Course Syllabus
Travel Writing C |
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| Semester & Location: |
Fall 2023 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
Communication, Creative Writing, Literature |
| Prerequisite(s): |
None |
| Faculty Member: |
Tommy Heisz (current students please use the Canvas Inbox) |
| Time & Place: |
Mondays & Thursdays 14:50 - 16:10 in Fi6-Metro 105 |
Course Description
The world is full of stories waiting to be told. Travel writers capture these stories and pass them on to their readers. Through interesting people encounters and vivid location descriptions, the best travel writing makes us care about the others and 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. You will be introduced to different storytelling techniques and get a rich chance to try those yourself. The main focus of the course 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. Some sessions will take place outside the classroom in the streets of Copenhagen where you will get a good chance to train your reporting skills through observation and interview technique.
In the classroom, we invest a lot of time in giving feedback. This happens in dedicated workshop sessions, but also on daily basis in other sessions. The goal is to strengthen both your analyzing skills and writing skills by reading your own and others’ work in a critical light and sharing feedback.
You will also get to read inspiring articles by published authors, meet interesting guests, and get an insight into travel writing on a professional level.
Instructor
Tommy Heisz. Author and freelance writer, primarily working with documentary, reportage and long-form journalism. BA from The Danish School of Journalism 2003. With DIS since 2016.
Objectives
- To get a proper introduction to efficient storytelling.
- To learn how to use writing as a tool for getting more out of personal encounters with people, places, and cultures.
- To master narrative techniques like writing scenes, finding your own voice, and structuring the story.
- To obtain writing experience and develop a portfolio of work.
- To raise awareness of ethics in travel writing and pitfalls like stereotyping foreign cultures.
Expectations
I expect you to attend all class sessions unless prevented by illness or an emergency. Participation grade is determined by attendance, tardiness, and engagement in class. Absences will affect your grade. Allowances will be made in cases of illness, but you will need to email your instructor in advance. 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 well-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 of the semester, you get to write various papers testing different skills.
The Hidden stories of Copenhagen paper is your chance to explore your new home through storytelling. You get to develop a story idea, collect material, and write a nonfiction story that takes place in the city of Copenhagen. Workshopping, rewriting, and refining are all essential 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. This paper makes up 15 % of your total grade.
Your Main Paper could also take place in Copenhagen. Or it could be from one of your travels this semester. In this paper, we are looking for three things: You must find a story that is relevant and captivating for a wide audience. You are expected to show that you can get past the journal-like kind of writing by making the story interesting for readers who don’t know you in advance. Ask yourself: Why should people read this story? What’s at stake? You are also expected to include characters since good stories are always connected to people. Finally, you must set the scene, giving the reader the feeling of being there. 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. Workshopping, rewriting, and refining are all essential parts of the writing process. The Main Paper makes up 30 % of the total grade.
You receive a separate grade (15 % of total) for the workshopping effort, based on the feedback you share with your peers. This grade will be based on the two workshops of the semester, both the Main Paper and Hidden stories of Copenhagen.
During the semester, you will get to prepare a short presentation for the class, based on readings by a specific author. This is what we call Learning from the Masters – it makes up 20 % of the total grade.
You are supposed to do research on the assigned writer and highlight examples from their travel writing, so that the entire class can learn from it.
Grade breakdown
PARTICIPATION - 20 %
Participation includes attendance, coming prepared to class, joining thoughtfully in class discussions, completing the readings, and doing in-class writing exercises.
HIDDEN STORIES OF COPENHAGEN – 15 %
1,5–2 pages (line spacing 1,5). A nonfiction story that takes place in Copenhagen. You get to work with people, place and story relevance.
MAIN PAPER - 30 %
3-4 pages (line spacing 1,5). A nonfiction story that either takes place in Copenhagen or from one the locations you visited during the semester.
WORKSHOPPING EFFORT – 15 %
LEARNING FROM THE MASTERS – 20 %
Group presentation about an experienced travel writer.
Readings
All readings will be posted on Canvas.
The following titles are examples of readings, not a complete list.
Erika Fatland – Love in the Time of the Taliban
Geert Mak – The Bridge – A Journey Between Orient and Occident (extract)
Alain de Botton - The Art of Travel
Will Hunt – A Three-Day Expedition To Walk Across Paris Entirely Underground
Thomas Swick – A Moving Experience
William Zinsser - Travel Writing
Jack Hart - Story Craft
Sarah Menkedick – On interviewing
Kapka Kassabova – Border Ghosts
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org
Course Summary:
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