Course Syllabus

 

Description of Course

Telling true stories in captivating ways is the aim of this course. We work with storytelling in a form that employs the creative writing techniques of literature to retell a true story. The nonfiction writer does not invent events or people but conveys them in a compelling and dramatic way. In this course, we will explore the theory and practice of creative nonfiction by reading and writing in a variety of forms and subgenres, including profile, journalistic feature, memoir, travel writing, historical nonfiction, and narrative essay. The course includes a heavy writing component, and your work will be critiqued and edited in a workshop setting.

 

Learning Objectives

• To learn about the definitions, conventions, and issues surrounding the creative nonfiction writing genre.
• To consider different subgenres of creative nonfiction, and to learn how to write effectively in each.
• To practice reporting, interviewing, and other journalistic tools of nonfiction writing.
• To learn to master narrative techniques like writing scenes, structuring the story, and finding your own voice as a writer.
• To become aware of ethics when dealing with personal stories in nonfiction writing.
• To learn to critique others’ work effectively, constructively, and sensitively, in a collaborative setting.
• To develop a portfolio of work that allows you to put this understanding of the genre and its possibilities into practice.

 

Expectations

I expect you to attend all class sessions unless prohibited by illness or an emergency. Participation makes up 25 % of your total grade.

Regardless of whether the work under consideration is by a famous published writer or by a fellow student, I expect you to read it closely and come to class prepared to discuss it respectfully and thoroughly.

I expect you to turn in assignments on time (this is necessary to give your peers a chance to thoroughly consider your papers before they are workshopped) and to incorporate the constructive opinions of the workshop as you revise.

I also expect that, while being honest, you will be kind and respectful when you critique others’ work and will strive to be open and receptive when others critique yours.

 

Readings

You are expected to come to class having done the assigned readings for that day and being prepared to discuss it thoughtfully. All readings will be posted on Canvas.

Readings include, but are not limited to:

Giles Tremlett – Three Abandoned Children, two Missing Parents, and a 40-year Mystery
Sarah Menkedick – On interviewing 
Jack Hart - Story Craft (excerpt)
Lane DeGregory – Walk a Mile in Their Shoes (excerpt from The Girl in the Window and Other True Tales)
Geert Mak – The Bridge – A Journey Between Orient and Occident (excerpt)
Jon Franklin – Writing for Story (excerpt)
Kapka Kassabova – Border Ghosts
Jackson Ryan – The Ghosts of Antarctica Will Haunt the End of the World
Rebecca Giggs – Fathoms: The World in the Whale (excerpt)
Louise Juhl Dalsgaard – My Desire to Die is Purely Hypothetical (excerpt from Counting to Lilac)
Louise Juhl Dalsgaard – Mothermpty (excerpt from Counting to Lilac)
Line Vaaben – He is 21 and he just wants to get away from here 
Isabel Wilkerson – Interview - (excerpt from Telling True Stories)
Isabel Wilkerson – The Warmth of Other Suns (excerpt)
Jacqui Banaszynski – Profiles (excerpt from Telling True Stories)
Debra Gwartney – Siri Tells a Joke
Tommy Heisz – Knud Sørensen Measures Death

Evaluation

As this is a writing course, there will be frequent written exercises. Some of these exercises will occur in class and will be spontaneous and ungraded, while others will require more polishing. These exercises are designed to give you an opportunity to apply thoughtfully the lessons and techniques discussed in class.

Over the first weeks of the semester, you will be turning in several short writing assignments. Eight weeks into the semester, you will receive an overall grade based on the quality of these assignments and the effort you put into them. This grade (First Eight Weeks - Various Writing Assignments) makes up 25 % of your total grade.

You will be required to write two longer stories where you have a free choice among the subgenres of nonfiction that we work with in this class:

– Profile
– Journalistic feature
– Memoir
– Travel Writing
– Historical Nonfiction
– Narrative essay  

At the beginning of the semester, you receive a proper introduction to all subgenres. After this, you choose two different subgenres that you want to work with during the semester. 

The workshopping sessions will be your chance to receive feedback on these stories. The deadline for the final versions of both stories is not until the very end of the semester, but I expect you to be developing and writing on these stories throughout the entire semester.

The two stories make up half of your total grade – 25 % each.

Workshopping, rewriting, and refining are important parts of the writing process. The grades you receive will mainly be based on the final versions, but I will also consider the effort you put into improving the pieces throughout the entire process.

During the semester, we will be searching for inspiration to pick up from the works of experienced authors. I will put the students in charge of this treasure hunt. At the beginning of the semester, each of you will team up with a fellow student. You will be assigned an author and a selected piece and expected to give an oral presentation to the class, focusing on how we can pick up inspiration from this writer. The rest of the class will have read the same piece and be ready to take part in a conversation and discussion. You and your partner will be expedition leaders, but we are all on this inspiration hunt together.  

 

AI and good academic practice 

Good academic practice means that you are open and transparent in your use of AI. All AI-generated material must be clearly declared. Good academic practice also means never presenting the ideas or statements of others as your own. You must always refer to the ideas and statements of others with explicit and correct references. If you submit AI-generated text as part of your assignments without declaring it, this will be reported to Academic Support. 

 

Grade breakdown

PARTICIPATION - 25 %

Participation includes attendance, coming prepared to class, joining thoughtfully in class discussions, completing the readings, and doing in-class writing exercises.

Showing up is only part of the key to receiving a good participation grade. I expect you to show engagement and express yourself in the classroom and take responsibility for the development of both yourself and your fellow students.

The effort you put into the oral presentation (Picking up Inspiration from Experienced Writers) will be taken into consideration here. The same goes for the workshopping effort – giving and receiving feedback during the three workshopping sessions.

 

FIRST EIGHT WEEKS – VARIOUS WRITING ASSIGNMENTS – 25 %

Over the first weeks of the semester, you will be turning in several short writing assignments. After eight weeks, you will receive an overall grade based on the quality of these assignments and the effort you put into them.

 

STORY 1 – 25 %

3-5 pages in a subgenre of your own choice:

– Profile
– Journalistic feature
– Memoir
– Travel Writing
– Historical Nonfiction
– Narrative essay 

With my help, you develop a story idea. After this, you collect material for the story and write a first draft. In the workshop sessions, you receive feedback on the story. You edit and rewrite. Finally, by the end of the semester, you turn in a final version that will be graded. This grade will be based on the overall quality of the story, but also the effort you put into the entire process.

3-5 pages (line spacing 1,5).

 

STORY 2 – 25 %

3-5 pages in a subgenre of your own choice:

– Profile
– Journalistic feature
– Memoir
– Travel Writing
– Historical Nonfiction
– Narrative essay 

With my help, you develop a story idea. After this, you collect material for the story and write a first draft. In the workshop sessions, you receive feedback on the story. You edit and rewrite. Finally, by the end of the semester, you turn in a final version that will be graded. This grade will be based on the overall quality of the story, but also the effort you put into the entire process.

3-5 pages (line spacing 1,5).