MFA Fiction Workshop

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Develop artistic abilities and ultimately produce a publishable body of work by focusing intensively, under faculty guidance, on fiction. (Assignment 1)

• Learn sophisticated models for revision; sharpen reading, editorial, and analytical skills; and cultivate the ability to articulate matters of craft and literary theory, including through a pedagogical framework. (Assignments 2 & 3)

• Develop a broader knowledge base of contemporary works and current publishing trends. (Assignment 3)

• Enhance professional development with the support of a community of faculty, fellow students, and distinguished visiting writers. (Assignments 2 & 3)

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Two new, original 10-30 page fiction drafts, which can consist of short stories or novel excerpt	50%
Written workshop letters for each peer’s workshop story	40%
Reading and critical oral discussion of assigned published short stories or novel excerpts	10%

Grading Scale for the Course

Percentage	Letter Grade
93.0 and above	A
90.0 – 92.9	A-
87.0 – 89.9	B+
83.0 – 86.9	B
80.0 – 82.9	B-
77.0 – 79.9	C+
73.0 – 76.9	C
70.0 – 72.9	C-
67.0 – 69.9	D+
63.0 – 66.9	D
60.0 – 62.9	D-
Below 60.0	F

Attendance/Participation:

Attendance: Students are expected to attend every class meeting. Absences not excused by the instructor will result in the reduction of the final grade by a full letter grade for each absence. If a student is unable to seek prior permission for the absence, whether the absence will be excused is at the discretion of the instructor.

Tardiness: Students arriving at least 10 minutes late or leaving more than 10 minutes early will be considered absent for that class unless excused by the instructor. If a student is repeatedly tardy (even less than 10 minutes tardy), their grade may be reduced at the discretion of the instructor. Conflicts with arriving at class on time should be negotiated with GA supervisors to ensure ample time to get to class.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

All story drafts will be distributed electronically, and all assigned published reading will be posted to Canvas and our shared OneDrive folder.