非虚构写作课程

CREATIVE NONFICTION WRITING

COURSE SYLLABUS

…the truth is often larger than any single fact, not a cut-and-dried positive or negative value.

It is quite elusive and, like beauty, in the eye of the beholder.

~ Lee Gutkind

North Central University

ENG 342, 3 credits

Fall Semester 2009

M W F (8:50-9:40)

Gary Dop, Associate Professor Office: Kingsriter 201E Campus Phone: 612-343-4728 grdop@ Office Hours: generally M W 1:15-3:45 & T Th 1:15-2:15 or by appointment

Course Description:

Students will dive headlong into the creative nonfiction (CNF) genre, perhaps the most cutting-edge, open, and engaging contemporary genre. This course will be primarily organized as a writing workshop. Students will submit works of CNF for analysis and critique. A majority of our time will focus on improving individual writing through assignments, critique, and analysis, as well as through the study of narrative elements, writing techniques, subgenres, and the nuances of CNF. Students will become versed in the language and tools of a writer, enhancing their understanding of the essay in its most creative forms, including usage of structure, point of view, language, voice, plot, pace, exposition, dialogue, and revision. Prerequisite: ENG 124

I’m excited to teach t his class.

Required Texts:

Gutkind, Lee. Keep It Real: Everything You Need to Know About Researching and

Writing Creative Nonfiction. W. W. Norton.

Gutkind, Lee. In Fact: The Best of Creative Nonfiction. W. W. Norton.

White, E. B. and William Strunk Jr. The Elements of Style. 4th edition. Longman. Objectives:

Students taking this course will:

1.develop their skills as writers of CNF by completing three polished pieces totaling at least 25

pages of written text.

2.improve their abilities to critique nonfiction and edit their own work.

3.practice their talents in writing and come to understand their own vision, style and ideas.

4.learn how to involve themselves (opinions and presence) in their writing and subject, leading

their readers through their essays.

5.demonstrate understanding of the CNF market by creating and submitting query or cover

letters after careful selection of potential markets for their work.

6.learn character development, story development, point of view, conflict, plot, dialogue and

other techniques through workshop, practice, and other writing assignments.

7.Formulate a position on the boundaries of CNF, including the risks and rewards of

managing information, presentation, and creativity in a genre intimately linked to fact.