undergraduate creative writing

Wr 212 Introductory Fiction Writing (4)
Introduces the beginning fiction writer to basic techniques of developing character, point of view, plot, and story idea in fiction. Includes discussion of student work. Recommended prerequisite: Freshman Inquiry.

Wr 213 Introductory Poetry Writing (4)
Introduces the beginning writer of poetry to basic techniques for developing a sense of language, meter, sound, imagery, and structure. Includes discussion of professional examples and student work. May be repeated twice for a total of 12 credits. Recommended: Freshman Inquiry.

Wr 214 Beginning Non-fiction Writing (4)
An introduction to writing with the major forms and techniques of literary nonfiction, this course explores modern classics by such writers as David Foster Wallace, Marjane Satrapi, and Dave Eggers, and delves into the skills that have fostered their art. Beginning with the raw material of exercises in description, dialogue, and reportage, we'll be writing and workshopping short works of creative nonfiction. May be repeated once for a total of 8 credits.

Wr 228 News Writing (4)
An introductory course in news reporting and writing. Focus on identifying newsworthiness, writing leads, constructing news stories, interviewing, and attributing quotes. Students learn to gather local news, writing some stories in a computer lab on deadline. Recommended: Wr 121 or Freshman Inquiry. May be repeated once for a total of 8 credits.

Wr 312 Intermediate Fiction Writing (4)
Continues the study of fictional techniques introduced in Wr 212. Includes such advanced instruction as variations on the classic plot, complex points of view, conventions of genre, and development of ideas for future use. Emphasizes discussion of student work. Recommended: B or above in Wr 212. May be repeated once for a total of 8 credits. Consent of instructor required.

Wr 313 Intermediate Poetry Writing (4)
Continues the study of poetry writing techniques introduced in Wr 213. Includes additional instruction in poetic forms, variations on traditional forms, and experimental forms. Emphasizes discussion of student work. Recommended: B or above in Wr 213. May be repeated once for a total of 8 credits. Consent of instructor required.
Wr 407/507 Writing Seminar (Credit to be arranged.)
Consent of instructor.

Wr 410/510 Selected Topics in Writing (Credit to be arranged.)

Wr 412/512 Advanced Fiction Writing (4)
Further refines technical skills by demanding longer and more ambitious works of fiction by the advanced writer. Students will have an opportunity to do research and can expect to confront a variety of technical problems emerging from class discussion. Recommended: Wr 312. May be repeated once for a total of 8 credits. Consent of instructor required.

Wr 413 Advanced Poetry Writing (4)
Further refines technical skills by demanding more ambitious works of poetry by the advanced writer. Students will have an opportunity to do research and can expect to confront a variety of technical problems emerging from class discussion. The exploration of various techniques, schools, and poetic voices will be encouraged. Recommended: Wr 313. May be repeated once for a total of 8 credits. Consent of instructor required.

Wr 416/516 Screenwriting (4)
Students will be introduced to the process of conceiving, structuring, writing, rewriting, and marketing a screenplay for the contemporary American marketplace. “Screenplay paradigms” will be discussed, and a variety of movies will be analyzed. May be repeated once for a total of 8 credits.

Wr 428/528 Advanced News Writing (4)
Building on the journalism skills learned in News Writing and News Editing, students use the city of Portland as their laboratory, covering and writing breaking stories from community information sources like the police, courts, and city council. Students are also introduced to reporting on a regular basis from news beats oftheir choosing. Recommended: Wr 328.

*Wr 456/556 Forms of Nonfiction (4)
Explores various forms of nonfiction, including essay, personal essay, reviewing, immersion journalism, and memoir, with practice writing in each. Instructor approval required.

*Wr 457/557 Personal Essay Writing (4)
The history and contemporary use of personal essay as a mode of creative communication; gives an understanding of and practice in this kind of writing. Instructor approval required.

*Wr458/558 Magazine Writing (4)
Examines the development of both long- and short-form magazine pieces, as well as the business and economics of magazine publishing. Students write and peer-critique articles in the styles and formats of a variety of publications and magazine departments. Instructor approval required.

*Wr 459/559 Writing the Memoir (4)
Concentrates on elements necessary for writing successful personal narrative, including structure,tone/voice, dialogue, characterization, tense, and point-of-view. Memoir models, both short pieces and book-length memoirs will be read and discussed and students will turn in several pieces over the course of the term for workshop discussion. Instructor approval required.

Please note that courses with an asterisk (*) are not offered every year.