Creative Writing (CMC201c)
Vietnamese title: Sản xuất nội dung sáng tạo
Credits: 3

Description:
This specialization explores three key genres of creative writing: short story, narrative essay, and memoir. You will learn the techniques used by skilled writers to craft compelling stories with memorable characters, engaging settings, and fresh descriptive styles. You will also analyze and provide constructive feedback on peer writing. In the Capstone project, you will draft, revise, and complete an original story in the genre of your choice. Through four courses, each focusing on a specific aspect of writing and taken in any order, you will enhance your writing skills, refine your ability to critique others' work, and draw inspiration from the literature you already enjoy reading.

Learning outcomes:
Understand and demostrate how to develop the craft of plot.
Develop the craft of Character
Develop the craft of Setting and Description
Develop the Craft of Style

Student tasks:
1. Join the online course (spec.) when being invited by the admin.
2. Enroll in each MOOC of spec., regularly study MOOCs at least 5hrs/week by watching videos, reading materials, taking quizzes, doing assignments... as required
3. Respect the Coursera Code of Conduct, at https://learner.coursera.help/hc/en-us/articles/208280036-Coursera-Code-of-Conduct
3. Keep online learning progress promptly (bonus will be awarded)
4. Communicate and discuss in forum
5. Attend offline sessions in the Campus (Optional)
6. Must complete all MOOCs of spec. with certification in order to take the Final Exam at Campus

Tools:

Materials:
description: https://www.coursera.org/learn/craft-of-plot?specialization=creative-writing
publisher: Coursera
note: MOOC1:The Craft of Plot
description: https://www.coursera.org/learn/craft-of-character?specialization=creative-writing
publisher: Coursera
note: MOOC2:The Craft of Character
description: https://www.coursera.org/learn/craft-of-setting-and-description?specialization=creative-writing
publisher: Coursera
note: MOOC3: The Craft of Setting and Description
description: https://www.coursera.org/learn/craft-of-style?specialization=creative-writing
publisher: Coursera
note: MOOC4: The Craft of Style,
description: https://www.coursera.org/learn/story-writing-project
publisher: Coursera
note: MOOC5:Your Story: Capstone
description: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/creative-writing
publisher: Coursera
note: Creative Writing

Assessments:
category: Final Exam
type: Final exam
weight: 100.0
duration: 90 mins
question_type: CLO1,CLO2, CLO3, CLO4
no_question: Essay
knowledge_and_skill: 2
grading_guide: All 5 MOOCs
note: For the final exam, students answer two questions: one theoretical question and one practical question.
For the practical question, students are asked to apply all skills they have learned in the course to create a story of minimum 400 words, either fiction or nonfiction. The topic of the story is given by the exam board. The exam topics will revolve around the areas previously covered.
The story should involve a plot, character, setting and description and show their style. The writing must include the following elements:
1. A clear plot structure: with beginning, development, climax, and resolution.
2. Well-developed, consistent, and memorable characters.
3. A vividly described setting in terms of time and space, rich in sensory detail.
4. Use of creative language that reflects a personal and distinctive writing style.

Schedule:
session: Introduction to the online course (Off-line 1.5h)
Module 1 (MOOC 1):
Unit 1:
- Welcome
- Introduction to the craft of plot
- What is plot?
- How does plot shape a narrative?
- What makes a strong plot?
- How is plot different from a story?
Unit 2:
- What story structure is?
- How to sequence the events in your plot?
learning_outcomes: I
T
materials: CMC201c
session: Module 2 (MOOC 1):
Unit 3:
- What is a scene?
- How does a scene move plot forward?
- How to difference between telling and showing.
-The five key elements each scene should have.
Unit 4: 3h
- How to edit and revise work.
- There are a twenty-one point checklist on what to do once you have a completed first draft.
learning_outcomes: I
T
materials: CMC201c
session: Module 1 (MOOC 2):
Unit 1:
- Introduction to The Craft of Character.
- What happens in the writer's mind before any words are written on the paper?
- Discuss desire.
- Conclude about discovering Characters from Your Life and Elsewhere
Uinit 2:
- How to Creating Characters on the Page
- Discuss how the plot.
learning_outcomes: I
T
session: Module 2 (MOOC 2):
Unit 3:
- How do we lead a reader to a world that feels real?
- Discuss in this module considerations involved in planning for these realities.
Unit 4:
- How to set your characters free.. and give them somewhere to go.
learning_outcomes: I
T
session: Module1 (MOOC3):
Unit 1:
- Introduction to The Craft of Setting and Description.
- Why Description Matters
Writing a great short story is like conveying a dream.
Unit 2:
- How to pack your fiction with "vitamin-rich" detail.
- Discuss in this module
session: Module 2 (MOOC3):
Unit 3:
- How to create settings both familiar and unfamiliar to you, while avoiding common missteps.
- Guided through several meditation exercises as you practice "imaginative research".
Unit 4:
- How to pack your fiction with "vitamin-rich" detail.
- Discuss in this module
learning_outcomes: I
T
session: Module 1 (MOOC 4):
Unit 1:
- Introduction to The Craft of Style
- How to stylistic difficulty of any prose writer, being clear.
- Discuss in this module
Unit 2:
- How to the use of nouns and verbs.
learning_outcomes: I
T
session: Module 2 (MOOC 4):
Unit 3:
- Know how to use words to create humor, clarity, cleanliness
- Discuss in this module
Unit 4:
- Understand how to express ideas in the form of physical things in a narrative world.
learning_outcomes: I
T
session: Module 1 (MOOC 5):
Unit 1:
- Introduction to Capstone & Researching the Current State
Unit 4:
- How to give good critique.
- Present a sample story and sample workshop.
- Write critiques of three of your fellow students’ work while they are busy critiquing yours.
learning_outcomes: U
session: Module 2 (MOOC 5):
- Using Critique and Sanding
- Rewriting and Publication
- Finish the final version of your story
learning_outcomes: U
session: Module 2 (MOOC 5):
- Using Critique and Sanding
- Rewriting and Publication
- Finish the final version of your story
learning_outcomes: U
session: Review MOOC 1,2,3,4 (1,5h)
Deadline of coursera completion: End of Friday of the week.
learning_outcomes: I
T