10 Questions to Help You Write Your Reflective Essay

To help you compose your reflective essay (3-5 double-spaced pages), here are ten questions to ask yourself about your overall ENG 3351 experience and your development as a creative writer. Your primary audience for this reflective essay will be me since I will be using this piece of writing as a guide to your portfolio. Your essay will offer me a way of reading the work in your portfolio and should help me understand what you have learned from your entire body of work for this class.

1. What is your “English 3351” story? Where did you begin? What happened along the way? Where have you ended up?
2. Check out the course syllabus again. What are the goals for this class? Which goals do you feel you’ve accomplished this semester?
3. What were the challenges you faced this semester? How did you deal with those challenges?
4. What do you see in all the work you’ve completed for this class? Discuss each assignment individually, if you wish. What was difficult/easy? How has all the work in this class helped you develop as a writer?
5. What do you know about yourself as a writer now that you didn’t know before the start of this class?
6. What strategies have you learned to use to make your writing more effective?  What were the things that helped you learn in this class?
7. What were some of the important questions for you this semester? What important questions about creative writing do you plan on investigating after this class is over?
8. In terms of your development as a writer, what do you still need to work out in your mind to reach your goals?
9. What do you still want to know more about? After all of our readings/discussions in class, what do you plan on investigating further?
10. Overall, what have you learned in this class? What have you learned about the craft of creative writing, revision, about yourself? Do you consider yourself a more confident writer now?

Final Portfolio Guidelines

A writing portfolio is a collection of REVISED writing assignments that are representative of a student's work throughout an entire semester. 

Your Google Drive shared folder will count as your final portfolio for this course. As discussed at the beginning of the semester, your final portfolio is worth 50% of your final course grade. Bear in mind that I will grade your final portfolio as a whole--not as the average of different project grades. Also, incomplete portfolios may not receive a passing grade. 

YOUR FINAL PORTFOLIO IS DUE ON SUNDAY, MAY 8TH BY 10PM. No late work will be accepted.

Below is an up-to-date list of all the files that you should have in your shared Google Drive folder by the assignment deadline. I have also included the correct file names. Finally, I would encourage all of you to visit the UTRGV Writing Center (STAC 3.119) prior to the deadline for assistance with any grammar-related issues in any of your assignments.

ASSIGNMENT	FILE NAME IN GOOGLE DRIVE
Creative Nonfiction	Nonfiction_YourFullName
Short Fiction	Fiction_YourFullName
Dramatic Scene	Drama_YourFullName
Free Verse Poetry	Poetry_YourFullName
Reflective Essay	Reflection_YourFullName

Week 16 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, May 2nd

• Final Portfolio Guidelines & Reflective Essay
• On Publishing & MFA Programs
• Homework
• continue revising ALL assignments in Google Drive
• compose Reflective Essay
• in Google Drive, title file like this: Reflection_YourFullName

Wednesday, May 4th

• STUDY DAY [NO CLASS]
• Homework
• continue revising ALL assignments in Google Drive
• continue composing Reflective Essay

Sunday, May 8th

• FINAL PORTFOLIO DUE BY 10PM

Week 15 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, April 25th

• Q&A with Guest Poet Rodney Gomez
• Homework
• compose WA#4 in Google Drive
• in Google Drive, name your file like this: Poetry_YourFullName
• Guidelines for this assignment
• Compose a series of free verse poems
• Your poetry should
• be SINGLE-SPACED and cannot exceed three (3) pages
• include concrete imagery and make use of figurative language (42-50)
• consider all of the following
• meter and rhythm (31-38)
• "music" of poetry (38-42)
• diction and syntax (50-54)
• print/bring three (3) copies of your poems to class on Wednesday for Workshop #7

Wednesday, April 27th

• Workshop #7: Free Verse Poetry
• Homework
• revise Poetry in Google Drive
• REVISED poetry due for instructor feedback with Final Portfolio (Sunday, May 8 by 10pm)

Reading Response #17: Starkey, pgs. 14-54

Post your reading response to Starkey, pgs. 14-54, below.  

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Week 13 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, April 11th

• **Guest Professor: Thomas de la Cruz**
• Workshop #5: Dramatic Scene
• Homework
• revise Dramatic Scene draft in Google Drive
• print/bring three (3) copies of REVISED Dramatic Scene draft to class on Wednesday for Workshop #6

Wednesday, April 13th

• Workshop #6: Dramatic Scene
• Homework
• revise Dramatic Scene draft in Google Drive
• REVISED Dramatic Scene due for instructor feedback by 10pm on Friday, 4/15
• Read Starkey, pgs. 14-54
• post Reading Response #17 on course blog by 10pm on Sunday, 4/17

Reading Response #16: Bone China, pgs. 322-328

Post your reading response to Bone China, pgs. 322-328, below.  

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Week 12 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, April 4th

• Discuss Love on the B-Line
• Reading/Writing Activity
• Homework
• read Bone China, pgs. 322-328
• post Reading Response #16 on our course blog by 10pm on Tuesday, 4/5
• Writing Assignment
• using the STAGEPLAY FORMAT, compose a 2-3 page scene wherein the central conflict between your two characters revolves around their differences/similarities in race or gender.
• print/bring two (2) copies of your new dialogue to class on Wednesday for group activity

Wednesday, April 6th

• Quiz #9
• Discuss Bone China
• Reading/Writing Activity
• Homework
• compose WA#3 in your Google Drive shared folder
• in Google Drive, name your file like this: Drama_YourFullName
• using the STAGEPLAY FORMAT, compose a short scene wherein the central conflict between your two characters revolves around their differences/similarities in relation to a theme of your choice (e.g. politics, gender roles, reality TV, iOS vs. Android, etc.).
• Your scene should
• be between 3-5 pages
• include a creative main title
• include no more than two characters
• include one prop (animate or inanimate)
• pring/bring three (3) copies of your scene to class on Monday for Workshop #5

Reading Response #15: Love on the B-Line, pgs. 316-322

Post your reading response to Love on the B-Line, pgs. 316-322, below.  

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Reading Response #14: Now We’re Really Getting Somewhere, pgs. 310-316

Post your reading response to Now We’re Really Getting Somewhere, pgs. 310-316, below.  

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Week 11 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, March 28th

• Discuss Trash Anthem
• Reading/Writing Activity
• Homework
• read Now We're Getting Somewhere, pgs. 310-316
• post Reading Response #14 on our course blog by 10pm on Tuesday, 3/29
• Writing Assignment
• using the STAGEPLAY FORMAT, re-write your dialogue and incorporate at least one (1) object that is representative of your characters' major conflict.
• print/bring two (2) copies of your new dialogue to class on Wednesday for group activity

Wednesday, March 30th

• Quiz #8
• Discuss Now We're Getting Somewhere
• Reading/Writing Activity
• Homework
• Read Love on the B-Line pgs. 316-322
• post Reading Response #15 on course blog by 10pm on Sunday, 4/3
• Writing Assignment
• using the STAGEPLAY FORMAT, re-write your dialogue and incorporate at least one (1) SOUND that impacts your characters directly
• print/bring two (2) copies of your new dialogue to class on Monday for group activity

Reading Response #13: Trash Anthem, pgs. 305-309

Post your reading response to Trash Anthem, pgs. 305-309, below.  

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Reading Response #12: Trifles

Post your reading response to Trifles, below.  

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Week 10 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, March 21st

• Discuss Starkey, pgs. 233-284
• Writing Activity
• Homework
• read Trifles (available under 'Readings')
• post Reading Response #12 on our course blog by 10pm on Tuesday, 3/22
• Writing Assignment
• create a character based on the attributes of two friends and/or famous personalities; use CHARACTER SHEET if desired
• using the STAGEPLAY FORMAT, compose a monologue where your character discusses a talent that he/she possesses
• print/bring two (2) copies of your monologue to class on Wednesday for group activity

Wednesday, March 23rd

• Quiz #7
• Discuss Trifles
• Reading & Writing Activity
• Homework
• Read Trash Anthem pgs. 305-309
• post Reading Response #13 on course blog by 10pm on Sunday, 3/27
• Writing Assignment
• create a second character based on the attributes of two friends and/or famous personalities; use CHARACTER SHEET if desired
• using the STAGEPLAY FORMAT, compose a dialogue (1-2 pages) where the conflict revolves around your new character's desire for the same talent as your original character
• print/bring two (2) copies of your dialogue to class on Monday for group activity

Reading Response #11: Starkey, pgs. 233-284

Post your reading response to Starkey, pgs. 233-284, below.  

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Week 8 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, March 7th

• Workshop #3: Fiction
• Homework
• revise Fiction draft in Google Drive
• print/bring three (3) copies of REVISED Fiction draft to class on Wednesday for Workshop #4

Wednesday, March 9th

• Workshop #4: Fiction
• Homework
• revise Fiction draft in Google Drive
• REVISED Fiction draft due for instructor feedback by 10pm on Friday, 3/11
• Read Starkey, pgs. 233-284
• post Reading Response #11 on course blog by 10pm on Sunday, 3/20

Reading Response #10: "And You Thought Pedo Meant Fart" and "Tacos o Lonches"

Post your reading response to "And You Thought Pedo Meant Fart" and "Tacos o Lonches," below.  

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Week 7 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, February 29th

• Discuss "Wolf's Head Lake" and "Recuerdo"
• Writing/Reading Activity & Complication (Dialogue)
• Homework
• re-write fictional narrative with new complication
• 200-300 words
• print/bring hard copy of your narrative to class on Wednesday
• read "And You Thought Pedo Meant Fart" and "Tacos o Lonches" (available on our course blog under 'Readings')
• post Reading Response #10 on our course blog by 10pm on Tuesday, 3/1

Wednesday, March 2nd

• Quiz #6
• Q&A with Guest Author: Thomas de la Cruz
• Homework
• compose WA#2 in your Google Drive shared folder
• compose a short-short story (800-1000 words) that involves the characters you created during Week 5
• provide a TITLE for your narrative
• Follow MLA guidelines (double-spaced; name & class info; page numbers)
• Name your file like this in your Google Drive shared folder: Fiction_YourFullName
• print/bring three (3) copies of your fictional narrative to class on Monday for Workshop #3

Reading Response #9: "Wolf's Head Lake" and "Recuerdo," pgs. 164-169

Post your reading response to "Wolf's Head Lake" and "Recuerdo," pgs. 164-169, below.  

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Reading Response #8: "Popular Mechanics" and "Reunion," pgs. 155-158

Post your reading response to "Popular Mechanics" and "Reunion," pgs. 155-158, below.  

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Week 6 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, February 22nd

• Discuss "The Hit Man" and "A Kind of Flying"
• Writing/Reading Activity & Complication (Setting)
• Homework
• re-write fictional narrative with new complication
• print/bring hard copy to class on Wednesday
• read "Popular Mechanics" and "Reunion," pgs. 155-158
• post Reading Response #8 on our course blog by 10pm on Tuesday, 2/23

Wednesday, February 24th

• Quiz #5
• Discuss "Popular Mechanics" and "Reunion"
• Writing/Reading Activity & Complication (Point of View)
• Homework
• re-write fictional narrative with new complication
• new word limit: 200-300 words
• print/bring hard copy of your narrative to class on Monday
• Read "Wolf's Head Lake" and "Recuerdo," pgs. 164-169
• post Reading Response #9 on our course blog by 10pm on Sunday, 2/28

Reading Response #7: "The Hit Man" and "A Kind of Flying," pgs. 149-155

Post your reading response to "The Hit Man" and "A Kind of Flying," pgs. 149-155, below.  

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Reading Response #6: "An Angel" and "Loser," pgs. 145-149

Post your reading response to "An Angel" and "Loser", pgs. 145-149,, below.  

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Week 5 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, February 15th

• Discuss Starkey, pgs. 98-141
• Writing Activity: Creating Characters
• Homework
• print/bring character descriptions to class on Wednesday for writing activity
• read "An Angel" and "Loser," pgs. 145-149
• post Reading Response #6 on our course blog by 10pm on Tuesday, 2/16

Wednesday, February 17th

• Quiz #4
• Discuss "An Angel" and "Loser"
• Writing Activity & Complications
• Homework
• compose a 100-120 word fictional narrative that 1) includes the character you created/described and 2) the complication received in class
• print/bring hard copy of your narrative to class on Monday for class activity
• Read "The Hit Man" and "A Kind of Flying," pgs. 149-155
• post Reading Response #7 on our course blog by 10pm on Sunday, 2/21

Reading Response #5: Starkey, pgs. 98-141

Post your reading response to Starkey, pgs. 98-141, below.  

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Week 4 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, February 8th

• Workshop #1: Creative Nonfiction
• Homework
• revise Nonfiction draft in Google Drive
• print/bring three (3) copies of REVISED Nonfiction draft to class on Wednesday for Workshop #2

Wednesday, February 10th

• Workshop #2: Creative Nonfiction
• Homework
• revise cnf draft in Google Drive
• REVISED Nonfiction due for instructor feedback by 10pm on Friday, 2/12
• Read Starkey, pgs. 98-141
• post Reading Response #5 on course blog by 10pm on Sunday, 2/14

Reading Response #4: “In Bed,” “El Toro Rojo,” and “The Witching Hour” (220-223; 226-229)

Post your reading response to “In Bed,” “El Toro Rojo,” and “The Witching Hour” (220-223; 226-229), below.  

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Week 3 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, February 1st

• Discuss "The Mute Sense," "My Papa's Waltz," and "Westbury Court" (214-220)
• Writing Activity: Resurrections, according to Roland Barthes
• Discussion Leader Sign-up
• Homework
• read “In Bed,” “El Toro Rojo,” and “The Witching Hour” (220-223; 226-229)
• post Reading Response #4 on our course blog by 10pm on Tuesday, 2/2
• bring a photograph that includes both you and your family to class on Wednesday

Wednesday, February 3rd

• Quiz #3
• Discuss “In Bed,” “El Toro Rojo,” and “The Witching Hour” (220-223; 226-229)
• Writing Activity: TBA
• Discuss Writing Assignment #1: Nonfiction
• Homework
• Compose WA#1 in your Google Drive shared folder
• compose a personal narrative (600-800 words) that details an important/formative moment in your life.
• provide a TITLE for your narrative
• Follow MLA guidelines (include name & class info and page numbers; double-spaced)
• Name your file like this in Google Drive: Nonfiction_YourFullName
• print/bring three (3) copies of your nonfiction narrative to class on Monday for Workshop #1

Reading Response #3: “The Mute Sense,” “My Papa’s Waltz,” and “Westbury Court” (214-220)

Post your reading response to “The Mute Sense,” “My Papa’s Waltz,” and “Westbury Court” (214-220), below. 

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Reading Response #2: Starkey, pgs. 170-209

Post your reading response to Starkey, pgs. 170-209, below. 

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.

Week 2 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, January 25th

• **MEET IN BUS 217 (COMPUTER LAB)**
• Discuss Stegner's "Creative Writing"
• Google Drive setup
• Discussion Leader Sign-up
• Homework
• read Starkey, pgs. 170-209 (available under "Readings")
• post Reading Response #2 on our course blog by 10pm on Tuesday, 1/26
• bring a photograph of yourself to class on Wednesday

Wednesday, January 27th

• Quiz #2
• Discuss Starkey reading
• Activity: Resurrections, according to Roland Barthes
• Homework
• read "The Mute Sense," "My Papa's Waltz," and "Westbury Court" pgs. 214-220
• post Reading Response #3 on our course blog by 10pm on Sunday, 1/31
• bring a photograph of a family member to class on Monday

Reading Response #1: Wallace Stegner's "On Creative Writing"

Post your reading response to Wallace Stegner's "On Creative Writing" below. 

Here are the guidelines:

1. Reading responses must be AT LEAST 350 words.
2. Include your full name at the end of your comments. Unnamed comments will be deleted.
3. From the "Comment As" drop-down menu, choose Anonymous, then click "Publish."
4. Reading responses are due by 10pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading

Week 1 Agenda [Tentative]

Wednesday, January 20th

• Course & Student Introductions
• Activity: What is Creative Writing?
• Homework
• print/read/bring Stegner's "On Creative Writing" to class for discussion on Monday
• post Reading Response #1 on our course blog by 10pm on Sunday, 1/24
• On Monday, 1/25, meet in BUS 217 (Computer Lab)

Welcome to ENGL 3351!

The purpose of this blog is to provide an online space where all of our class materials will be available. 

On the blog itself, I will post:

• weekly agendas & homework
• announcements, reminders, offers of help
• the occasional Youtube video, meme, or link

On the right side of our blog you will find:

• my contact information
• our syllabus
• Google Drive instructions
• course readings
• workshop forms sheets
• other helpful documents and links

At the top of our blog, you will find:

• the 'Readings' section
• Includes select course readings (check syllabus)
• the 'Forms' section
• includes workshop forms for all four major writing assignments
• the 'Links' section
• includes supplemental readings and links

Essentially, if you need information about this course, you need only visit this blog and it's likely you'll find your answers. So, browse around and get to know the blog well. 

I'm looking forward to a fun and meaningful semester!