W311 14733 WRITING CREATIVE NONFICTION
Romayne Rubinas Dorsey

REQUIRES PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR.

4:00p-5:15p TR (15 students) 3 cr.

This intermediate-level writing workshop will focus on a specific genre of nonfiction: the essay. We will be exploring subgenres including the travel essay; the personal essay; the polemical, public essay; the brief, lyric essay, etc. We will read multiple (and in many cases, canonical) examples of these subgenres, and we will attempt to interpret them both through class discussion and in our own writing.

In class discussions, we will focus on an understanding of craft through close reading of outside texts. In the workshop component of the class, we will focus on how craft elements—from syntax to overall form—are being put to use, the ways in which each of our essays engages the subgenre and its conventions, and what is wonderful and what might be improved about each of our essays.

Students will be expected to hand in 35-40 pages of new and original work, consisting of four short essays, two of which will be developed into longer essays for workshop. You will offer substantive written critique of peer work and you’ll be expected to be prepared to participate actively in all class discussions. In preparation for class discussion, you will keep a reading journal of reflections on all course readings.

Possible course texts: 50 Essays (ed. Samuel Cohen); The Art of the Essay (ed. Phillip Lopate); a Best American Essays anthology; or New American Essays (ed. John D’Agata.

To apply for admission to the course, place the following materials in a manila envelope in my BH442 mailbox (Romayne Rubinas Dorsey):
--10-15 pages of what you consider your best writing (a mixture of poetry and prose is fine, but at least half of those pages should be prose writing of some kind be it fiction or course paper or other nonfiction work).
--A brief letter outlining your interest in the course and your background in creative writing (you should have taken at least one of the following: W103, W203, W301/W303 or equivalent). Please include in your letter instructor(s) name(s) and what grade you received in the course(s).
--A current email address and your name and local mailing address. I will admit and notify students as they apply, so your chances for admission increase with early submission of materials.

I will notify you via email of my decision and copy the departmental secretary who can clear admitted students for registration.