![\"English](\"http:\/\/blogs.ufv.ca\/english\/files\/2015\/03\/English-blog-405-students.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cIs it always like this in here?\u201d I ask. The class erupts into shouts and applause.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u201d says John, \u201cyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor John Carroll\u2019s Seminar in Creative Writing (English 405) is unlike any other course offered this term: over the course of the winter semester, 21 students will work to complete their manuscripts \u2013 20 novels, and one play. Their deadlines are determined by the students themselves, but they receive guidance, feedback, and encouragement from their in-class workshop groups and John himself. \u201cEvery one of them by the end of term should have a completed piece of writing they can be proud of,\u201d John explains.<\/p>\n
Along the way, they also read, present on, and discuss a number of published novels. John directed each of the groups to pick two novels from a list; two members of the group would read one novel, and two would read the other, and the group would plan a joint presentation about the works. \u201cThese presentations were remarkably successful, innovative, and provocative,\u201d John reports. \u201cSome ran for almost two hours before I had finally to stop them. The level of learning through this kind of \u2018play\u2019 was intense and palpable, and exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n