CRWR 240 Creative Writing: Nonfiction

This course is designed to introduce the genre of creative nonfiction. Students will learn the conventions and techniques of creative nonfiction through guided writing projects. Students will learn strategies for developing narrative, backstory, pacing, and characterization by reading the work of other students and published authors, whose work will serve as models. The reading assignments will include various modes of the genre, such as autobiography/memoir, personal essay, nature and/or science writing, and literary journalism. Students will produce, workshop, and present their own works of creative nonfiction in class.

Credits

Prerequisite

WR 121Z with a grade or C- or better OR waiver based on instructor's evaluation of student writing

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Identify and utilize the elements of a story scene
2. Comply with the boundaries of truth and creativity with in genre
3. Identify and apply scenes and summary, being able to distinguish between the two techniques
4. Work within a variety of non-fiction frameworks
5. Critique a variety of genres within creative nonfictions
6. Develop voice and style
7. Understand and apply theme, tone, symbol, motif, point of view, dialogue, and characterization
8. Revise, edit, and potentially polish works of nonfiction prose
9. Produce a portfolio of 3-4 original works of creative nonfiction
10. Have a working knowledge of representative authors from the genre