Catalyst Writing Collective . ENGL 106CW
An introduction to techniques of creative writing, editing, design, presentation, and production, culminating in the quarterly publication of the English Department Literary and Arts magazine, The Catalyst. This class is a collaborative faculty-student seminar group featuring creative writing and design workshops, and facilitating the production of a dossier of creative work in both the literary and visual arts. Students who have taken the class at least once may apply during the spring quarter to be part of the editorial team for the following academic year. Contact the professor at https://catalyst.english.ucsb.edu/.
Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; consent of instructor.
4
UnitsOptional
Grading1, 2, 3
PasstimeUpper division only
Level LimitLetters and science
College
Predicted Grading Distribution
Lecture
Enrollment Trends
Past Enrollment Trends (8)
Grading Trends (20)
Rate My Professors
54
4.4
I love Donnelly!!! If you do the readings and pay attention in lecture (take notes), he tells you what's on the midterm.
The class itself is interesting and so are the novels we read. We also watched Ex Machina. The midterm is pretty much just stuff discussed in lecture but some of it was REALLY specific and it wasn't made very clear what to study. Additionally no grade I received was ever actually uploaded to Canvas. Still a fun class though!!
This was a hard class as a non English major. Unfair grading across TAs and grading expectations were not explicit. Lectures consisted of plot summaries rather than the deep insightful analyses needed to succeed on essays and the midterm. My grades were never imputed into canvas, so I don't even know what I got on the final.
Amazing professor, his class is so interesting and the required reading is fire.
My least favorite class so far at UCSB, the midterm was ridiculous and not many people did well. Be careful with your TA they have all the power. Not many people succeeded with a certain TA.
The TA (Rossi) expected a LOT for the essays for this class. Had to pull off niche and creative connections and analysis to manage an A. May have struggled because I am not an English major but I found it to be a lot of work. However, not impossible and attending office hours was helpful!
Cathy Thomas
3.3