Weeks 6,7, 8: Dialogue Cont'd/Characterization/Setting

Mon 2/13--S: NO HOMEWORK DAY

• • Please bring your reader to class (we'll discuss "Hills Like White Elephants")

  • Also, please print out three copies of your story to distribute to your classmates:

    • Groups as follows:

    • Block E

      • • Ethan, Martha, Ori, Nathan

        • Josh, Grace L, Ruby, Grace H

        • Tuna, Meher, Nick, Tara

        • Will, Maggie, Amina, Chris

    • Block F

      • • Zandra, Arnav, Ashley, Lauren

        • Charlotte, Cora, Grace C, Gabe

        • Brianna, Jack, Sammy, Jacob

        • Allie, Eli, Logan, Anthony

Tues 2/14: No class

Weds 2/15--L: Workshopping in class:

• Read student stories (workshopping during class time)

• In the margins and at the end of the story, please do the following:

  • • Comment on what works/is successful in the piece.

    • Comment on questions you have--what you'd like clarification on, etc.

• • Remember to be encouraging, not harsh--these are early drafts!

Fri 2/17--S: Read Chapter 4, "Building Character: Characterization Part II" in Writing Fiction.

• Skip the short stories and exercises at the end of the chapter.

Mon 2/20--NO SCHOOL

Tu 2/21--L: Revision of story submission due on turnitin.com

• • I'll give you the turnitin.com class number and password beforehand.

• Optional: read Charles Baxter, "Loss of Face" in reader pp. 33-45

Thurs 2/23--L:

• Read "While the Women Are Sleeping" in the reader, pp. 136-149.

  • • Think about how Javier Marias describes his characters: what methods of characterization does he use and to what effect?

INTRATERM!

Tu 3/7--S: Journal entry

• • Go back to your favorite cafe or place to observe people.

    • Describe people's appearances:

      • clothes

      • gestures

      • bodies

      • and, especially, their faces

  • Word count: 900 words (but only 300 need be on the topic above--the rest are up to you!)

  • Please post your entry here: Journal Entry: Appearances

Weds 3/8--L: Read Chapter 5 of Writing Fiction, "Fictional Place" (156-172).

Fri 3/10--S: Settings Analysis Exercise:

• For this assignment, please do the following:

  • From a novel or short story you love, pick a passage that describes a setting vividly.

    • Passage should be approximately 100-200 words in length (see the sample passages on page 171 of Burroway).

    • Type the passage out yourself (very important)

  • After you type the passage out, please analyze the passage.

    • Ask yourself: why does the passage convey setting so effectively?

    • Remember Burroway's advice and Chekhov's tip on page 165.

    • Word count for passage analysis (not including passage itself): 450 words.

  • Please post on Canvas under "Discussions":

    • Canvas Discussions

      • Be sure to post in the proper block!