Jessica Jacobs, Hendrix College, ENGC 301: Creative Writing Nonfiction, Fall 2014

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, 8.27 Introductions to the course and each other
Discussion of Creative Nonfiction (based on reading of Brenda Miller, Where to Begin)
Read and discuss Anthony Doerr, Miracle Day
Ostranenie Exercise
Homework: Brief history of yourself as a writer, your intentions/goals in taking this course,
any questions you have for me (500-word minimum). Send to Dropbox account by no later than
noon on Tuesday, 9.2.

Week 2: Memoir: Memory & Reflection

M, 9.1 NO CLASSLABOR DAY

W, 9.3 Craft: Katie Roiphe, This is How You Write a Memoir
Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola The Body of Memory (TIS, 3)
Essays: Phillip Lopate, Portrait of My Body

Week 3: Memoir: Self & Family

M, 9.8 Craft: Phillip Lopate, On the Necessity of Turning Oneself into a Character (CCN, 69)
Phillip Lopate, Reflection and Retrospection: A Pedagogic Mystery Story
Essays: Joshua MacIvor-Andersen, M in the H
Ryan Van Meter, First

W, 9.10 Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola Writing the Family (TIS, 17)
Essays: Tony Early, Somehow Form a Family (CCN, 17)
David Sedaris, Repeat After Me

Week 4: Memoir: Family & Place

M, 9.15 Craft: Lia Purpura, Against Gunmetal
Essays: Li Thi Diem Thuy, The Gangster We Are All Looking For (CCN, 35)
Rebecca McClanahan, Interstellar

W, 9.17 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]
Due: Four copies of your Small Group Workshop essay.

Week 5: Memoir: Experience & Expertise

M, 9.22 Essay 1: Small Group Workshops
Essays: Meghan Daum, Music is My Bag (CCN, 145)
Due: Two copies of your response to each essayone for the author and one for the professor.


Jessica Jacobs, Hendrix College, ENGC 301: Creative Writing Nonfiction, Fall 2014

W, 9.24 Craft: Joan Didion, On Keeping a Notebook (CCN, 340)
Essays: Leslie Jamison, The Empathy Exams
Terry Tempest-Williams, The Clan of One-Breasted Women (CCN, 236)

Week 6: Looking Outward:

M, 9.29 Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola The Tradition of the Personal Essay (TIS, 89)
Essays: Rebecca Solnit, The Open Door
Annie Dillard, Seeing (CCN, 260)
Due: Essay 1.

W, 10.1 Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola, Writing the Larger World (TIS, 63)
Essays: Leslie Jamison, In Defense of Saccharine
Eula Biss, Time and Distance Overcome

Week 7: Looking Outward: Place & Family

M, 10.6 Craft: Binyavanga Wainaina, How to Write About Africa
Essays: James Baldwin, Notes of a Native Son
Eula Biss, Is This Kansas?

W, 10.8 Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola, Using Research to Expand Your Perspective (TIS, 71)
Essays: Maxine Hong Kingston, No Name Woman (CCN, 302)
Brian Doyle, Joyas Volardoras

Week 8: Looking Outward

M, 10.13 Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola, Writing the Arts (TIS, 47)
Essays: Beverly Lowry, Secret Ceremonies of Love and Death (CCN, 48)
Susan Orlean, Meet the Shaggs (CCN, 52)

W, 10.15 Essays: John Updike, Fast Art (CCN, 185)
John Jeremiah Sullivan, Upon this Rock

Week 9: Looking Outward

M, 10.20 Essays: Linda Hogan, The Bats (CCN, 221)
Stephen Jay Gould, A Biological Homage to Mickey Mouse (CCN, 253)
Lia Purpura, The Lustres

W, 10.22 Essays: David Foster Wallace, Consider the Lobster

Week 10: Form and Function

M, 10.27 Craft: Brenda Miller & Suzanne Paola, Playing with Form (TIS, 107)
Essays: Maggie Nelson, Bluets
Extra Credit: Email professor a 1-2 page response to a flash nonfiction piece found on
Brevity. Please include the link to the piece. Due in my inbox before todays class.
Due: Copies of your Small Group Workshop essay.


Jessica Jacobs, Hendrix College, ENGC 301: Creative Writing Nonfiction, Fall 2014

W, 10.29 Craft/Essay: Brenda Miller A Braided Heart (TIS, 235)
Essay 2: Small Group Workshops
Due: Two copies of your response to each essayone for the author and one for the professor.
Homework for Workshoppers 1&2: Essay 2 due emailed to professor by noon on Saturday, 11.1.

Week 11: Form and Function

M, 11.3 Essay: Anthony Farrington, Kissing
Workshop:
1. 2.
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author, one for professor).
16 copies of your complete essay, with your name and workshop number on it.
***If you choose to workshop Essay 1, please bring in a copy of Essay 2 for professor.

W, 11.5 NO CLASSPROFESSOR ATTENDING A CONFERENCE

Week 12: Form and Function

M, 11.10 Essay: Dinty W. Moore, Son of Mr. Green Jeans
Workshop:
3. 4.
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author, one for professor).

W, 11.12 Essay: Eula Biss, The Pain Scale
Workshop:
5. 6.
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author, one for professor).
Week 13: Form and Function

M, 11.17 Essay: John McPhee, The Search for Marvin Gardens (CCN,117)
Workshop:
7. 8.
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author, one for professor).

W, 11.19 Essay: TBD
Workshop:
9. 10.
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author, one for professor).
Week 14: Form and Function

M, 11.24 Essay: TBD
Workshop:
11. 12.
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author, one for professor).

W, 11.26 NO CLASSTHANKSGIVING BREAK
Due: Small Group Workshop Essays due to group by agreed upon time/date.




Jessica Jacobs, Hendrix College, ENGC 301: Creative Writing Nonfiction, Fall 2014

Week 15: Form and Function

M, 12.1 Essay: Allison Bechdel, excerpt from Fun Home
Workshop:
13. 14. 15.
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author, one for professor).
Essay 3

W, 12.3 Small Group Workshops
Revision Theory & Practice
Due: Two copies of your comments on each essay (one for author, one for professor).

Week 16: Mutual Appreciation Society

M, 12.8 Class Reading