Day 1 presentation, SFCC, Intro to Fiction, Spring 2020

1. Intro to
Fiction
AKA
ENGL 2320

2. Day one, aka
today
Write
Introduce ourselves
Review the syllabi and the semester ahead
Review next week’s assignments

3. Let’s write:
____________________ walked into the _____________ wearing ___________.
Character name name the place what?
The room was _______. Suddenly ___________ remembered ____________.
Description pronoun a memory
As she/he/they looked at _____________, everything became clear:
what?
_____________________
what became clear?
Take 10 minutes. Use the time
you’re given in timed-writing to
expand/explore

4. Writing in class and reading
out loud
We’ll be doing a lot of it this semester
Exercises geared toward different elements of craft
Let’s hear some
Your other job in addition to reading and writing is listening.
What do you hear? What stands out? What delights? What
confuses?

5. Let’s get acquainted
• Take five minutes and write down an introduction to class. But since this is
a fiction class, let’s mix it up.
• Two truths and a lie.
• Two facts in your introduction should be accurate and revealing. Bonus
points if you include your goals for fiction writing.
• One point should be fabricated, made-up, a lie, aka fiction. Will it be so
outlandish that we know it’s fiction? Or will you employ realism so that we
can’t tell?
• When we’re done, we’ll use these to introduce ourselves AND see if we
can spot the fiction.

6. Craft elements
The exercise we did at the start of class employs some of the elements
of fiction:
Character or characterization
Point of view
Sense of place
Time
Plot
Sensory Details

7. Fiction’s Aim
• Fiction tries to create the emotional impact of actual
experience.
• Unlike other forms of art, it does so by using words to create:
feelings, ideas and images.
Various writing techniques help accomplish this.
This class is about introducing you to those techniques,
learning to identify them in fiction, critique their use and use
them yourselves.

8. Required for this class
• Required text(s): Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft, Tenth
Edition, by Janet Burroway
• Required course materials: (in some cases, additional course
materials may be found at the end of this syllabus): writing utensils
(paper/pen); access to computer and printer; dictionary
• Required web support site: I will be posting assignments, readings
and class presentations on our Canvas site:
https://sfcc.instructure.com/courses/2676809
Technology requirements: You will need access to a computer and
printer for your workshop materials.
.

9. Course description from the Catalog:
An introduction to the basic elements of fiction writing. This course is a reading and workshop introduction to the
fundamental working modes of fiction. Throughout this course, students will be expected to read classic and
contemporary fiction closely and analyze the craft features employed. Students will be expected to write frequently
in various fiction genres throughout the semester.
Major Topics:
1. Elements of fiction, including characterization, dialogue, plot, point of view, and setting
2. Workshopping and critiquing fiction
3. The writing process, including revision and reflection on one’s own process
4. Submissions and publication
Prerequisite and/or co-requisite: ENGL 1110
ME: julia.Goldberg@sfcc.edu
I will respond to emails within 24 hours. You can make appointments to meet with me by email or grab me after
class.

10. By the end…
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Engage in a constructive conversation and community about fiction
2. Read and critically engage with various works of fiction
3. Compose creative works of fiction
4. Provide respectful, honest, and critical feedback to peers about their work
5. Learn a language that provides groundwork for workshop structure and peer critique
6. Revise creative work based on peer feedback and critique
7. Develop thoughtful workshop reflection based on students’ own writing and writing process
8. Evaluate and engage with publication process

11. Grading…
Course Grading:Evaluationwillbe basedon the following criteria:
1. Personal progress in the use of language and mastery of craft
2. Final polished drafts of a short story
3. Attendance and participation
If you file the assignments on time, you will do well in this class.
To receive an "A": come to every class, participate fully, file all the assignments when
due, complete your revisions, knock us all out with enthusiasm and excitement.
For a "B": File all the assignments on time and participate fully in class and in readings
For a "C": Fewer than 80 percent of assignments on time or completed
"D" or "F": Fewer than 70 percent of assignments on time or completed

12. Inclusivity
Diversity Statement
SFCC supports an inclusive learning environment where diversity and individual
differences are respected, appreciated and recognized as sources of strength. I consider
consider this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect, and I
welcome individuals of all ages, backgrounds, beliefs, ethnicities, genders gender
identities, gender expressions, national origins, religious affiliations, sexual orientations,
orientations, disabilities, and other visible and nonvisible differences. All members of
this class are expected to contribute to a respectful, welcoming and inclusive
environment for every other member of the class.
Preferred pronoun statement:
I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or the gender
pronoun by which you identify. Please advise me of these preferences early in the
semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records.
Gender Neutral Bathrooms
SFCC has gender neutral bathrooms located in the Campus Center, the Fitness Center,
the Trades and Technologies building, the School of Fine Arts office area (700 wing), and
and the Administration (100 wing) area of the main building.

13. Classroom
expectations
Attendance, Late Arrivals, Early Departures: 100
percent attendance is expected. More than one
one unexcused absence may result in a lower
grade. More than three absences may result in
a failing grade. Late arrivals will be considered
one-half of an absence. Early departures must
be discussed and approved ahead of time.
Cell phones and other electronics: Cell phone
use is prohibited in class. You are allowed to
use a laptop for writing assignments, but all
other use prohibited in class.

14. Snow days
Weather or school closure or class cancellation procedure for this class:
Emergency and Weather Alert Text Messages: Santa Fe Community College follows Santa
Fe Public Schools in weather-related delays and closures. If the Santa Fe Public Schools
are delayed or closed, this is an indication that SFCC will also be delayed or closed,
although the college will send out its own notifications.
If you are registered in credit classes, or you are a faculty or staff member, you are
automatically enrolled in the system. In the event of a weather delay or closure, an email
email will be sent to your SFCC address. You may also choose to receive a text message
by manually setting your preferences at www.sfcc.edu/sfcc_alert. For more information
see SFCC Weather Alerts and Holiday Closures.

15. Resources and Academic
Integrity
Academic Integrity: SFCC values academic integrity. Integrity includes
creating and expressing your own words, ideas, and images
giving credit when using another’s words, ideas, or images
accurately representing another person’s ideas when citing their work
completing assignments independently or acknowledging collaboration
and demonstrating honesty in taking exams.
Violations of academic integrity, like plagiarism or cheating, are serious offenses. SFCC has a centralized system for
for reporting and storing such violations, with increased consequences for each incident. The first two reported
incidents may be handled by the department in which they occur and will be reported to the college’s
administration. If a third violation occurs, then the college may pursue further disciplinary action as indicated in
Policy 2-1 – Student Code of Conduct.

16. Dates you might want to
know
Last day to drop without a grade: Feb. 7
Last day to petition to graduate: Feb. 7
SFCC In-service Day (no classes, campus closed): March 6
Last day to change to audit: March 6
Midterm exam week: March 9-14
Spring Break: March 16-22
Last day to withdraw (grade of W): April 9
Spring Holiday: April 10-12
Final exam week: May 11-16
• Semester ends: May 16
Commencement: May 16

17. Class structure
Weekly Assignments
For the first part of the semester, we will review an aspect of the craft of fiction
(developing character, constructing plot, writing dialogue, evaluating theme etc.) and
practice these elements through in-class writing assignment. The class also will discuss
published short stories and evaluate their use of the technical crafts of fiction
writing. Please bring one written observation to each class with an assigned reading
regarding the week’s story.
Please read the short fiction not just as “readers,” but as writers—pay attention to the
ways in which the craft elements are employed. The second half of the semester will be
devoted to workshopping drafts of your short stories so that each student receives
extensive feedback in preparation for a final revised story. You also will be required at the
the end of the semester to give a short presentation analyzing one element of the
techniques of fiction as it applies to a short story of your choice from our semester’s
readings.

18. Class participation
Discussions
Please keep in mind that all of our discussions of literature—
assigned readings and workshops—are to identify the effective
use of craft in writing and, in the case of workshops, to help the
the authors make decisions for revision. All discussions should
be focused on the writing itself, rather than subjective
experiences/reactions to the work. We will discuss this
distinction at greater length in class.

19. In-class Writing
Assignments
We will be writing in class most weeks and
reading work out loud. Please use the writing
time to focus on the assignment, and the
reading time to listen to your classmates and
provide feedback.
These assignments are timed assignments.
Please stop writing at the appropriate time
even if you do not feel you are finished. Please
do not continue writing while others are
reading; this is poor classroom etiquette, and
also will constitute lack of participation.

20. Workshops
This course will include three workshops.
One will be a small-group workshop on an assigned exercise.
One will be a full workshop of your first draft of an entire short story. One
will be a revision presentation in which writers present a portion of work
they have revised to the class. Participation in these workshops is a crucial
element of this class, and all students are expected to read their classmates’
work carefully and to discuss this work with attention and respect. You are
expected to bring in hard copies of your workshop materials for your
critique group members and for the instructor the week prior to
workshop. These pieces can be 8-12 pages long, and must be typed and
collated before class.

21. Assignments
Written Materials
All manuscripts for workshop must be typed and double-
double-spaced, and pages should be numbered. Cover
sheets are not required. Please check your work for
typographical errors, and correct marked errors when
submitting revised work.
Critique Sheets
The workshops include critique sheets you will use to
help workshop and provide peer review. These critiques
and your peer reviews are part of your grade this
semester. You must turn in your critique sheets on the
day of workshop or they will be considered late. Critiques
Critiques do not have to be typed, but if they are hand-
written, please make sure your writing is legible.

22. Other work this semester
Class Presentation
As discussed above, each student will deliver a short presentation
analyzing one element of the techniques of fiction as it applies to a
short story of your choice from our anthology.
Final Portfolio
Your final portfolio for this course will include your revised story,
along with a one to three-page essay that explains the revisions you
you made to your work based on craft considerations and feedback.
feedback.

23. Semester
summary
One assigned exercise based on scene and summary for
small-group workshop
One original short story draft for workshop, 8-12 pages
long
One revision of the original workshop piece
A final portfolio that includes your revised story along with
an essay that discusses your revisions and the changes you
made that discusses the craft changes made.
One in-class presentation using a short story of your choice
from our readings that analyzes one element of the
techniques of fiction we’ve discussed in this course.
Written critiques of your workshop members’ pieces
In-class writing assignments

24. Weekly assignments
I will post all assignments
on campus, along with
supplementary readings
Please come to class
prepared
Email me if you’re
confused (not five
minutes before class)
Rely on the website
announcements versus
the syllabus as
assignments may change

25. When we read fiction
Guiding questions: when we read:
“What is this story about?” A way of asking what happens in the story, what is the story?
What is this story about about? A way of asking: What are the larger themes/issues/ideas at play
in the story?
From here, we can query language, imagery and other elements to see how they bolster the
deeper themes and issues at play in a piece of writing.

26. Next week:
January 30
For class: Lecture Topic: Sensory details and active voice. Bring in one printed page of fiction
writing by an author (living or dead) that speaks to you (in a positive way). We will read some of
these out loud in class. Be prepared to discuss why you chose this piece. In-class writing exercise
focused on sensory details and active voice. Assigned reading: Chapter 1, “The Writing Process”
and Chapter 2, “Showing and Telling” in Writing Fiction. “Without Inspection” by Edwidge
Danticat” (handout on website). Come with one written observation of how Danticat employs
sensory details in the story.