I'm taking a class on teaching creative writing in my grad school program, and coming up, we'll be working on CVs. A common question that's being raised is, "What the hell is a CV?" Answer: A CV is a Curriculum Vitae.

That didn't help you much, did it? According to the helpful handout I found, "The curriculum vitae (C.V.) is a comprehensive statement of your educational background and your teaching and research experience. In academic circles, the C.V. is the cornerstone of any application for employment, funding, award, or fellowship. In fact, many search committees report that the first thing they look at to determine a candidate's suitability, is the experiences listed on the C.V.. Therefore, it is extremely important that your C.V. reflect the range and scope of your interests, as well as highlight your particular teaching and research strengths."

Yawn. How do you put one together? Read on.