CRW 501-001: Research for Creative Writers
Instructor: Philip Gerard
W 3:30-6:15 MO 106
NB: This version, dated 4 January 2005, is the authoritative version unless superseded by one with a later date.
Philosophy and Goals:
This is a course about being resourceful in every sense of the word: finding research resources and being able to exploit them in your creative work; using all your ingenuity and inventiveness in developing the archive for your particular project; and learning how to manage the precious and finite resources of time, energy, and money to accomplish it with outstanding success.
There is no substitute for doing research. So we will lay some classroom groundwork for each phase of your research experience, then go out in the field in search of treasure, then return to the classroom to show off our finds and learn from each other's experiences in the treasure hunt. This sharing of discoveries– and the methods used to make the discoveries– is essential and usually proves to be one of the most rewarding aspects of the course. Use your classmates as research colleagues– trade ideas, experiences, resources.
By the end of this course, the aim is that each of you will have a better grasp of your own abilities as researchers, a more open mind about what research is and how to pursue it intelligently, practical skills in using the various forms of archives, confidence in your ability to find out anything you wish to learn, and experience in applying your imagination to the fruits of your research to yield surprising and valuable creative work.
Texts:
Since there is still not a sophisticated and helpful text available that addresses the kind of research creative writers do, we will be revising my own personal text as we go (available to you free at philipgerard.com)-- defining terms, introducing a way of thinking about the process and classifying archives, and trying to balance the practical with the artistic. Each student should obtain a 3-ring binder and collect the syllabus, assignments, and other handouts in it. Also a good place to keep a copy of each assignment you do for the course. Your exercises and presentations will serve as supplementary texts.
Assignments:
1. Five short research projects due as scheduled.
2. One 15-20-minute presentation on a research problem to be assigned.
3. One long project due on the final day of class
Grading:
Five (5) short projects: 5 @ 10% ea. = 50%
One (1) presentation: = 10%
One long project: = 30%
Energetic and helpful participation: = 10%
= 100%
Schedule of Meetings & Assignments
JAN 5 Intro: Research as Investigation and Discovery
JAN 12 Short Project 1 Due: The Tools of Research. Read
JAN 19 Short Project 2 Due: The Language of the Craft.
Read The Habit of Research.
JAN 26 Short Project 3 Due: Research Plan & Budget. Read
FEB 2 Short Project 4 Due: Interrogating the Dead. Read
FEB 9 NO CLASS: Attend Writers Week Symposium
FEB 16 Short Project # 5 Due Interviewing Forrester.
FEB 23 Presentations: The Experiential Archive.
MAR 2 NO CLASS: Spring Break
MAR 9 Presentations: The Paper Archive.
MAR 16 Presentations: Interviewing Also: (Gerard and Edgerton
perform at Kenan Auditorium 7 p.m.)
MAR 23 Presentations: Using Experts.
MAR 30 NO CLASS: AWP Conference
APR 6 Presentations: The Electronic Archive.
APR 13 Presentations: The Audio-Visual Archive.
APR 20 LAST CLASS: Final Projects Due.. The Archive of Memory and Imagination.
Handouts: