Class 1

Wednesday 8/26—We went over the course syllabus today, looking at what you'll be expected to do this semester and how you'll be graded.

If you didn't get a syllabus, or if you lost yours, you can download one here.

We began the course talking about the nature of "plot." What is a plot, and what are the minimal requirements that make a plot. We discussed E.M. Forster's famous definition:

"The King died. Then the Queen died."

This is not a plot. This is simply a sequence of events.

"The King died. Then the Queen died of grief."

Now this would be a plot, because it includes causality. A plot answers the question "Why?"

Consider the concept of plot as you read this week's material.

HOMEWORK
Read the material for week two, as stated on the syllabus. (Most of the reading comes from the Flash Fiction Course Packet, which can be downloaded from this blog. Refer to the previous post.)
Write a Reading Response to the stories you read. An explanation of what I'm looking for from a Reading Response can be found on the syllabus.