Mar 29, 2024  
Course Catalog 2009-2010 
    
Course Catalog 2009-2010 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Creative Writing


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Sylvia Watanabe, Associate Professor of Creative Writing; Program Co-Director, Sem I
Dan Chaon, Pauline Delaney Associate Professor; Program Co-Director
, Sem II
Pamela Alexander, Associate Professor of Creative Writing
Kazim Ali, Assistant Professor of Creative Writing
Chelsey Johnson, Visiting Assistant Professor of Creative Writing
Bernard Matambo, Visiting Assistant Professor of Creative Writing

Jessica Grim, Lecturer in Creative Writing

 

Combining the breadth of a liberal arts education with rigorous studio training, the creative writing major emphasizes individual mentoring at the advanced level through small, juried workshops (with a maximum enrollment of 12) and independent projects directed by program faculty.  While primarily focused on five genres:  fiction, poetry, nonfiction, playwriting, and screenwriting, the major also provides opportunities for cross-disciplinary work with the other arts.  Through a variety of practica, both on campus and off, students can acquire practical, hands-on experience in writing-related internships.

Major


Major:  The creative writing major requires 37 hours of coursework, distributed as follows:  CrWr 201 (4 credit hours), three 300-level workshops (12 credit hours), a capstone project (4 credit hours), electives (5 credit hours), and an additional 12 hours in textual studies.  This  last requirement may be filled in a number of ways:   through literature and theory courses, generally above the 100-level, offered by English, the language departments, and Comparative Literature;  through courses, which focus on primary texts, offered by Religion, African American Studies, Comparative American Studies, Jewish Studies, and Theater and Dance;  through film courses offered by Cinema Studies and other departments.  Some 100-level courses in East Asian Studies may also count.  If you are uncertain whether a specific course may be applied toward the textual studies requirement, please consult your creative writing advisor or one of the co-directors. 

Courses in which a student has earned a grade lower than a C-/CR or P cannot be used to fill the requirements of the major.

Textual Studies

The 12-hour requirement in textual studies may be fulfilled in a number of ways:

1.  Through literature and theory courses, generally above the 100-level, offered by English, the language departments, and Comparative Literature.  Readings may be in translation or in the original language.  Some 100-level courses offered by East Asian Studies may qualify toward filling this requirement.

2.  Through courses offered by Religion, African American Studies, Comparative American Studies, and  Jewish Studies which focus on primary literary texts.

3.  Through film courses offered by the Cinema Studies Program and other departments..

If you are uncertain whether a specific course counts toward the literary studies requirement, please consult your Creative Writing advisor or one of the co-directors.

 

Playwriting Concentration


For concentrators in playwriting, the 37 credits of the major would be reconfigured as follows: In Creative Writing, 20 hours (13 at the 300-level), to include CRWR 201, 330, and two advanced projects in playwriting.  A second 300-level workshop is recommended.  In Theater, English and other departments:  14 hours with a minimum of 9 hours in literature (6 of which must focus on drama) and at least 5 in acting, design, or technical theater taught by the Theater Department.  Concentrators must take an additional three credit hours in a related field in one of the above areas.  Interested students should contact David Walker in the English Department for further information.

 

Transfer of Credit


Transfer students should consult with one of the co-directors of Creative Writing upon acceptance to the College, and should apply immediately for admittance to Creative Writing 201. Even so, junior transfer students will find it almost impossible to complete the major in four semesters.  Sophomore transfer students, who are not accepted into the 201 workshop during their first year at Oberlin, will find themselves in similar difficulty.  While transfer students are normally given credit toward the major for courses taken elsewhere (with the approval of one of the co-directors), equivalent course credit is almost never given for any of the four required workshops. Only half of the 12 literature hours may be transferred; those also require approval.

Winter Term


Faculty will sponsor projects related to creative writing.  Due to high demand, it may not be possible to accommodate all requests.

Workshops


Admittance is by application only. Please see the program website or bulletin board for submission  deadlines.  Successful applicants will be notified by the instructors and class lists will be posted prior to Add/Drop.  We regret that the number of applications prevents us from replying to all those who apply.

Gateway


The introductory 201 gateway is a mixed-genre workshop in which students work in both poetry and prose.  This is intended to introduce potential majors to a range of options early in their Oberlin careers.

Electives


Majors may earn elective credits in the following ways:

1.  By taking Creative Writing courses at the 100-level (i.e., 110 and 120),
     though only one may count toward the major

2.  Through open admissions Creative Writing courses at the 200-level
     (in the past such offerings have included: CRWR 245 Writing about Nature;
     CRWR 255 Graphic Fiction; 270 Concepts of Scene; 280 Small Prose Forms;
     295 Structures of African Narrative)

3.  By completing up to 4 credits in cross-referenced courses offered by other departments
     (i.e., Rhetoric 106, 107, 206, 305, 401)

4.  By enrolling in Creative Writing courses during study away

 

First Year Seminar Program Courses


Advanced


A grade of B+ or higher in 201 is generally required for entrance to the 300-level advanced workshops – in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, playwriting, translation, screenwriting, and novella.  Through the discussion of assigned readings and peer critiques, students get an in-depth look at each genre.  After successfully completing a 300-level workshop, students can go on to declare the major.

Independent Work


Independent Project/Capstone:  Majors must complete two 300-level workshops, including at least one in a related genre before signing up for an independent project (CrWr 470).  The 4-credit capstone, designed in consultation with a faculty advisor, may take the form of a single independent project of substantial quality or a combination of a project with a practicum and/or other independent coursework pertaining to a student’s particular writing interests.  In the past, majors who have chosen the latter option have focused on journalism, science writing, book arts, and inter-arts.  The practicum in Creative Writing (CrWr 485) allows interested students to serve as interns with a variety of college and community organizations; some of the options have been described in the departmental overview above.

Cross-Referenced Courses


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