Course Syllabus

Travel Writing D

 

  

Semester & Location:	Spring 2022 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Elective Course - 3 credits
Major Disciplines:	Communication, Creative Writing, Literature
Prerequisite(s):	None
Faculty Members:	Cecilie Marie Meyer, cmm@dis.dk
Program Contact:	Sanne Rasmussen, sra@dis.dk
Time & Place:	Mondays & Thursdays, 11.40-13.00 Classroom: Fi6 Metro 105

Course Description

The world is full of fascinating people and places – and stories waiting to be told. Travel writers capture these stories and pass them on to their readers. Good travel writers make us care about the world we live in.

In this class, you will learn how to identify relevant stories, how to gather material and how to release all of this in well-written pieces. Our main focus is narrative journalism – the kind of stories you would normally see as features in travel magazines.

This is a hands-on workshop-based class. You will be writing your own stuff from the very first day. You will also be expected to find stories in the local community and approach locals to engage in conversations. Several sessions will take place outside the classroom in the streets of Copenhagen.

In the classroom, we invest a lot of time in giving each other feedback on our writings. This way you will get to improve your ability to read both your own and others’ work in a critical light, which will strengthen both your analyzing skills and writing skills.

You will also read inspiring articles by published authors, meet interesting guests, and get an insight into travel writing on a professional level.

Instructor

Cecilie Marie Meyer. Freelance writer and journalist, author of travel books, articles and essays about culture and travelling in Southern Italy. Cecilie has a masters degree in Italian language and culture and is mainly a self taught author. She is especially interested in the potential of the places and the people in the periphery - as for instance Southern Italy.

Objectives

• To learn how to use writing as a tool for discovering, sharing, and interpreting personal encounters with people, places, and cultures.
• To master important narrative techniques like writing scenes, finding your own voice, and structuring the story.
• To learn the conventions of good travel writing.
• To develop a portfolio of work that draws on your experiences during this term abroad and includes observation, description, reflection.
• To raise awareness of ethics in travel writing and pitfalls like stereotyping foreign cultures.

Expectations

I expect you to attend all class sessions unless prohibited by illness or an emergency. Participation makes up 20 % of your 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 readers 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.

Evaluation

Over the course if the semester, all students will turn in two graded main papers – one reflection essay and a more classic piece of journalistic travel writing.

In connection with the journalistic piece of travel writing (Main paper), workshopping, rewriting, and refining are important parts of the writing process. The grade you receive for this paper will be based mainly on the final version, but I will also consider the effort you put into improving the piece throughout the entire process.

You will also receive a grade for a group presentation in the end of the semester. You work in groups of 5-6, formed by me. The project will focus on a district in the city of Copenhagen. Your group will be working on the project thorughout the entire semester.

You will also receive a grade based on different writing exercises in the first two modules of the semester, People and Place.

Grade breakdown is as follows:

PARTICIPATION - 20 %

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

PEOPLE AND PLACE MODULES– 15 %

Overall grade based on various writing exercises and assignments in the first two modules of the course.

ESSAY - THE OTHERS 15 %

1,5–2 pages (line spacing 1,5) where you reflect on the topic ’The Others’. You will get sources and a proper introduction to this topic in class before you start writing.

MAIN PAPER - 30 %

3-4 pages (line spacing 1,5) from Copenhagen or from one of your travels in Denmark this semester.

GROUP PRESENTATION – 20 %

During the semester, you will be working on a group project. Through interviews with locals, you gather material for our common project Humans of Copenhagen. In one of our last sessions, your group is expected to pass on these stories to the rest of the class through an oral presentation. The grade will be based on a combination of your effort throughout the entire process and the final presentation. 

Readings

All readings will be posted on Canvas.

The following titles are examples of readings, not a complete list.

Thomas Swick – A Moving Experience
Pico Iyer – Why we Travel
Karl Ove Knausgård - A Literary Road Trip Into the Heart of Russia
William Zinsser - Travel Writing
Alexandra Fuller – Patagonia Cowboys
Jack Hart - Story Craft
Wendell Berry - An Entrance to the Woods
Geert Mak – The Bridge – A Journey Between Orient and Occident (extract)
Alain de Botton - The Art of Travel
Kapka Kassabova: Europe's Last Borde

Academic Regulations

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

• Course Enrollment and Grading
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code

 

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