ANDREWS UNIVERSITY AFFILIATION AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS

UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN

P.O.BOX 175

Port of Spain, Trinidad

FIRST SEMESTER:                                2010

COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE:              ENGL 467 Creative writing

INSTRUCTOR:                                        Mrs. Petra Pierre - Robertson

TIME & VENUE:                                    3:05 P.M.   Tuesday and Thursday

CREDITS:                                                      3

ROOM:                                                          107                                                  

OFFICE HOURS:                                    M W  1:00 –2:00 p.m. Other times by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This is an upper division course in imaginative writing, focusing on the process of writing the short story.

INTRODUCTION

This course invites you to become involved in the creative process. You will have a chance to develop talent and skills, and produce something uniquely your own. If you have written before and you are in the habit of doing so, this course offers you a chance to experiment with different genres others.

PROCEDURE

In this class you will be expected to write regularly, share your writing with your class members for criticism, participate in reading assignments (authors’ reading) and work on relevant exercises. You will also be expected to keep a journal, assemble a portfolio of six (6) stories (covering at least three genres) and attempt to publish one piece..

TEXTBOOKS

De Maria, Robert. The College Handbook of Creative Writing. 3rd Edition

         Fourth Worth Texas, Harcourt Brace, College Publishers, 1998/ or earlier versions

Smith, Alexander G. Inspired Creative Writing. N.Y.: Penguin Publishers, 2004

SUPPLEMTARY READINGS

Shaw, Ron. 1001 Brilliant Writing Ideas Teaching Inspirational Story-Writing for All Ages.

        New York, NY : Routledge, 2008. (ebook)

Burnett, Hallie and White Burnett. Fiction Writers Handbook. N.Y.:

         Collins Reference, 1993

Charters, Ann. The Story and Its Writer: An Introduction to Short Fiction. 6nd Edition

         N.Y.: St Martin’s Press, 2006

Macrorie, Ken.  Telling Writing. 4rd Edition New Jersey: Hayden Book Company, Inc. 1985.

 COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of the semester, you will:

1.      Understand through class discussion and writing practice the elements of a short story.

2.      Become familiar with how successful writers discover content material for their work by developing your own writing source book.

3.      Develop a file of short story and other ideas using a daily writer’s journal.

4.      Practice writing short stories for class.

5.      Share your writing with class members in group readings.

6.      Learn to give and receive helpful criticism in group readings.

7.      Develop your own personal short story style through frequent writing.

8.      Publish, either in written form or in public readings, your own short stories.

9.      Demonstrate your proficiency in a portfolio of your own short stories

COURSE CONTENT

During the quarter you will develop a portfolio of 5 stories of varying lengths, in addition to exercises in story writing done in class.  The guidelines are as follows:

3 pieces must be typed; stories double-spaced and in manuscript form as the lengths are 4 -12  typed written pages. At least one story between 8 and 12 type written pages

2 additional complete stories would be written in class under exam conditions 400 – 450 words in length.

In creating the 3 pieces you are not limited to any particular genre; you may do something psychological, meditative, reflective, historical, mysterious, romantic, fantastic, etc. the emphasis of the class is the process of writing short stories rather than of a particular genre – a different genre must be utilized for each story. Specifications may be provided with respect to themes, and audiences.

Writer’s Journal: Each of you is encouraged to develop your own writer’s journal, a source book of writing ideas you may follow the guidelines below:

1.   Experiences: Record things that happen to you in diary or journal form; these experiences 

   may yield material for short stories. No specific length is required for each daily entry. Only

   try to write something each day so that you are in the habit of daily writing.

2.   Reading: Reading lots of short stories, poems is an effective way to develop a sense of

   each genre. Each week read at least one or two pieces; take notes on elements or aspects that

   appeal to you; jot down these ideas that you want to try, write out ideas for short

   stories/poems which occur to you from the reading. Anthologies are available in the library

   or in my office.

3.   Publication Possibilities: As you read short stories and poems in magazines, keep in your

   journal notes any ideas of what kinds of stories different journals or magazines are accepting.

   survey magazines where you might send your material; if you send a story in, record where

   you sent it, and whether or not it was accepted. Record also when and if you read one of your

   stories in public. What kinds of response did your story receive?

4.   Ideas: Keep ideas for your future poem or short story efforts in you r journal. Record plots

   that you think of, incidents you remember from childhood, experiences you hear about or

   see, interesting characters you observe on the street or in pictures, films you watch,  

   something you clip from newspapers, dreams you have, ideas that occur to you in the middle

   of the night or while you are showering, etc.

5.   Actual Practice: During each week we will practice various elements that we have discussed.

   The journal is a good place to store these activities. And of course, you will be writing short

   stories and poems for class; your journal is an excellent place to rehearse or develop drafts of

   these projects.

6.   Miscellaneous: You may include in this section items not specified above. Your personal

   comments on cartoons/pictures should be included.

In addition there will be a number of class/home assignments. These will be counted as journal assignments. I suggest a large three-ring binder from which you can remove or insert items as you work on them. Some of you may want to do all your work on the computer; if you do, exercise normal caution and make regular back up discs and hard copies. However, please submit items in folders as requested.

You may want to divide up the journal into sections for each part, or you may want to intersperse items as they occur. I leave that to you. The primary purpose of the journal is to provide you with writing material to work with in your short stories and to give you daily writing practice. When I evaluate the journal, periodically or at the end of the semester, I will look for evidence that you have used it to its intent; MEAGER OR SUPERFICAL ENTRIES WILL BE TAKEN AS ADVISE OF HASTY WORK. Because of the size of the class, journals will be collected periodically, and failure to make submissions by the deadlines will affect your grade.

LATE WORK POLICY

Please make a serious effort to hand in work by the dates due. Late work will not be accepted

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Because this class depends so much on audience response, regular attendance is expected.

HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SEMESTER

ANDREWS UNIVERSITY AFFILIATION AND EXTENSION CAMPUS

UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN

FIRST SEMESTER 2009-2010

Course Title:                ENGL335: Introduction to West Indian Literature

Course Credits:                2

Class Time & Venue:      Monday - Thursday, 3:30 - 4:45

Lecturer:                          Mrs. Petra Pierre - Robertson

Office Hours:                    Monday & Thursday 10am

Phone:                              662 -2241 Ext. 2100

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Introduction to West Indian Literature will include a historical survey of the development of West Indian writing, with an emphasis on themes, mainly in British territories of the West Indies. Attempts will be made during this survey to sample works (short fiction, and poetry primarily) as students examine and analyze the content, style, and thematic concerns of writers. These works will be works of West Indian authors, writing in English.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students will:

•         Know and understand the historical events that have laid the foundation for the growth

and development of the West Indian Writing.

• Examine these events in relation to the nature of literary expression developed in mainly the British territories of the West Indies.

·         Indentify themes explored by West Indian writers and compare these in relation to the

historical/political and social influences that shaped the writers in relation to their

similarities and differences.

·         Become aware of the ability of Literature to reflect the local lifestyle.

·         Participate in oral presentations thereby developing a sense of personal achievement.

Read and examine critically excerpts from works throughout the survey in relation to

     themes developed, and other characteristics of West Indian writing.

BASIC TEXT

King, Bruce. West Indian Literature. 2nd ed. London: The McMillian Press, 1995.

SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTS

Breiner, Laurence A. An Introduction to West Indian Poetry.  Cambridge: University Press, 1998

Ramchand, Kenneth. The West Indian Novel and its Background. Jamaica:  Ian Randle, 2004

Dabydeen, David. A Reader’s Guide to West Indian and Black British Literature. Hatfield: The Bracken Press,1997

Wilson-Tagoe, Nana. Historical Thought and Literary Representation in West Indian Literature. Trinidad: The Press University of the West Indies, 1998

Reading assignments will be given in class

EXAMINATIONS AND GRADING SYSTEMS

Attendance & Participation                              5%

Quizzes                                                          20%

Oral Presentation                                           20%

Written Assignment/Analyses                       20%

Mid-Semester Quiz                                       20%

Portfolio                                                        15%

GRADING SCALE

A = 94-100%        B+ = 87-89%       C+ = 77-79%         D = 60-64%

A-= 90-93%        B   =83-86%        C   =70-76%          F = 0-59%

B- =80-82%       C- =65-69%

PLAGIARISM

•

Guard against plagiarism (using other people's writing without giving them the credit due to them by proper documentation). This is unacceptable by the standard of the University of the Southern Caribbean and is illegal by law. Students who violate this instruction will automatically fail the course.

COURSE PROCEDURE AND REQUIREMENTS

This course will be conducted using both lectures and discussion allowing for students' contribution and questions. There will be no Final Examination but a Mid-Semester quiz, along with unit quizzes and other class assignments to make up the final grade.

A.   Class activity will comprise of the following writing assignment:

1.              Critical analyses of Selected West Indian Works in three genre Prose/Short Story OR/and Poetry

2.              Three Unit Quizzes (based on lectures and assigned readings: Basic Text) will be

given only on the specific dates scheduled (These include the Mid-Semester Quiz)

3.              Oral Presentations - Groups - Analysis of one West Indian work (Prose, Poem or

Drama). This will be a self-selected work, one not included in your folder on

reserve. Guidelines for analysis will be given on a separate sheet.

4.             Mid-Semester Examination - Quiz

5.             Reading Reports based on Basic Text

6.              Portfolio: Short notes (one page) on significant writers (English, Spanish,

French) in each historical period. See Section B for other portfolio entries.

* Guidelines for Analyses will be given on a separate sheet.

B.   Students will keep a portfolio of notes from personal reading assignments and research

completed during the development of the course. Students will also place in their

portfolios a written personal response to each literary work read during the course.

Please note that printed notes from text, copies or electronic sources (e.g. Internet) -will

not be accepted in your portfolio, and therefore should NOT be included. Students

would be penalized for disregarding this instruction.

C.   Students are required to study the course outline carefully

D.   Written assignments should be typed, (using Times New Roman font size 12) double-

spaced, paged, and proceeded by a standard cover page; a copy of this could be requested

from your instructor.

E.   Regular attendance is required. Attendance can affect a student's grade in this course. If

a student is unable to attend class, agreements should be made with the teacher before the

absence. In the case of illness or emergency, the student must present a signed

explanation from a doctor, dentist, dean or other responsible authority. Please note that

the Attendance Regulation will be in effect. Nos. 1 & 2 are quoted below as follows.

1.               Students are required to attend all scheduled classes. Whenever a number of

absences exceed 20% of the total course appointments, the grade F may be

recorded. Any irregularity of attendance may result in lowering a student's grade.

2.              Neither absence nor leave of absence relieves the student from responsibility for

the required course. (Undergraduate Bulletin 1998 - 2000 page 34)

F.   Assignments must be handed in on the dates due. Students will be penalized for all late assignments, except there is a reasonable excuse such as illness which must be substantiated (see attendance). An assignment handed in 48 hours after the due date may not be accepted. All assignments must be delivered in person.

G. Students are responsible for finding out and completing all class requirements, assignments. Given during their absence. Students absent for more than four class sessions will be unable to obtain an A grade in this course.

H. Students are also required to comply with the College's "Dress Code" as outlined in the Student's Handbook (29).

EXPECTED OUTCOME

Students will be stimulated to continue reading, and will enjoy this art form of their cultural heritage.

Students will achieve at least a Grade B at the end of this course

This is based on the assumption that students will participate fully, completing all assignments and course requirements.

university of the southern caribbean

first semester 2008

course number and title: comm 104 – communication skills

credits: 2 hours

level: undergraduate year 1

instructor: petra  robertson  (B.A., M.L.S.)

office: Library

room: 113

course objectives  To produce students:

• Competent in using the skills of speaking, writing and reading to convey messages adequately

• Who are able to construct and deliver public speeches

• Competent in personal communication

• Who are prepared to function confidently in small-group discussion and problem-solving situations

Expected Outcomes

Given the course objectives, assignments and grade computation as described in the course outline, all students should obtain a grade not below C- upon satisfactory completion of the requirements.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

1. Term Paper which:

                    The student will write on any topic related to Communication but not    

                    covered in class (Depending on class size, this of topics will be given 

                    by the instructor)

                    Must be 4 – 6 pages in length

                    Must be typed, double-spaced

Due: October 30, 2008

2. 5 minute Oral Presentation of  abridged Term Paper to be presented:  November 4, 2008

3. 2 Quizzes: October 9, 2008 &  December 2, 2008

GRADE COMPUTATION

Assignment                                                       Percentage of Final Grade

Term Paper                                                                          40%

Oral Presentation of Term Paper                                     10%

2 Quizzes                                                                             40%

Attendance and Participation                                         10%

GRADING SCALE

94 – 100% = A                                                  69 – 73% = C+

89 –  93% =  A-                                                 64 – 68% = C

84 –  88% = B+                                                 59 – 63% = C-

79 –  83% = B                                                   54 – 58% = D

74 -  78% = B-                                                   Below 53% = F

schedule of course topics

Part 1: Human Communication           

          Definition of communication

          Levels of communication

                            Intrapersonal

                            Interpersonal

                            Group communication

                            Public communication

            Elements of communication

                              Context

                              Participants

                              Messages

                              Channels

                              Noise

                             Feedback

              Functions of communication

                               To meet needs

                               To enhance self

                               To develop relationships

                               To fulfill social obligations

                               To exchange information

                               To influence others

               Forms of communication

                               Verbal

                               Non-Verbal

Part 2: Speech Communication

              Characteristics of an effective speech/debate

                             Arrangement of points – general content

                             Length

                                Relevance

               Characteristics of the effective speaker

                              Voice

                              Diction

                              Gesticulation

Part 3: Small Group Dynamics

              Functions of small groups

              Types of small groups

              Various roles of members in the small group

              Leadership qualities

ESSENTIAL TEXT  

Gamble, Teri Kwal, and Michael Gamble. Communication Works. 8th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2005.

RECOMMENDED READING:  On Course Reserve at the Library. http://www.usc.edu.tt/library

Denny, Richard. Communicate to Win. London: Kogan Page Limited, 2001

Napier, Gershenfeld.  Groups Theory and Experience. 7th ed. Boston:  Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004

DeVito, Joseph A. Human Communication: The Basic Course. 8th ed. New York: Addison Wesley, 2000

Forsyth, Donelson R. Group Dynamics. 3rd ed. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1998

Hargie, Owen and Dickson, David. Skilled Interpersonal Communication: Research, theory and practice. 4th ed. London: Routledge, 2004

ELECTRONIC BOOKS  (eBooks) Also available through the University Library’s website: http://www.usc.edu.tt/library

Communication Skills

Career Skills Library (2Nd Ed.); 2nd Ed., Worth, Richard., Facts on File, Inc., 2004

Early Communication Skills

Winslow Practical Photocopy Resource, Lynch, Charlotte.; Kidd, Julia., Speechmark Publishing Ltd., 2000

Handbook of Communication Skills

3Rd Ed., Hargie, Owen., Taylor & Francis Routledge, 2006

Improve Your Communication Skills

Creating Success; 2nd Ed., Barker, Alan., Kogan Page, 2006

Powerful Communication Skills : How to Communicate With Confidence, McKenna, Colleen., The Career Press, 1998

Social Skills Handbook : Practical Activities for Social Communication, Hutchings, Sue.; Comins, Jayne.; Offiler, Judy., Speechmark Publishing Ltd., 1991

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver Proverbs 25:11

andrews university afiliated and extension programs

university of the southern caribbean

FIRST SEMESTER 2009/2010

ENGL 447: Caribbean Literary Masters

CREDITS 3

INSTRUCTOR: Petra Robertson

OFFICE: Library

OFFICE HOURS: Monday 10:00am- Wednesday 12:30 - 2:00 P.M.

TIME & VENUE OF CLASS: Tuesday & Thursday 4:30 – 5:45pm - Esther Simmons

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Caribbean literature (West Indian Literature) as defined will include only those works written by writers who were born or raised in the West Indies. Also the term Caribbean/West Indian will be used generally to include the English Speaking islands of the Caribbean and mainland Guyana.

This course will include a study of selected Caribbean writers in poetry and prose. As a pre-requisite for this course, students are required to have completed ENGL 335 Introduction to West Indian Literature.

COURSE PROCEDURE

The class sessions will commence with a general overview of the development of Literature in the Caribbean. Students will be required to examine critically the works of Caribbean Masters selected. They will also complete research of one Master including an analysis of one literary work. This course will comprise of written assignments, group activities, along with the research assignment—which will be compiled in a class portfolio.

OBJECTIVES

Students will:

•         Express in writing, at the outset, their expectations of the course, followed at the end

with written appraisal of whether their expectations have been realized, thereby giving

students the opportunity of having an input in the future development of the course.

•         Understand the term "Master" as used in the course title, and be able to identify Masters

of Caribbean Literature.

•         Become aware of the ability of literature to reflect the local lifestyles.

•         Read, appreciate and examine critically at least one work of selected writers (masters) in

each genre (poetry and prose).

•         Participate in oral presentations which (it is hoped) will develop in students a further

sense of personal achievement.

•         Enhance their knowledge and appreciation of their literary and cultural heritage.

•         Be expected, with total participation, and completion of course requirement, to have at

least succeeded with a Grade C+ at the end of the course

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1.                                     Students are required to study course outline carefully.

2.                                     Regular attendance is required. Attendance can affect a student's grade in this

course. If a student is unable to attend class, agreements should be made with the

teacher before the absence In the case of illness or emergency the student must

present a signed explanation from a doctor, dentist, dean or other authority. Please

note that the attendance Regulation will be in effect. Nos. 1 & 2 are quoted below as

follows:

a. Students are required to attend all scheduled classes... Whenever a number of

absences exceed 20% of the total course appointment, the grade F may be

recorded. Any irregularity of attendance may result in lowering a student's

course grade.

b.   Neither absence or leave of absence relieves the student from responsibility for

the required course.

(Undergraduate Bulletin 1998-2000 34)

3.     Assignments must be handed in on the dates due. Students will be penalized for all

late assignments, except there is a reasonable excuse such as illness which must be

substantiated (see attendance)

Students are responsible for finding out and completing all class requirements, assignments given during their absence. Written assignments should be typed, (using Times New Roman font size 12) double- spaced, paged, and proceeded by a standard cover page

4.                                    Students are also required to comply with the College's "Dress Code" as outlined in

the Student's Handbook (29).

5.                                    Oral response - Seminar presentations and discussions.

6.                                     Writing Assignments: (these will be given on a separate sheet)

a. Research Exercise

b.   Class assignments in response to set works (Assignments will given during class

sessions)

c. Personal responses to set texts on the course and other literary works read.

d. Written answers to questions arising out of class discussions of set text, on

themes, techniques, style content, etc.

e. Class and group discussions and oral presentations

f. Personal conferences (student initiated as well).

g. Class lectures

7.     End of Semester Examination.

GRADE COMPUTATION

Class Attendance and Participation .............................   5%

Portfolio (personal responses) ........................................   15%

Oral Presentations   .....................................................   10%

Research Paper                                    .......,:..........   25%

Class Assignments (written)   .........................................   15%

End of Quarter Examinations..........................................   30%

GRADING SCHEME:

A - 94 -100%        B+ = 87 - 89%         C+ = 77 - 79%         D - 60 - 64%

A-- 90 -   93%        B   - 83 - 86%         C   = 70 - 76%         F = 0 - 59%

B- = 80 - 82%         C- = 65 - 69%

SELECTED AUTHORS - WORKS

Brathwaite, Edward Kamu.                The Arrivants: A New World Trilogy

Walcott, Derek                              Collected Poems 1948 - 1984 (Selected poems from text)

Kincaid, Jamaica                              Annie John

Naipaul, Vida                                  A House for Mr. Biswas: Miguel Street

Rhys, Jean                                   Wide Sargasso Sea

PLAGIARISM

Guard against plagiarism (using other people's writing without giving them the credit due to them by proper documentation). This is unacceptable by the standard of the University of the Southern Caribbean and is illegal by law. Students who violate this instruction will automatically fail the course.

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

Print sources

A Companion to West Indian Literature – Michael Hughes

An introduction to the study of West Indian literature – Kenneth Ramchand

An Introduction to West Indian Poetry – Laurence A. Breiner

Caribbean Women Writers: Fiction in English – ed by Mary Conde and Thorunn Lonsdale

Come back to me my language: Poetry and the West Indies – J. Edward Chamberlin

Critics on Caribbean Literature – edited by Edward Baugh

Deconstruction Imperialism and the West Indian Novel – Glyne A. Griffith

Collected Poems 1948 – 1984 - Derek Walcott 

Historical thought and literary representation in West Indian literature – Nana Wilson-Tagoe

My Strangled city and other essays – Gordon Rohlehr

New World Adams: Conversations with West Indian Writers – Daryl Cumber Dance

Passion and Exile; Essays in Caribbean Literature - Frank Birbalsingh

Reader’s Guide to West Indian and Black British literature – David Dabydeen and Nana Wilson - Tagoe

The Caribbean Novel in English: An Introduction – Mr. Keith Booker and Dubravka Juraga

The West Indian Novel and its Background revised ed.  – Kenneth Ramchand

eBooks through NetLibrary

Diasporic (Dis)locations: Indo-Caribbean Women Writers Negotiate the Kala Pani by Mehta, Brinda J. Publication: Kingston, Jamaica University of the West Indies Press, 2004.

Whiteness and Trauma: The Mother-daughter Knot in the Fiction of Jean Rhys, Jamaica Kincaid, and Toni Morrison by Burrows, Victoria. Publication: Basingstoke, Hampshire [England], New York Palgrave Macmillan, 2004.

Jean Rhys Cambridge Studies in African and Caribbean Literature by Savory, Elaine.

Publication: Cambridge, New York Cambridge University Press, 1998.

Historical Thought and Literary Representation in West Indian Literature

by Wilson-Tagoe, Nana. Publication: Gainesville : Barbados : Oxford University Press of Florida, 1998.

Confronting Power, Theorizing Gender: Interdisciplinary Perspectives in the Caribbean

by Barriteau, Eudine. Publication: Kingston, Jamaica University of the West Indies Press, 2003.

From Nation to Diaspora: Samuel Selvon, George Lamming and the Cultural Performance of Gender by Forbes, Curdella. Publication: Mona, Jamaica University of the West Indies Press, 2005.

Interrogating Caribbean Masculinities: Theoretical and Empirical Analyses

by Reddock, Rhoda. Publication: Kingston, Jamaica University of the West Indies Press, 2004.

Consuming the Caribbean: From Arawaks to Zombies

International Library of Sociology

by Sheller, Mimi. Publication: New York Taylor & Francis, 2003.

Classics in Post-colonial Worlds Classical Presences by Hardwick, Lorna.; Gillespie, Carol.

Publication: New York Oxford University Press (US), 2007.

ANDREWS UNIVERSITY AFFILIATED AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN

FIRST SEMESTER 2009/2010

ENGL447: CARIBBEAN LITERARY MASTERS

LECTURER: PETRA ROBERTSON

RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT

1.     Select a writer of Caribbean Literature

a.      Give a short biography of the writer including an outline of the major works, and

themes explored.

b.      Obtain information on writer/works from

i.       Published sources such as reviews, critical comments in newspapers, journals

an other sources.

ii.    Interviews oral or written (These can be presented as photo copies or typed notes)

2.     Select one important work and give a critical review of it using the following guidelines,

after a careful reading of the text.

GUIDELINES FOR CRITICAL REVIEW

a.      Bibliographic Entry of the work (MLA Style)

b.      Establish the scope or limitations of your author's work - what period is addressed? What

angle or area is not addressed? What is his/her work suggesting to the readers?

c.      Summary of the work - limit: Not more than two pages.

d.     Character analysis of MAJOR Character(s)

e.      Themes. Primary and Secondary themes that are revealed in the work.

f.      Evaluate how well the work was written.

g.      Personal response.

NB: (1)     Research Paper will comprise 1 (a) and 2. These will make up the 10 - 12 pages      (2)  All research material (notes) must be placed in your journal for assessment

I developed a full library course for credit.  It went through the course approval process at The UWI, St Augustine.  It was approved in April 2024 to be offered from the academic year 2024/2024.