Courses
All senior-level courses require completion of at least one prerequisite course at the 200-level; students must attain a minimum grade of "B-" in the prerequisite course in order to progress to a senior-level course in the same genre.
Note 1: In Creative Writing, a minimum "B-" is required in any second, third or fourth year prerequisite course.
Note 2: Some courses may not be offered every year.
Note 3: Upper-level Creative Writing (CREW) courses can be taken no more than twice for credit.
CREW 100 (3) Intro to Writing Journalism
An introduction to the basic structures and approaches in the writing of journalism. Analysis and discussion of professional work will form and develop guidelines for effective criticism and revision of student writing. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "C+" in either English 12 or ENGL 115.
CREW 110 (3) Intro to Writing Poetry
An introduction to the basic structures and approaches in the writing of poetry. Analysis and discussion of professional work will form and develop guidelines for effective criticism and revision of student writing. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "C+" in either English 12 or ENGL 115.
CREW 120 (3) Intro to Writing Fiction
An introduction to the basic structures and approaches in the writing of fiction. Analysis and discussion of professional work will form and develop guidelines for effective criticism and revision of student writing. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "C+" in either English 12 or ENGL 115.
CREW 140 (3) Intro to Writing Drama
An introduction to the basic structures and approaches in the writing of plays, TV scripts, and film scripts. Analysis and discussion of professional work will form and develop guidelines for effective criticism and revision of student writing. Note: Some sections of this course may be offered online. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "C+" in either English 12 or ENGL 115.
CREW 200 (3) Writing Feature Articles
A workshop course in the researching, writing, and editing of feature articles for a variety of markets. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in CREW 100.
CREW 201 (3) Newswriting and Research
A workshop course in writing hard news, with an additional emphasis on making use of traditional and electronic research sources and methods. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in CREW 100.
CREW 202 (3) Introduction to Writing Creative Non-Fiction
A workshop course that introduces students to a dynamic genre that combines aspects of journalism, features, fiction, drama and poetry. Students may be assigned to write in any of the forms of creative non-fiction including memoir, biography, travel, essay or others. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in any 100-level Creative Writing course.
CREW 203 (3) Memoir Writing Workshop
A workshop course designed to encourage and guide the writing of memoirs in which facts fuse with aesthetics through the presence of a personal voice. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in any first year CREW or ENGL course or permission of the instructor based on submission of a portfolio of recent work.
CREW 210 (3) Writing Poetry in a Variety of Forms (Ends May 2012)
A lecture and workshop course in writing poetry in a variety of forms and styles. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in CREW 110.
CREW 211 (3) Writing Free Verse Poetry
A lecture and workshop course with emphasis on writing poetry in free verse and open forms. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in CREW 110.
CREW 212 (3) Intermediate Poetry Workshop
A lecture and writing course in writing poetry in a range of styles from formal to experimental verse. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in CREW 110.
CREW 220 (3) Writing Short Fiction
A lecture and workshop course in the writing of shorter works of fiction. Topics may include the analysis of examples from an anthology, and the discussion of relevant markets. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in CREW 120.
CREW 221 (3) Genre Fiction Workshop
A workshop course in the writing of fiction in genres such as mystery, fantasy, science fiction, horror, and romance. Development of story concepts and plot structures will be emphasized, as will readership and markets. Individual instructors may emphasize a particular genre or genres. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in CREW 120 or permission of instructor.
CREW 230 (3) Introduction to Publishing
This introductory course provides the information an emerging writer needs to know about publishing and how to get published. Participants who complete the course will understand the publishing process and be acquainted with the established industry framework for marketing, promotion, and distribution of books and magazines in Canada. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in one of CREW 100, CREW 110, CREW 120, or CREW 140.
CREW 240 (3) Writing Short-Form Scripts for the Stage, Screen or Television
A workshop course in writing short-form stage plays, television scripts, and screenplays. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in CREW 140.
CREW 241 (3) Writing Longer-Form Scripts for the Stage, Screen or Television
A workshop course in writing long-form stage plays, television scripts, and screenplays. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in CREW 140.
CREW 300 (3) Creative Non-Fiction Workshop
A workshop course in the writing and editing of non-fiction texts in genres such as biography and autobiography, local and regional history, travel, etc. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min."B-" in any 200-level Creative Writing course or min. "B-" in one of ENGL 215, ENGL 290 or ENGL 315.
CREW 301 (3) Short-Form Features
A workshop course in researching, writing, and editing shorter features (800 - 2,000 words) for newspapers and magazines, with an emphasis on meeting the specific requirements of students' target markets. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in one of CREW 200, CREW 201, or CREW 300.
CREW 310 (3) Lyric and Prose Poetry Workshop
A workshop course in the writing and editing of poems in shorter forms such as the verse lyric and short prose poem. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in one of CREW 210, CREW 211, or CREW 212.
CREW 311 (3) Narrative and Serial Poetry Workshop
A workshop course in the writing of poems in longer forms such as the verse narrative and substantial prose poem. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in one of CREW 210, CREW 211, or CREW 212.
CREW 312 (3) Writing Poetry in a Variety of Forms
An advanced lecture and workshop course that builds on skills introduced in CREW 110 and CREW 212 to explore a wide variety of fixed poetic forms. CREW 312 was formerly CREW 411; students who have taken CREW 411 may take CREW 312 for credit no more than once. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in one of CREW 210, CREW 211, or CREW 212.
CREW 320 (3) Advanced Short Fiction Workshop
A workshop course in the writing and editing of short fiction. Note: Some sections of this course may be offered online. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in either CREW 220 or CREW 221.
CREW 321 (3) Novel, Novella, and Story Sequence Workshop
A workshop course in the writing and editing of longer works of fiction and sequences of linked short stories. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in either CREW 220 or CREW 221.
CREW 330 (3) Professional Editing
An advanced workshop course focusing on the editing process from manuscript preparation through production. Students will acquire experience in substantive and structural editing, copy editing, and production editing, including proofreading. Students may be required to undertake short-term work-study with a publishing firm. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in one of CREW 230, CREW 231, ENGL 315, or any 300-level CREW course.
CREW 331 (3) Book Publishing
A workshop course that simulates the book publishing process, from manuscript acquisition to marketing and promotion. Group work is required. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in one of CREW 230, CREW 231, or any 300 or 400-level CREW course.
CREW 340 (3) Advanced Screenwriting Workshop
A workshop course for students wishing to work on a screenplay with the guidance of an instructor. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in either CREW 240 or CREW 241.
CREW 341 (3) Advanced Stage Play Writing Workshop
A workshop course in which students work on a script for the stage with the guidance of the instructor. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in either CREW 240 or CREW 241.
CREW 400 (3) Researching for Creative Non-Fiction
A workshop designed to hone researching and interviewing, as well as writing and editing skills for the production of creative non-fiction works aimed at a popular audience. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in one of ENGL 215, ENGL 290, ENGL 315, or any 200-level CREW course.
CREW 401 (3) Long-Form Features (Ends Aug 2011)
A workshop course in writing and editing feature articles of 2,000 words or more for newspapers and magazines, culminating in publication of the e-zine Incline. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in one of CREW 200, CREW 201, CREW 300, or CREW 301.
CREW 401 (3) Long-Form Non-Fiction (Effective Sep 2011)
A workshop course in which students will write and revise a major feature article or creative non-fiction project for print or digital production. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in one of CREW 200, CREW 201, CREW 202, CREW 300, or CREW 301.
CREW 402 (3) Online Magazine Production
A continuation of CREW 401. In this workshop, students will create an online publication comprised of feature articles and creative non-fiction projects written in the previous course, as well as new content. Students will variously take positions as writers, editors, and content producers, under the editorial supervision of the instructor. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: CREW 401 or permission of instructor.
CREW 410 (3) Advanced Poetry Workshop
An advanced workshop course in the writing of poetry. Students will write and revise lyric or longer poems in free verse or traditional fixed forms. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in one of CREW 310 , CREW 311, CREW 312, CREW 411, or permission of instructor.
CREW 411 (3) Writing Poetry in a Variety of Forms (Advanced) (Ends May 2012)
An advanced lecture and workshop course that builds on skills introduced in CREW 110 and 212, to give students an opportunity to extensively explore a wide variety of fixed forms. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in one of CREW 210, CREW 211, or CREW 212.
CREW 420 (3) Experimental and Speculative Fiction Workshop
A workshop course in the writing and editing of works of experimental or speculative fiction. Topics may include science fiction, fantasy, horror, magic realism, fabulism, and experimental fiction in a variety of forms. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in one of CREW 220, CREW 221, CREW 224, or CREW 225.
CREW 421 (3) Documentary, Historical, and Biographical Fiction Workshop (Ends May 2012)
A workshop course in the writing of works of fiction based on real events and/or characters. Topics will include research methods, legal implications, and potential markets, as well as the study of examples from these genres. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in CREW 120 and min. "B-" in one of CREW 200, CREW 201, CREW 220, or CREW 221.
CREW 422 (3) Advanced Novel Workshop
An advanced workshop course in the writing and editing of the longer forms of fiction. A small sampling of published narrative shapes will offer possible models for the various book-length projects of students. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in either CREW 321 or CREW 421 or permission of department.
CREW 425 (3) Mystery Writing Workshop
A workshop course designed to encourage and guide the writing of projects in the detective mode. The primary focus will be on mystery in the longer form of prose fiction. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in any second-year Creative Writing fiction course or by permission of the instructor.
CREW 430 (3) Publishing Workshop I
This workshop course provides an opportunity to develop skills required to edit and publish literary magazines and scholarly journals. Copyediting and proofreading practice is included, and group work is required. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in each of two CREW courses 200-level or higher.
CREW 431 (3) Publishing Workshop II
A continuation of CREW 430, this intensive course provides hands-on experience as the student editorial team applies the skills acquired in the first semester to edit, produce, and market Portal, the Creative Writing and Journalism department's literary magazine. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: CREW 430.
CREW 440 (3) Writing for Television Workshop
A workshop course for students wishing to work on a television script in Movie-Of-The-Week form, or for an original series, including the development of a 'series bible.' Also offers opportunity to develop a MOW as a 'back-door pilot' from which a series could be 'spun off.' (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in either CREW 240 or CREW 241.
CREW 441 (3) Digital Storytelling
A workshop and lab course in which students will write and produce a journalistic or dramatic project for the web, with the guidance and support of the instructor. (0:0:3)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" in one of CREW 200, CREW 201, CREW 202, CREW 240, CREW 241, CREW 300, or permission of instructor.
CREW 442 (3) Script Development Workshop
A lab course in which students will complete and/or produce portions of an original script for stage, film, TV or radio, with the guidance and support of the instructor. (0:0:3)
Prerequisite: One of CREW 340, CREW 341, CREW 440, or permission of the instructor.
CREW 443 (3) Writing Audio Drama (Ends Aug 2011)
A workshop course for students wishing to work on an audio drama appropriate for broadcast on radio or the Web. Some scripts will be produced for broadcast. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "B-" grade in either CREW 240 or CREW 241.
CREW 450 (3) Directed Studies in Writing and Publishing I
An opportunity for advanced-level students to work with an instructor in a tutorial situation in order to further polish skills developed in senior writing or publishing workshops. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: At least 12 credits of CREW courses 300-level or higher and permission of the instructor.
CREW 451 (3) Directed Studies in Writing and Publishing II
A continuation of CREW 450. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: CREW 450 and permission of the instructor.
CREW 452 (3) Special Projects in Writing and Publishing
An opportunity for advanced-level students to work with an instructor in a tutorial situation in order to complete a significant project such as a book or multimedia application. Credit for this course may also be given to students who complete, under the supervision of an instructor from the department, a part-time or full-time internship in a relevant profession. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: At least 12 credits of CREW courses 300-level or higher and permission of the instructor.
CREW 475 (3) Internships in Writing and Publishing
A year-long course offering applied experience in a professional setting, in journalism or publishing. Includes a fall internship preparation course, and a minimum 60 hours in the workplace, plus a support seminar, in the spring. Preference will be given to students who have not previously taken this course. (0:1:0 —60 for 30 weeks)
Prerequisite: Min. "A-" in either two publishing courses 200-level and above, including one 300-level or above; or two journalism or creative non-fiction courses 200-level and above, including one 300-level or above and, in both cases, an interview.