Course Details

Creative Writing Workshop: Campus Stories

Spring 2008 - English 98/198 - Units: 1

Shortcuts:     decal.org/545     decal.org/campus

For good reason, universities often serve as the setting for novels, movies, and television shows: "I am Charlotte Simmons" by Tom Wolfe, for example, "On Beauty" by Zadie Smith, "Van Wilder", and the latest (and last!) season of "Veronica Mars".  'Campus novels' or 'academic novels' are stories that take place on or around a college campus (yes, it's an actual genre).  This writing workshop is about creating a short story in the college setting: drawing events from being a university student yourself (...at the best university!) as inspiration.  The topics covered in these stories can range anywhere from educational to intense to entertaining and quirky: being a college football fan, going Greek, dating, studying one's pants off, and making the Dean's List. 

Through writing one original story, students will learn to create an effective work of fiction with the opportunity to receive plenty of feedback on it.  Students will also learn how to offer critiques and analyses on others' work.  There will also be time for free-write inside of class.

Enrollment Info:

To enroll, please send an email to janezhi@berkeley.edu with the following information:

1. Your name and major

2. Which section do you intend on signing up for, English 198 (upper division) or English 98 (lower division)?

3. Briefly describe your experience and interest in creative writing.

4. Please attach a fictional writing sample- approximately 5 pages long.

Answers to these questions and your writing sample will not determine who is accepted in the class.  Students will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.  You must also show up to the first class meeting to be officially enrolled in this class. 

Faculty Sponsor: Vikram Chandra

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Course info last modified January 8, 2008. This page has been viewed 1537 times.