Jessica Jacobs, Hendrix College, ENGC 301: Creative Writing Nonfiction, Spring 2015

Course Schedule:The readings listed for a given date are to be read before that class. Please arrive ready to discuss.

Week 1: Introductions

W, 1.21 Introductions to the course and each otherDiscussion of Creative Nonfiction (based on reading of Brenda Miller,

“Where to Begin”)Read and discuss Anthony Doerr, “Miracle Day”Ostranenie ExerciseHomework: Brief history of yourself as a writer, your intentions/goals in taking this course, any questions you have for me (500-word minimum). Email to me by no later than Friday at noon.

Week 2: Memoir: Memory & Reflection

M, 1.26 Craft: Katie Roiphe, “This is How You Write a Memoir”Phillip Lopate, “On the Necessity of Turning Oneself into a

Character” (CCN, 69)Essays: Ryan Van Meter, “First”

W, 1.28 Craft: Phillip Lopate, “Reflection and Retrospection: A Pedagogic Mystery Story”

Essays: Kevin Brockmeier, Excerpt from A Few Moments of Radiant Filmstrip

Meghan Daum, “Music is My Bag” (CCN, 145)Homework: By no later than Thursday at noon, email me a

proposal for Essay 1 with the text in the body of the email.

Week 3: Memoir: Self & Family

M, 2.2 Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola “Writing the Family” (TIS, 17)Essays: Tony Early, “Somehow Form a Family” (CCN, 17)

David Sedaris, “Repeat After Me”

W, 2.4 Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola “‘Taking Place:’ Writing the Physical World’” (TIS, 25)

Barry Lopez, “Landscape and Narrative” (CCN, 271)Essays: Edwidge Danticat, “Westbury Court” (CCN, 89)

Barry Lopez, “Introduction [to Desert Notes]”

Week 4: Memoir: Family & Place

M, 2.9 Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola “The Body of Memory” (TIS, 3)

Essays: Phillip Lopate, “Portrait of My Body” Due: Four copies of your Small Group Workshop essay.

Jessica Jacobs, Hendrix College, ENGC 301: Creative Writing Nonfiction, Spring 2015

W, 2.11 Essay 1: Small Group Workshops Craft: Steven Pinker, “The Source of Bad Writing”Due: Two copies of your response to each essay—one for the author

and one for the professor.

F, 2.13 Shoptalk: Love Poems with Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Murphy House

Week 5: Memoir: Experience & Expertise

M, 2.16 Craft: Lia Purpura, “Against Gunmetal”Essays: Li Thi Diem Thuy, “The Gangster We Are All Looking For”

(CCN, 35)Rebecca McClanahan, “Interstellar”Due: Essay 1.

W, 2.18 Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola “The Tradition of the Personal Essay” (TIS, 89)

Essays: Rebecca Solnit, “The Open Door”Annie Dillard, “Seeing” (CCN, 260)

Th, 2.19 Reading with Visiting Writer Kevin Brockmeier, 7:30 Reves Recital Hall

Week 6: Looking Outward: The Personal Essay

M, 2.23 Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola, “Writing the Larger World” (TIS, 63)

Essays: Leslie Jamison, “In Defense of Saccharine”Maxine Hong Kingston, “No Name Woman” (CCN, 302)

W, 2.25 Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola, “Using Research to Expand Your Perspective” (TIS, 71)Essays: Eula Biss, “Time and Distance Overcome”

Brian Doyle, “Joyas Volardoras”Due: Come prepared with a potential topic or two for research.

Week 7: Looking Outward: Place & Family

M, 3.2 Essays: Terry Tempest-Williams, “The Clan of One-Breasted Women” (CCN, 236)

Leslie Jamison, “The Empathy Exams” Due: A proposal for Essay 2.

W, 3.4 Craft: Binyavanga Wainaina, “How to Write About Africa”Essays:

Eula Biss, “Is This Kansas?”

Jessica Jacobs, Hendrix College, ENGC 301: Creative Writing Nonfiction, Spring 2015

Week 8: Looking Outward

M, 3.9 Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola, “Writing the Arts” (TIS, 47)

Essays: John Updike, “Fast Art” (CCN, 185)

W, 3.11 Essays: Susan Orlean, “Meet the Shaggs” (CCN, 52)Workshop:1. 2.

Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author, one for professor).

Week 9: Looking Outward

M, 3.16 Essays: David Foster Wallace, “Consider the Lobster”Workshop:3. 4.

Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author, one for professor).

Due: Copies of your Small Group Workshop essay.

W, 3.18 Essays: Lia Purpura, “The Lustres” Essay 2: Small Group Workshops Due: Two copies of your response to each essay—one for the author

and one for the professor.

Week 10: Form and Function

M, 3.23 NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK

W, 3.25 NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK

Week 11: Form and Function

M, 3.30 Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola, “Playing with Form” (TIS, 107)

Essays: “Fakes”Workshop:5. 6.

Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author, one for professor).

Due: Essay 2

W, 4.1 Craft/Essay: Brenda Miller “A Braided Heart” (TIS, 235)Workshop:7. 8.

Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author, one for professor).

Jessica Jacobs, Hendrix College, ENGC 301: Creative Writing Nonfiction, Spring 2015

Week 12: Form and Function

M, 4.6 Essay: Anthony Farrington, “Kissing”Workshop:9. 10. Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author,

one for professor).Homework: By no later than noon on Wednesday, email your

proposal for Essay 3

W, 4.8 NO CLASS—PROFESSOR ATTENDING A CONFERENCE

Week 13: Form and Function

M, 4.13 Essay: Maggie Nelson, “Bluets”Lorrie Moore, “How to Become a Writer”

Workshop:11. 12. Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author,

one for professor).

W, 4.15 Essay: Dinty W. Moore, “Son of Mr. Green Jeans”Workshop:13. 14.

Th, 4.16 Reading by Visiting Poet Carolyn Forche, 7:30 Reves Recital Hall

Week 14: Form and Function

M, 4.20 Essay: John McPhee, “The Search for Marvin Gardens” (CCN, 117)

Workshop:15. Due: Small Group Workshop Essays

W, 4.22 Small Group WorkshopsDue: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author,

one for professor).

Th-Su, 4.23-426 Arkansas Literary Festival, www.arkansasliteraryfestival.org

Week 15: Mutual Appreciation Society

M, 4.27 Reading PracticeDue: A brief passage of one to two paragraphs that you will read

aloud to the class.Revision Day (if possible, please bring a laptop)

Jessica Jacobs, Hendrix College, ENGC 301: Creative Writing Nonfiction, Spring 2015

Homework: Prepare to read an excerpt of one of your essays that lasts NO MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES.

W, 4.29 Class ReadingsDue: Essay 3 Letter of Reflection

Week 16: Finis

M, 5.4 NO CLASS—PROFESSOR ATTENDING A CONFERENCE (Happy Finals!)