In The Spirit Of Creative Writing, The Final Assignment Will

In the spirit of creative writing, the final assignment will be a fictional short story (4-5 pages), using our final text, Eat the Mouth That Feeds You, as inspiration and as a guiding model. While students have complete freedom to decide what to write their short story about, the following stylistic and substantive components must be present in order to receive full credit. Stylistically, students are encouraged to write in richly descriptive language that uses metaphors and/or symbols to illustrate a clear picture for the reader. Substantively, students must develop subaltern characters of color (Latinx, Chicanx, migrants, queer subjects…) and make the story partly about their struggles for justice, their strength, resistance, aspirations, deprivations, and/or contradictions. Rather than paint one-dimensional characters, students should attempt to capture the full complexity of their characters’ humanity (contradictions and all). Lastly, to connect their short story to our class, students should cite one or two academic studies from our course readings as context or references for their stories in a footnote. This citational practice will allow students to connect the themes of their story more explicitly to the topics discussed in our class. For those of you who have never written in this genre (myself included), we will be reading and discussing multiple short stories in class and hearing from practitioners on how to write one. Your short story is worth 40 points and is due to your TA by December 6 no later than 10 PM.

Paper For Above instruction

The final assignment in this creative writing course requires students to craft a fictional short story that spans four to five pages. Inspired by the course text "Eat the Mouth That Feeds You," students are encouraged to employ richly descriptive language, utilizing metaphors and symbols to craft vivid and evocative imagery that immerses the reader. The core of the assignment revolves around developing subaltern characters—such as Latinx individuals, migrants, queer subjects, or other marginalized identities—and exploring their struggles for justice, resilience, aspirations, and contradictions. Rather than depicting stereotypical or one-dimensional figures, students should aim to portray characters with complex, multifaceted human qualities, embracing their contradictions and depth. Additionally, students must connect their story to the academic themes discussed in the course by incorporating one or two scholarly references as footnotes, thereby contextualizing their narrative within broader discussions of social justice and identity. This exercise offers an opportunity for students to engage with the genre of short fiction, supported by in-class discussions and readings on effective storytelling. The completed story is due to the TA by December 6 at 10 PM and will be graded for both stylistic richness and substantive depth.

References

• García, M. (2017). Latinx Resistance and Cultural Expression. New York: Routledge.
• Flores, J. (2012). Claro de Luna: The Poetics of Chicano Identity. University of California Press.
• Rodriguez, J. (2015). Migration, Memory, and Justice: Narratives of Resistance. Harvard University Press.
• Martínez, A. (2019). Queer Latinx Voices: Stories of Resistance. Duke University Press.
• Vázquez, L. (2018). Sabor y resistencia: Chicano gastronomy and activism. University of Texas Press.
• Reed, A. (2014). Imagining Resistance: The Role of Storytelling in Social Movements. Routledge.
• Chávez, L. (2020). Borderlands and Beyond: Identity in Migration. Stanford University Press.
• Lopez, G. (2016). Writing Crossings: Literary Forms of Resistance. University of Michigan Press.
• Hernández, P. (2018). Voices from the Margins: Narratives of Latinx Struggle. Princeton University Press.
• Mendoza, S. (2020). Symbols of Strength: Metaphor and Resistance in Latinx Literature. Vanderbilt University Press.