ENGL 2740 A (CRN: 15581)

English: Writing Creative Nonfiction (A)

3 credit hours

About ENGL 2740 A

In this workshop for experienced writers, students pursue projects of their own design, in various creative nonfiction sub-genres, including personal essay, literary memoir, and/or literary journalism. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisites: ENGL 1027, ENGL 1700, ENGL 1702, ENGL 1705, ENGL 1730, or ENGL 1740; minimum Sophomore standing.

Notes

Prereqs enforced by the system: ENGL 1027, ENGL 1700, ENGL 1702, ENGL 1705, ENGL 1730, or ENGL 1740; minimum Sophomore standing. System waitlisting enabled for this section

Section Description

Ranging from memoir to narrative journalism to the lyric essay, creative nonfiction’s capaciousness offers writers a range of possibilities for exploring experience, memory, and the world around us. In this course, we’ll read selections from James Baldwin, Joan Didion, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Cheryl Strayed, and others to consider how writers shape experience into prose, work with the uncertainties and limitations of memory, bring research into conversation with lived experience, and experiment with form. Inspired by our reading and conversation, you’ll write two shorter pieces (750–1,000 words each), with small-group workshops offering opportunities to share work, practice giving and receiving feedback, and build a writing community. We’ll also make regular space for in-class writing, experimentation, and revision. The final part of the course will focus on developing a longer piece of creative nonfiction (10–12 pages) through workshopping and revision. Your active participation and sustained engagement with reading and writing assignments, in-class activities and discussions, and feedback workshops are essential to your success in this course.

Section Expectation

Two short essays (~1000 words), one longer essay (~10 pages), occasional low-stakes journal assignments. Frequent short readings. Respectful and sustained engagement in discussion, in-class activities, and workshop.

Evaluation

Evaluation is based on drafts and revisions of short and longer essays, preparation for class with reading and homework; and engaged participation in discussion, in-class writing activities, and workshops.

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