Creative Writing
The Department offers a Creative Writing option within the English Major as well as through the Honours Programme. The requirements for MajorsProgramme are that a student complete the normal English Major requirements in terms of both historical coverage and course restrictions as explained under the MajorProgramme along with courses from relevant creative writing areas, as indicated below. Requirements for the Creative Writing option for Honours students can be found on the Honours Programme page
Mandatory:
- ENGL 2195 Introduction to Creative Writing: Poetry and Drama
- ENGL 2196 Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction and Screenwriting
Plus at least two of the following courses:
- ENGL 3123 Creative Writing: Poetry
- ENGL 3143 Creative Writing: Fiction
- ENGL 3163 Creative Writing: Drama
- ENGL 3183 Creative Writing: Screenwriting and Writing for the New Media
Any student who is interested in this program should consult the Director of Creative Writing, Professor Ross Leckie (Carleton Hall 245-2). For more information on the MA in Creative Writing, please visit the Creative Writing homepage.
Courses in Writing
In spite of recent technological changes, our culture still requires high levels of literacy. Skills in reading and writing are basic to other subjects at the university as well as to English courses. They are also valuable for any career a student may pursue after graduation. All the Department’s courses include an emphasis on writing, with all first-year courses providing in-class writing instruction in improving writing skills. Those with a specific focus on writing are described below. The Department of English offers two courses in expository writing:
- Fundamentals of Clear Writing (ENGL 1103); and
- Expository Writing (ENGL 3110).
The Department also regularly offers six courses in Creative Writing:
- Introduction to Creative Writing: Poetry and Drama (ENGL 2195),
- Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction and Screenwriting (ENGL 2196),
- Creative Writing: Poetry (ENGL 3123),
- Creative Writing: Short Fiction (ENGL 3143),
- Creative Writing: Drama (ENGL 3163), and
- Screenwriting and Writing for the New Media (ENGL 3183).
All these courses include workshops devoted to the analysis of assignments written by the students.
ENGL 1000 is designed mainly for Arts students, but is open to students from all faculties; it is normally required for the English Major and for Honours. The course helps students improve their practical skills in critical reading and written analysis; a substantial portion of the course is devoted to improving writing skills.
ENGL 1103 is designed for students who wish to write standard English with proficiency. It teaches writing skills including punctuation, grammar, diction, sentence structure, paragraph construction, and general essay structure. Enrolment in ENGL 1103 is limited to 35 students per section.
ENGL 1144 and ENGL 1145 are large lecture courses; their weekly tutorials emphasize writing, with the focus in ENGL 1145 being on the basic mechanical skills and the focus in ENGL 1144 being on larger rhetorical elements. These courses are available to all UNB students who want a literature course with some in-class emphasis on writing. These courses are designed to teach reading and writing skills to students from all disciplines.
ENGL 3110 is an advanced composition course designed for students considering careers in which writing is an important element (journalism, for instance).
ENGL 2195 and ENGL 2196 are second-year Creative Writing courses which discuss the craft of poetry and fiction, though some attention is also given to drama and screenwriting.
ENGL 3123, ENGL 3143, ENGL 3163, and ENGL 3183 are advanced Creative Writing courses designed for students with a strong interest in writing fiction, poetry, or drama, as well as participating in screenwriting and writing for the new media. Enrolment in these courses is limited, and students should register as early as possible. Priority for admission will be given to students intending to major or honour in English.