas" from, etc. Course also covers pay scales for writers, copyright laws, liability laws, and income tax tips. This course is usually offered in modules of one semester hour each in fall, winter, spring. LAE512A, LAE512B, LAE512C.

A course which examines the design of feature stories for newspapers and magazines and the style-range possibilities. Interviewing skills are a primary focus. Assignments include news-features, profiles, and personal experience essays, among others. Students learn the standard organizational format for magazine features ("the magazine formula") and alternatives. Students are introduced to the idea processes which generate concepts for stories. 3 semester hours

A course in the special techniques and format of writing the narrative film, with emphasis on dramatic structure, character development, creating visual metaphors and orchestrating these elements around a coherent dramatic question or premise. Viewing and reading of noteworthy screenplays is combined with the development of an original screenplay idea and the execution of a portion of that screenplay into proper format. Prerequisite(s): Graduate status or permission of the instructor. 3 semester hours

A flexible course designed to meet the career goals of students in the Written Communication program. The course teaches strategies for writing complex, specialized or industry-specific information in a clear and effective manner. Students learn how to analyze and adjust levels of prose complexity, how formatting can enhance communication and how to address readers of differing levels of expertise and interest. Some assignments allow students to use actual projects from their own workplaces. 3 semester hours

An examination of the ways in which writers tell stories, both fictional and otherwise. Attention will be paid to the various types of first- and third-person narrative techniques, the use of chronology and alternate time schemes, the cross-cut and the subplot. Primarily a reading course for students in the M.S. in Written Communications program. 3 semester hours

This course will introduce the graduate student/writer to the strategies needed to teach general studies freshman/lower division (non-developmental) writing courses. It concludes a survey of relevant literature concerning instructional issues and applications in the classroom (i.e., process approaches, peer/collaborative activities, writing across disciplines, teaching writing with computers, writing assessment). Emphasis is given also to utilizing the writer/graduate student's writing practices and experience. Students will develop appropriate instructional materials. 3 semester hours

This course provides a closely supervised actual teaching experience with instruction and mentoring for the graduate student. Students will teach an English Department, first or second term freshman composition course or other lower division composition or literature course (as available) or give instruction in an appropriate tutorial setting. 3 semester hours

An opportunity for students in the Masters program to pursue an area of writing and/or research independently. Students are assigned to a faculty member for guidance and coaching. 1-3 semester hours

Opportunity for students and faculty to create a course topic not on the regular schedule. Students may register for more than one Special Topic in the course of their degree program. 1-3 semester hours

The final showcase piece in the student's portfolio. It is tailored to fit the student's individual program. Examples of thesis projects might be: a collection of short stories, a short novel, a series of poems, a lengthy report for publication or for use in an organization, a series of articles, one long or several short children's books, a series of periodical journals which the student has edited and managed for an organization, etc. The length and difficulty of the project will determine the credit hours to be awarded (3, 4, 5 or 6). Work may be based on previous course work but must show extensive rewriting and augmentation. Student is assigned to a faculty member for coaching and evaluation. 1-6 semester hours

Continuous registration required until thesis is complete. Prerequisite(s): Masters standing, consent of instructor, and prior registration for the required number of hours in LAE599. 0 semester hours