Creative Writing Info
INFO CLASSES VISITING WRITERS LINKS STUDENT WRITING ENGLISH DEPT.			- Creative Thesis Information Due Dates Former Creative Thesis Titles and Authors    Students who are hoping to write a creative thesis (only an English major may apply to write a creative thesis) should keep in mind that creative thesis proposals are screened by the Division and must be approved by the Creative Thesis Committee. The Committee decides whether or not to grant permission based on the nature of the project, the merit of the writing sample, and the educational benefit of the project for the student. Some of the proposals for creative theses that have been approved in the past include: a series of short stories, a novella, a series of poems, a play, a novel, and a series of creative non-fiction essays. When deciding on a creative thesis, the student should be realistic about the amount of quality work that can be completed in the time allotted. Each creative thesis includes a critical introduction, in which you "place" your own writing in a context which illuminates the work in terms of its genre and artistic goals.    We encourage students to meet with members of the Creative Thesis Committee to discuss both proposals and writing samples before they turn their proposals in. Anyone who wishes to apply to write a creative thesis must submit four copies of a thesis proposal to the Division Faculty Secretary (Vollum 320) by no later than 12 noon on the first day of classes in the senior year. The proposal should include: a one or two page introduction, telling us about your proposed thesis project (including the genre in which you hope to write); your past experience as a writer (in most cases, this will be classes you have taken); and anything else you think might help us evaluate your proposal. a writing sample: six to eight poems, if you wish to write poetry or ten to twelve pages of fiction, if you wish to write fiction.    The Creative Thesis Committee will read these proposals with as much speed as possible and will notify applicants of its decision by the end of the first week of classes. Acceptance by the Creative Writing Thesis Committee is only valid for the year in which the student applies. Students who take leave from the College will, upon their return, need to submit a new proposal in order to be considered a candidate for a Creative theses.    If the proposal is rejected, students may appeal; however, appeals are rarely granted. The appeal deadline is 12 noon on Tuesday of the second week of school, four copies to the Committee Chair's office. Committee members cannot discuss with students proposals that are rejected, nor can they help students write appeals. However, given the criteria for writing creative theses, students who wish to appeal might consider revising their proposed project in order to make clear the educational benefit, and, if they think they have work that better demonstrates their abilities, students may also wish to submit new work at the time of their appeal.    The Creative Thesis Committee, in consultation with the Division faculty, will assign thesis advisers to those approved to write creative theses. Until the Committee has completed its review, all thesis registrations with specific faculty members should be considered tentative and subject to change.    Since not all creative thesis proposals are accepted and since students will want to have an adviser and a thesis topic settled by early in the semester, applicants should also consider alternate thesis topics. You should, therefore, be speaking with faculty members with whom you might want to write a critical thesis.    If the Committee approves your proposal, students will follow the same thesis schedule and meet the same thesis due dates as those students writing critical theses, with the exception of the Draft deadline, even though requirements may overlap. A calendar of specific thesis due dates for your entire senior year will be sent to you at the beginning of your thesis year or you may pick up a copy from the Division office (Vollum 320).    It is strongly recommended that students writing a creative thesis either take at least one writing workshop prior to submitting their proposal, or take one during their thesis work.    Students accepted for creative thesis work may be asked to put together a reading list appropriate to their thesis genre in cooperation with their thesis adviser. Such a reading list should reflect both the student's interests and needs in the genre, and might include critical as well as creative texts. Normally, creative thesis students give a public reading.
Last Updated: June 6, 2006