Week-by-Week Schedule
Subject to adjustment. Check Brightspace for updated readings.
Week 1 • Sep 2-4
Topic: Introductions & Course Overview
- Tue 9/2: Syllabus, workshop norms, craft lexicon intro
- Thu 9/4: In-class writing: micro-fiction exercise
Week 2 • Sep 9-11
Topic: Fiction Craft - Voice & POV
- Tue 9/9: Reading discussion + voice/POV lesson
- Thu 9/11: Workshop prep; voice exercise
Week 3 • Sep 16-18
Topic: Fiction Craft - Character & Desire
- Tue 9/16: Reading discussion + character lesson
- Thu 9/18: In-class: gesture-against-words exercise
Week 4 • Sep 23-25
Topic: Fiction Craft - Scene & Pacing
- Tue 9/23: Reading discussion (TBA)
- Thu 9/25: Micro-tension & beat analysis
Week 5 • Sep 30 - Oct 2
Topic: AI Unit - Dialectical Prompting I
- Tue 9/30: Intro to DP; BRIEF+QA framework
- Thu 10/2: A1 Due: First DP session (design prompt, run A/B, log contradictions)
Week 6 • Oct 7-9
Topic: AI Unit - Dialectical Prompting II
- Tue 10/7: Fiction discussion: "Victory Lap" (Saunders), "Apollo" (Adichie)
- Thu 10/9: A2 Due: Debugging AI outputs (hallucination, flatness, over-literal)
Week 7 • Oct 14-16
Topic: Fiction Workshop I
- Tue 10/14: Workshop Group A
- Thu 10/16: Workshop Group B
Fiction drafts due Mon 10/13 by 11:59 PM (for workshopped students)
Week 8 • Oct 21-23
Topic: Creative Nonfiction - Truth & Reflection
- Tue 10/21: CNF reading discussion + Claim Ledger lesson
- Thu 10/23: Reflection exercise; Domestic→Policy Pivot
Week 9 • Oct 28-30
Topic: Guest Visit - Aaron Hamburger
- Tue 10/28: Guest: Aaron Hamburger (author visit & Q&A)
- Thu 10/30: CNF craft lesson: Scene vs. Summary
Week 10 • Nov 4-6
Topic: CNF Workshop I
- Tue 11/4: Workshop Group A
- Thu 11/6: Workshop Group B
CNF drafts due Mon 11/3 by 11:59 PM (for workshopped students)
Week 11 • Nov 11-13
Topic: Revision Strategies
- Tue 11/11: Revision workshop: Discovery→Shape drafts
- Thu 11/13: A3 Due: Use DP to revise one scene from your fiction or CNF
Week 12 • Nov 18-20
Topic: Image Systems & Endings
- Tue 11/18: Image system lesson + examples
- Thu 11/20: After-image endings; in-class exercise
Week 13 • Nov 25
Topic: Portfolio Work Session
- Tue 11/25: Portfolio peer review & conferencing
- Thu 11/27: Thanksgiving - No Class
Week 14 • Dec 2-4
Topic: Final Revision & Craft Mastery
- Tue 12/2: Trim scaffolding; prose-level revision
- Thu 12/4: A4 Due: Final DP Process Note + Reflection Essay
Week 15 • Dec 9-11
Topic: Course Wrap-Up
- Tue 12/9: Portfolio prep; final questions
- Thu 12/11: Last class - celebration & reflection
📌 Final Portfolio Due
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 by 11:59 PM
Submit via Brightspace:
- Revised Fiction Story (1500-2500 words)
- Revised Creative Nonfiction Essay (1500-2500 words)
- Cover letter explaining revision choices