English 433-001
Creative Nonfiction for Publication
Instr: Washburne, Carolyn
Office: CRT 574; 229-2709
e-mail: ckw@uwm.edu
Office hours: W; 3:30-4:15pm; by appointment
Course Information: W; 4:30-7:10pm; AUP 189
Course Description
In this course students will write in a number of creative nonfiction formats, including the personal experience article, personal opinion essay, review, and profile as well as a researched article using a creative nonfiction approach. The course will explore using fiction and poetry techniques, such as metaphor, dialogue, voice, and point of view, to make the nonfiction writing more eloquent and compelling. The course will also cover how to get nonfiction work published. To illustrate the principles being discussed, the class will critique published articles and evaluate each other's work in peer editing sessions and class workshop discussions.
Reading
Required: Class Reader (available at Clark Graphics, 2915 N. Oakland Ave.)
Recommended: Any works from the Suggested Readings list in this Class Reader.
Course Requirements: Undergraduate
Written assignments:
- Letter (400-100 words)
- Personal experience or personal opinion essay (500-1500 words)
- Review (400-1500 words)
- Profile (1000-2000 words)
- Informational article (1500-2000 words)
- 3 Opening leads + Query letter (1 page)
- Student's choice article (any length, any format [but not academic])
In addition, each student will:
- Have one of your manuscripts discussed by the class as a whole during the semester.
- Give a five-to-ten-minutes presentation to the class on some aspect of nonfiction writing.
- Submit a brief response (in writing, 1-3 sentences) responding to each reading assignment.
- Participate in an in-class workshopping group.
- Attend and participate in all class meetings; be ready to discuss the assigned material and contribute to class discussion.
Course Requirements: Graduate
Written assignments:
- Letter (400-1000 words)
- Personal experience or personal opinion essay (500-1500 words)
- Review (400-1500 words)
- Profile (1500-2000 words)
- Informational article (1500-2500 words)
- 3 Opening leads + Query letter (1 page)
- Student's choice article (any length)
- Final paper linking what you have learned in this course with your graduate coursework to date.
In addition, each student will:
- Have one of your manuscripts discussed by the class as a whole during the semester.
- Give a five-to-ten-minutes presentation to the class on some aspect of nonfiction writing.
- Submit a brief response (in writing, 1-3 sentences) responding to each reading assignment.
- Participate in an in-class workshopping group.
- Attend and participate in all class meetings; be ready to discuss the assigned material and contribute to class discussion.
- Present a ten-to-fifteen-minute report to the class summarizing your graduate studies and describing the career you are preparing for.
EXTRA CREDIT:
Anything you get published.
GRADING:
Informational article, 25%
All other written work, 50%
Class participation, effort, improvement, 25%
